Cribbing!

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Custard101

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Is there anyway I can reduce my mares cribbing?
She is currently turned out during the day (7:00-5:30 or thereabouts) and in at night, she will be on 24/7 turnout in a few months.
She has access to a salt lick, relatively large haynet and fresh water all night. She doesn't crib whatsoever when she's out, and
I've noticed she seems to start doing it when she's ran out of hay and is waiting for turnout in the morning, after a feed (she
currently has a scoop of JustGrass, a small cup of sugarbeet, half a scoop of Equivite and occasionally a handful of carrots in her feeds), but mostly
she seems to do it when she's bored! If she has a likit or some form of boredom breaking treat hanging to keep her occupied, she's okay,
is there anything else I can do to help her?
24/7 turnout isn't currently available until a few months time unfortunately.
 
How frustrating for you and for your mare. How about freezing some turnips, carrots etc so she has to nibble them, and fill several nets (with the same amount of forage she is being given daily) but bulk them out with random things that basically jsut get in the way like footballs and double...tripple..nets so she really has to nibble at them. I have a huge net (fits an entire bale of hay) and i wrap my net in it so my horse has to pull the haylage out, but it can only come so far so he then has to nibble away at it cause pulling won't get it.
 
As a matter of course I think all cribbers should be investigated for gastric ulcers. A course of omeprazole granules from Abler would be my next step.
 
throughtheforest said:
As a matter of course I think all cribbers should be investigated for gastric ulcers. A course of omeprazole granules from Abler would be my next step.
Click to expand...

LD&S said:
Have you tried giving more hay?
Click to expand...

I would ensure she never runs out and either investigate ulcers or manage her as if she has them, it may be due to boredom but just as likely due to stress, having adlib hay may be enough to stop her doing it.
 
I have a cribber. He's always done it, cribs between bites of hay etc. Doesn't crib when stressed, but weaves instead. He had a very sad history so a lot of his behaviour stems from that. Couldn't scope him as he nearly killed a vet and was classed as too dangerous to, but I treat him as if he has ulcers and after his gastroguard treatment from the vet, he now has preventative Ablers granules, ad lib hay, plenty of turnout (with hay in field in depths of winter)...
He still cribs, but I leave him to it. Attempts to stop him cause the weaving and box walking to return.
 
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