Questions about cribbing/windsucking

[madhector]

Ok, I have noticed that horse that obsessivly cribs gets really bloated afterwards. For example after feed time he cribs for a while and then literally his belly expands, obviously full of air. It goes down after a few hours.


Just wondered if there was any harm in cribbing, worried he is doing himself some damage

Thoughts?


Thanks

 

[Maisy]

When I bought my first horse there was a theory that wondsuckers could get colic due to the amount of air they inhale and the fact that they dont eat as much as a result. I had my horse 12 years and he never collicked as a result of windsucking. He did, however, look like a pregnant mare even when he was fit - I guess due the air?

 

[marlyclay]

My friend once owned a gorgeous little crabbet arabian stallion she bought out of cambridge market.He was perfect in everyway except for he windsucked.Sadly he was prone to bouts of colic,probably caused by his windsucking. However,nowadays low acid feeds and anti acid suppements in diet may help as stomache ulcers have been linked to this vice

 

[xnaughtybutnicex]

My friends horse crib-bites and is prone to colic.

 

[Chestnuttymare]

mine does it, never bloated, keeps her weight as much as tbs do, good teeth, never had colic. doesn't bother me. other vices are worse, bucking, rearing etc, none of which she does thankfully.

 

[josiesmithuk]

I was under the impression that research had been done (fairly recently) that showed the horse does not actually pull air into the stomach. And many horses who windsuck do so to relieve the pain of stomach ulcers, feeding settlex or similar therefore had been found to have very good results.

I might be way off the mark will see if I can find a source ...

x x

 

[lochpearl]

I feed my boy settlex - to be honest it hasn't made him completely stop but it has helped, but he is doing it more than not at the moment but I think that is pain induced as he has a lot of problems at the moment. It can be related to ulcers so it might be worth getting your horser scoped.

My boy is a TB is very fat at the moment and hasn't had colic with me.

 

[Bubblegum]

Our ex-racer windsucks. Always after feeds, not so much when just munching on hay or out grazing.
He had one mild bout of colic when we first had him, and I put that down to the stress of moving to a new yard as much as anything.
Since then, no further episodes. His teeth have been checked 6 monthly and no problems there either. I haven't noticed him becoming bloated.
I haven't tried a collar on him, as I hate them.
And contrary to the old myth, none of my other horses have tried to copy him.

 

[PapaFrita]

[ QUOTE ]
I was under the impression that research had been done (fairly recently) that showed the horse does not actually pull air into the stomach.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yep, I'd read that as well
[ QUOTE ]
And many horses who windsuck do so to relieve the pain of stomach ulcers, feeding settlex or similar therefore had been found to have very good results.


[/ QUOTE ]
I think that windsucking is supposed to produce saliva in a similar way to chewing hay... Not 100% sure if I recall correctly though.