Cribbing and mixes

[melle]

I have a 6 year old mare who cribs very badly. She is fine in the field as I have electrified the fences but she does it int he stable even though she has a grill over the door - she turns her head sideways and cribs on the bars.

I have recently upped her thoroughgood conditioning nuts to the dressage ration and the cribbing appears to have got worse? Is there an explanation for this.

I have on recommendation started feeding yea-sacc but am concerned this is not helping as the mix seems to be having a negative effect.

As an extra point she is very grumpy to tack up or rug and sometimes very grumpy in the stable although increased turnout and adlib forage has improved this.

Really just after any thoughts, what are the chances of her having gastric ulcers, is this expensive to have them scoped and treated and also any opinions on whether winergy feed may help her.

Thanks

 

[piebaldsparkle]

For the symptoms you describe, plus the reaction to grain (within the mix), I would think it was highly likely she has ulcers.

 

[melle]

Anyone else got any thoughts?

 

[Llwyncwn]

Mahooooosive vote here for Coligone - no feed room should be without it

It has cleared up my ex-lami's squits, encouraged my box resting girl to be calm and sweet, and stopped a gassy colic in its tracks (grass related).

My mare had a perforated ulcer a few years ago and, on advice I started her on Coligone powder pre and post operative when recently undergoing surgery as I was concerned about post op colic.

I cant recommend it highly enough

 

[the watcher]

Does sound like ulcers, although your vet should diagnose in person rather than us making assumptions via the internet.
If it is, you may find a higher fibre diet with an oil based conditioning additive may cause less discomfort, and then there are various products to deal with excess acid and buffer digestive processes. Coligone didn't help mine at all, although I know others have had success with it - I had more success with maximum turnout, high fibre and reducing stress where possible.

 

[TheBlackMoth]

We use Coligone on our ex racer. It makes a huge difference - without it he cribs and windsucks constantly. With it he only does it occasionally. We also use crib ox on his stable door. With Coligone he doesn't crib in the field at all. I think the only reason he does it in his stable is habit.

 

[melle]

Hi Kate

No I never did try it. I had experience some sucess earlier in the year with moving yards and having her out longer. I also introduced yea-sacc into her diet. It is only recently that the really bad cribbing has started - around the similar time that I introduced the mix.

Trouble with her is not sure if the bad temper is mare related or digestion related - very agressive to tack up etc so have her on agnus castus too.

Have emailed dengie and been given advice on how to feed a high fibre diet so going to give that try and I will scrape my pennies together for a trial of coligone too

Did you recommend the powder or the liquid now - I can't remember.

 

[H's mum]

It's relatively cheap to trial - you only have to get a 500ml bottle of Liquid to find out if it works or not - people usually see a difference within the first week!

Definitely sounds like she's reacting to gastric acid though - espeicially with the grouchy behaviour when tacking up etc - Poor girl

Kate x

 

[TarrSteps]

The "cribbing - feed - ulcers" connection is pretty well accepted now, I think. I believe there's even a study in which they "caused" cribbing to start in yearlings by feeding them a high sucrose diet.

I had a horse that weaved on some types of feeds but not others. It wasn't worth getting to the bottom of it, we just put her on something that suited and left it at that.

 

[melle]

Yes it is sad - as she can be so sweet. Will keep you posted on whether it helps!!

Dengie feed line were really helpful so feeling a bit more positive about it all - if I ould work out how to post pictures I would show you a picture of my bargain basement mare - I remember emailing you before I had decided to buy her!

 

[H's mum]

Oooh yes lets see her!

Kate x