Cribbers - Settlex?

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1alex1moose

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Hi there,

Just bought a new nag and he cribs (knew he did this before I got him). He does it when he eats particularly - especially if he's had something unusual - mints set him off the most. He occasionally does it when I groom. Once he's done it once he'll do it for several minutes and then settle down again.

He's really not a stressy sort of horse and always has ad lib hay or haylage to keep him occupied. He always has company and is never obviously stressy. He's turned out for about 5 hours a day due to lack of grass. He's only 3 and a half and I'm wondering whether I can break the habit before it becomes permanent.

I've been told to try Settlex or put a collar on him. I'm not keen on the collars though as I'd rather treat the cause than the symptoms if that makes sense.

Just wondered what suggestions people had and whether you think any of these antacid type things work.
Ta, Alex
 
I know that Feedmark (who make Settelex) did a lot of research into crib-biting. The results showed that a forage based diet (no cereals) and ad lib hay/haylage together with an antacid helped in a lot of cases. Their research showed that a lot of horses cribbed to relieve pain caused by excess stomach acid. Wearing a collar simply restricted the horse from relieving the discomfort. In an ideal world, a horse that cribs should be turned out as much as possible - but most of us have limited grazing, so ad lib hay/haylage is the next best thing. I would definitely give Settelex a go - but you need to try it for at least a month to see if there is an improvement. Contrary to popular belief, crib-biting cannot be taught to other horses.
 
TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU!!! My horse started to crib as he was being mistreated at my previous yard and he was in a very poor state when I bought him off dealers in November, with the stress of the yard (i didn't know what was going on until it was too late and he is now on DIY!!) and also due to the huge amounts of feed he was getting I put him on settlex, I didn't realise it took a while to get into the system and started him on a precautionary (sp) ulcer treatment from vet (£200 later!!) no difference. Now he has moved and is happier he is still on Settlex and touch some wood!! hasn't done it since - please don't use a collar as they are just cruel the horse needs to do it to help the problem and if you stop it, you'll only make it worse. Good luck and it should go. I also instead of giving mints - give him mint rennies - he loves them and it helps too!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I know that Feedmark (who make Settelex) did a lot of research into crib-biting. The results showed that a forage based diet (no cereals) and ad lib hay/haylage together with an antacid helped in a lot of cases. Their research showed that a lot of horses cribbed to relieve pain caused by excess stomach acid. Wearing a collar simply restricted the horse from relieving the discomfort. In an ideal world, a horse that cribs should be turned out as much as possible - but most of us have limited grazing, so ad lib hay/haylage is the next best thing. I would definitely give Settelex a go - but you need to try it for at least a month to see if there is an improvement. Contrary to popular belief, crib-biting cannot be taught to other horses.

[/ QUOTE ]

As above. Was looking into it myself as we took in a rescue that did it much the same as yours - i say did as we have re-homed in.
 
my new neddy cribs, i knew before i bought him. but loved him anyway.

I've not heard of settlex.... but will give it a try. as i don't like to see him crib.

next question.... where do i buy it? and how much is it?
 
My horse windsucks and did so to the point of colicking every four or five weeks...badly. I did try Settlex for quite a long time and to be honest didn't feel it made any difference to my fella. In the end I had a metal piece made for my stable door. It is too wide for him to get hold of and miracle of miracles it stopped him. Completely. He does it briefly in the field when he first goes out and that's all. I told the guy who made the metal piece for me that he should patent it. He would make a fortune.
 
Feedmark make Settelex - details are here Do give the forage diet a go - a starchy diet can certainly cause excess stomach acid which results in the discomfort that causes horses to crib. Jane Van Lennep of Simple System Feeds is very knowledgeable about diets that contain no sugar or cereal.
 
My mare does it too, chronically. I wouldn't use the collar as it can stress them if they are stopped. I use mint and a low starch forage diet. She doesn't have any digestive probs, it's just a bad habit.
I don't worry about it. She could have worse habits, like bucking or rearing etc.
Call winergy tho' they are very helpful.
 
Settlex didn't help mine at all, if anything he was worse because he liked the taste & started cribbing partway through his feed! The only supplement I've seen a noticable improvement with is Equine America's U-Gard Plus that I tried on my vet's recommendation.
 
I've recently been reading up on this and agree with the forage based diet completely. It is also reckoned that if you are able to gather an assortment of the type of natural foodstuffs your horse would be able to browse/graze in the wild, including really woody stuff, and put then in the stable that this could really help with the acid build up. Obviously check out first what is toxic but if you can find some twigs, branches of a non toxic bush and leave them for the horse to chew it hopefully would help.
 
Thanks everyone.

I think I'll just have to give Settlex a go and see how we get on. I'll also give the Equine America stuff a try as I know a lot of people swear by their stuff but it is flamin expensive! I might get him some twigs to chew as well. He's on molassed feed (cool mix) at the moment so I'll also try getting him off that and onto something less sugary. It's so difficult to find a decent forage based diet that adds any condition. With any luck just stopping the cribbing will help him add condition.

The advice has been much appreciated - I thought the claimed 85% success rate might be a little optimistic!
 
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