Cribbing collars- who uses them- for and against...

[charlie76]

I have a horse who cribs given a chance. I spoke to my vet regarding whether to use a collar or not regarding colic etc.
The vet advised to use a collar on her as she doesn't crib at all with it on(tries once, can't do it, gives up and eats her hay)as it saves her teeth and reduces the risk of colic.

She does not show any signs of being stressed with it on at any time therefore I have decided to leave it on (covered with a sheepskin cover to prevent rubbing) and observe her for signs of stress caused by her not doing it.

What are others opinions on this subject?

Also what about grills up for weavers- it must be the same principle?

 

[the watcher]

i don't like collars, and my crib biting boy becomes very depressed if you put one on him. However if your has accepted it, and can be guaranteed a constant supply of forage (because they cannot relieve the discomfort if they run out of food) then you might as well carry on with it.

I have never, ever experienced a single case of colic related to crib biting or windsucking BTW

 

[Happytohack]

I had a crib biter years ago who would crib on anything without his collar on. As soon as he had his collar on, he wouldn't bother with the cribbing. However, recent research has shown that cribbing can be the way that horses try and relieve stomach discomfort and that it is not necessarily a learned behaviour. Feeding a cereal free, forage based diet and adding an antacid can help. I personally would try this - giving her ad lib hay/haylage as well. It won't be an overnight cure, but you should gradually be able to leave the collar off. If stomach pain is the cause, putting a collar on is rather like us having a leg in plaster and not being able to scratch it.

 

[the watcher]

[ QUOTE ]
If stomach pain is the cause, putting a collar on is rather like us having a leg in plaster and not being able to scratch it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Far worst then that, i think..more like burning indigestion and not being able to burp.
Again, a constant supply of forage is essential if the collar is to stay on

 

[Murphs_Mum]

I was just about to quote this research - I would never use one if they are cribbing to relieve discomfort it seems cruel.

 

[PaddyMonty]

I have a cribber. Personally I hated collars with a passion and went down the route of diet etc. This relieved the problem to some extent but the habit was still there.
He had several bouts of colic, all related to excess gas. In the ned I borrowed a miracle collar and tried it on him. Pretty much stops the cribbing and he hasn't coliced since.
What I did notice was that ever since a got him his bed was a mess each morning. I just put this down to him being one of those messy horses. Since using the collar his bed is hardly disturbed which leads me to believe the discomfort from excess air was a continual problem for him.
He never goes to bed without his collar now.

 

[horsemad67]

From a point of view i,m not for or against them, my horse cribs on anything he can get hold of and when I bought him he came with a collar but after watching him for a week I saw that it made no difference whatsoever and he was still able to do it and so decided there was no point in him wearing it. I just try to make sure he isn,t in places where he can grab anything. He is at his worst when being fed and did try antacids but they didn,t seem to make any difference.

 

[charlie76]

My horse has hay all night- 4-5 slices. She always has some left in the morning.
Also tried antacids, relax, thrive etc.

 

[no_no_nanette]

My ex-racehorse cribs for England! Both in the stable and field, poor chap. I have tried everything - Settelex helped a bit - and we have managed his diet very carefully, but nothing really seemed to work, so he also has a collar now, and he doesn't even attempt to crib. I would much, much rather have avoided it, but he does seem perfectly calm and happy, and we do always make sure that he has hay in his stable. I wish someone could find a magic solution!

 

[sloulou]

It must depend on the horse - my windsucker tries to do it even more with a collar on - it really stresses him out, so never bother with one now.

But if it stops yours, then maybe it is fine for her.

 

[silversox]

I used to use a collar on my daughter's pony as he wind-sucked terribly. It had to be on quite tight, having to do it up when he had his head down. He soon got used to it, had no ill effects except once, when ex-OH put it on too loosely and he went down with colic pretty bad.

I would definitely recommend trying one.