Help! Taking a cribber to away shows?

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RJ W

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I have a horse that cribs, some days he won't do it at all when I'm around and some days he will stand there and do it for about 5 minutes constantly.

It doesn't bother me, he has no ulcers and he's a happy horse, as far as I'm concerned for now *fingers crossed it stays this way* it's just a bad habit.

But I want to start taking him out to a couple of away shows and training camps and I'm really worried about what others will think! Has anyone had any experience with this and any help and advice?

Thanks in advance!
 
does he do it on the door? if so I would take something to line the top of the door so he doesn't cause damage. I used to use a plastic pipe which had been cut lengthways and put that over the door. I would also take something that he could crib on inside the stable so that others don't see.(maybe his own manger....I know that other horses don't copy but other owners may be worried..i make sure my horse always has haylage or hay available when in the stable, if she doesn't and I give her a feed she will crib...this seems to have worked for me and I now don't use the half pipe over the door as don't need it. good luck
 
He does it on the door, or whatever it is in that moment he can reach... Good idea about taking something of his own... I hadn't thought of that! Not sure what though as he cant crib on his manger because it's just on the floor... He always has hay available... I could be worrying unnecessarily he may just stand in his box and munch on his hay but I don't want to freak other people out and be asked to leave! Will try and find some plastic pipe or something similar tomorrow!
 
Don't worry yourself too much, I doubt they will ask you to leave unless he causes a huge damage to what he cribs!

Its quite a common thing: so I'm sure most will understand.

I agree with the pipe idea, but you could also rub some of that anti-crib stuff everywhere and he shouldn't do it because it tastes terrible!

You say he cribs on anything he can find: can you think of anything portable and safe for a stable you could take? (I'm sure no one will judge).

You may find he is quite entertained by the new surroundings, horses and people: which could distract him.

Whatever happens, don't let it ruin your fun!:)
 
I ( used to ) have a cribber/windsucker and it's something I would think about if I was stabling him away. What would he do if you hung a rug over the door? Could he wear a collar just while he's away to prevent damage to the stable. ( I was anti collars until my boy had to wear one at his new yard, after a few weeks he stopped cribbing/windsucking all together and no longer needs the collar)
 
My horse NEVER cribs apart from on one thing - The foam covered handle on my shavings fork. He LOVES it and it has nearly no coating left from him grabbing at it constantly. Trying to think of something similar you could leave in the stable for yours, for him to safely chew on.
 
Thanks everyone, he's funny because sometimes he goes for days without doing it and then sometimes he does it constantly! I'm not sure I would feel happy leaving something in his stable to crib on as its more likely he would throw it about and make a racket or even hurt himself then actually crib on it! (He's sucha silly sausage!)

A friend of mine actually suggested I call the show centre up and ask if their stables have grills on and they said they could put one up so I think that for this time that will be the solution!

In future when he can't have a grill up I think I will give the collar a go.. I always thought it seems a bit unfair but equally so does the grill so I guess for these situations I just have to man up about it and stop being so precious! 😁😄

Thanks for all the suggestions!
 
Mine cribs and I just let him get on with it, he did have ulcers but now just a habit. Lagging can go on the door but other than that ignore what people think. There are loads of top competition horses that crib, weave, box walk etc. I think a collar could cause stress as he cant do it so in my opinion I wouldn't do that.

Phoning and asking for a weave bar for cribbing is a good idea.

Good luck :)
 
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