Horse turned out 24/7, not in work, suddenly started cribbing?

catembi

catembi

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This is my aunt's horse... It's some sort of Welsh, a fine one rather than chunky, bought from an auction in October. She's 3 and was backed & working at 2 on the Welsh hills
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Since my aunt bought her (from a relative) she's been turned out on a *huge* farm on acres & acres of poor grass with 5 or 6 other horses.

She has recently started cribbing like mad, but isn't in work & is only fed grass & hay. I can only think of ulcers & can't understand why she's doing it now when she's been turned out with the same horses in the same field since October?

Also, what's the current thinking on cribbing - are other horses thought to 'copy' or is it that horses kept in the same environment tend to react in the same way? I think the relative (a different one) whose farm the horse is on wants rid in case the others start doing it.

I feel sorry for the mare - she was supposed to be coming here to keep Adrian company if/when Nature takes its course with my old mare Jenny who's now 36. Doesn't seem fair to get rid if she's in pain.
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I think that horses copying is a load of cobblers. I dont think horses copy cribbing, weaving, etc it is because they have the same management that causes the behaviour in the first place.
Do you mean crib biting or chewing wood, because some people get mixed up? It is odd to start cribbing now but could be due to ulcers. Have a look at the ulcer thread below.
 
She is grabbing hold of anything she can find, e.g. fence, & sucking in air.

I looked at the ulcer thread...just seems strange that she's doing it when she doesn't fit the profile.
 
I agree, It is strange. However even foals can have stomach ulcers. Abrupt weaning can cause them, as can cereals. Who knows what start in life she had? She may still have some damage that for some strange reason has flared up again.
 
If she's sucking in air then thats windsucking. And i think the whole copying thing is a load of rubbish - my horse windsucked and was stabled next to 2 others for over a year - neither of them ever picked it up. Just make sure she has plenty of forage as like you said she may have some gastric probs - some people liken it to heartburn type feelings, and maybe use cribox if its not impossible to paint eveywhere she may use to windsuck...
 
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