Cribbing

[Julia.slater2]

I have a six year old tbx which I brung on myself he is always turned out and only stabled if weather is really bad. I had him put to a riding school to help with bringing him on last year and when I got him back I noticed he had started crib biting he was also turned out there the whole time. Is it possible he has copied this behaviour of another horse as his stomach is fine. It is becoming worse and worse as now he will stand for hours doing it does anyone recommend using a collar?

Any help/advice muchly appreciated

 

[thatsmygirl]

Has he been scooped to know his stomach is fine? If not its an option.
Look at diet, what if any hard feed are you feeding? Cut out all cereal and as much sugar/starch as you can and just go with basic fibre diet with a good balancer plus I would personally feed a pre/pro supplement for his hindgut.
I don't like collars, you need to get to the root of the problem to find out why its happening in the first place.

 

[JillA]

I think the theory about copying another horse is an old wives tale, from the days before the link with cribbing and ulcers was established. Check this website for further symptoms, including the palpation video and bear in mind that scoping, whilst an excellent diagnostic tool for stomach ulcers, can't find those in the intestines.
There are lots of alternative therapies to help on there as well - treatment with one of them might diagnose if the improvement follows.
http://equinenutritionnerd.com/2014...tions-for-stomach-ulcer-treatment-prevention/

 

[stilltrying]

A collar would not be treating the root cause, just masking an underlying problem, which as others have said could be ulcers.

One of ours is being treated for severe hindgut ulcers / acidosis. He has lead a relatively stress free life, with plenty of turn out and constant access to forage, yet he still has serious gut issues. Well worth investigating.

 

[dibbin]

I'd have him checked for ulcers, what was he fed while he was there?

I don't like collars, I always think if the horse can't crib it will get stressed and you could end up with another vice - it's not treating the cause. I also really don't believe they learn it from others, Dylan was cribbing away in the same stable for almost 8 years and none of the other horses ever started.