Crib Biting - Whats your view?

Lippyx

Lippyx

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 September 2008
Messages
3,870
Location
Essex... In my bubble, floating above reality!!
Visit site
Hi

Went and looked at a lovely, sweet mare at the weekend to have on loan. She is perfect in every way
grin.gif
... although she is a crib biter.
She fully respects her crib collar, I'm just interested in what others think?
Her tempermant really makes up for this horrible habit. I'm really not worried about it my self, as I feel so comfortable and safe when riding her, and at the end of the NOBODY is perfect! Just interested what the H&H gang think? Do you own a cribber?

Lippy x
 
I own one and I have no problem with it but I would never make him wear a collar, they do it for a reason so you should not stop them. If I had been aware that he was a cribber before I got him then I would have asked the vet to check for ulcers as cribbing could be a result from them. Although you are looking to have her on loan if you were to have to insure and pay her vet costs you might want to look into it a bit more. Good luck
 
Having had several cribbers (they all came with it, not something they picked up here I might add!) it doesn't particularly bother me. I'm of the opinion that what a horse does in 'his' time, as long as he doesn't hurt anyone else and he still performs properly, then that's fine.
I have never had anything copy one either, even a foal didn't copy its dam but there are some yards that will not have them so you need to make sure the yard you're at will before you decide and it's always something to take into consideration if you ever think of moving her at any time..
 
I had never thought of the insurance side of it, do insurance companies exclude certain things then if they know that its a crib biter?
I have 3 possible yards I want to move her to, so am going to call them to check if they are OK with a cribber, as I know some can be funny.
A yard I use to work at (riding and livery) had 2 crib biters, several weavers and a wind sucker, and I never saw any other horse copy them within the 7 years I was there, including 3 foals that were born there, and were on the same yard as them!
Thanks!

Lippy x
 
I would always take on a crib biter or windsucker, as I have weird stables (bull pens) and its actually quite difficult for them to find something to grab a hold of. Plus ours are generally out, so don't have bad habits that result for boredom!

We had a bad windsuker and crib biter, and he gave up the cribbing, and would only wind suck when we were preparing tea (and he could hear buckets rattling).
 
We have a crib biter who occasionally wind sucks. He is on Coligone and it has made a real difference to him. We did try a collar but I felt it was so cruel - he tried to crib through and it was obviously causing him some distress so I threw it away.

He doesn't crib in the field - mainly because it's electric fencing and only cribs in his stables around feed time.
 
In a different environment she may do it less (or more). It can also be destructive on your stable and possibly fencing, so if you are keeping her in livery, you might have bear this in mind.
 
I have 2! doesn't stop them doing their job, so I don't tend to worry what they do in their spare time.

I make sure that I feed plenty of adlib fibre so that their bellies are never empty.

With my eldest I have however, had to resort to the collar ( horrible thing).... before I get shot down please let me explain.

With my eldest it is an engrained habit and NOTHING stops him. He can get a little OCD with the habit and will crib rather than eat.... at this point we pop the collar on. This does not actually stop him but it does reduce the force that he puts into it and makes him think more about eating rather than cribbing.

While in a perfect world we wouldn't resort to this, I do have to remind him to eat and we have found that this allows both of us to find a middle ground. he still gets to crib and I get to see empty hay nets.
 
My pony was and still is an insistent cribber and windsucker.
It never effected his performance, he never colicked or had any digestive problems because of it, the only thing that was a problem was when he pulled up some temporary posts in the field by cribbing on them, so had to start wearing a collar in the field!
I still see loads of him now and he has a collar on a lot more than when he was with me but he seems perfectly happy. I would never turn down a good horse just because he/she cribs.
A friend of mine has a cribber and she wont put a collar on because it rubber her mare's neck and the mare now has a scar.
 
If it's just a loan you could take her on and see if you can work on the habit.

I don't like collars though - they just work on the symptom not the cause of the problem be it boredom, ulcers etc.


My new one started cribbing a tiny bit when she first came - mostly when I was tacking up. (She didn't suck in air though so not proper cribbing - she just narked and grabbed the door)

Back and saddle were checked ok so the other thing I wanted to rule out was a dodgy stomach so I put her onto Coligone and she's now stopped.
Could really have just been the stress of moving - I have only had her 4 weeks. She showed no other signs of stress so I think she might just internalise everything.
Will finish the tub, take her off it and see how she is after that...

She is still a little grumpy when I tack her up but not as bad but she's also grumpy when I put boots on her so I also think she is just a nark!
 
I did wonder if there was a way of getting to the source of the problem. She was a racer, so I'm assuming its a boredom thing, and at the moment, she doesn't get ridden alot due to other horses needing to be ridden too. I'm hoping the one 2 one treatment will help ease it, but I may look into the Coligone, if you think it may help? Not really one for lotions and powders unless absolutely necessary!
She is a lovely mare (did say I'd never go for a mare OR TB!) and so laid back, she is too good to turn down, as she is still very young, so has plenty to give!

Lippy x
 
You can't blame a horse for crib biting. If you sort out the cause of the problem (boredom/stress) it shouldn't occur in the first place. I wouldn't rule her out because of it. How much does turnout does she get? Is there enough to see and keep her amused in the stable?
 
ATM she gets turned out every day with others etc, and I don't think they are in over night as yet. I think it stems from being a racer once.
When I take her on, I will be turning her out every day, and then at night she will be stabled, but was thinking of getting her a horse ball or something to help ease the boredom?

Lippy x
 
My Akhal Teke used to crib bite when he was on livery at a big yard and he has always been the kind of horse to get stressed easily by everything. When I moved him home where he had more turnout and it was a much less busy environment, he stopped altogether and hasn't done it for years now.

It is difficult when they are of that sort of temperament, as with yours being an ex-racer. But its great she's perfect for you in every other way, post some pics when you can.

x
 
Cribbing can be exaccerbated by feed as well. Make sure she has an ad lib supply of forage, no cereal in the diet , and that the days you can't let her out she has plenty to stimulate her brain. Try a few feedlines and see what they have to say. Winergy were particularly helpful with my mare.
 
She is lovely! I'm am going back for a second look this week, and I can't wait!!
I have a few yards I can keep her at (subject to any "no crib biter" etc rules!) But one is with a friend who has just the one mare, and is home most of the day. VERY quiet yard (private) with loads of grazing, and other horses around too.
I don't want an excessively busy yard, but a yard that has a few things buzzing about.
She doesn't seemed stressed or a stressful type, as she is so relaxed and laid!!

Lippy x
 
I have had my filly since she was 4 days old, she has been a crib biter since she was about 9 months. No outward reason for her to start, the other two babies in with her never did it before or after. I do believe she started it because of stomach pains and it then became a habit. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, as she is otherwise healthy, has been checked over for any ongoing problems etc. I do worry about her teeth long term though! I took advice from my vet, who is also a horse breeder before putting her in foal as I was worried she may pass it on, however, he reassured me she would not. She is now 3 years old and has never had a field mate copy her. I refuse to put a collar on her and never punish her for it or even mention it to her! Sometimes to be honest, I think she does it on purpose for attention. I love her to bits though and can't wait until she has her foal next June. My advice would be to relax and enjoy the horse, so long as they are healthy.
 
Is your tb an exracer? They tend to have digestive issues from their racing days - Crib biting/windsucking can be a way that the horse copes with excess gastric acid or gastric ulcers/irritation - People think that because the horse hasn't been in training for a while the horse is clear of any problems in their stomach but I've been involved with many horses that have still suffered with problems years after seeing a racing track!
If you want to pm me feel free
smile.gif

Kate x
 
Athena is both a crib biter and a wind sucker and I wouldn't change her for the world. She did wear a collar but I felt it didn't do much for her so I've taken it off.

She lives out 24/7 and has access to grass in the summer and hay in the winter all day long.

I do find that I have to keep my eye on her weight more as she spends more time wind sucking rather than filling her belly with food!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top