Things you never knew about cribbing

[Shilasdair]

From Wiki-how:
'Cribbing is a serious addiction that affects many horses. The horse will lick or chew any wood structure, then inhale deeply, breathing in mind-altering fumes. Not only does this destroy your barn, but your horse can actually rupture his stomach if he breathes in too much too quickly'

Well, thoughts?!
S

 

[PapaFrita]

I don't think it's the horse that's been inhaling mind-altering fumes....

 

[Smash]

[ QUOTE ]
From Wiki-how:
'Cribbing is a serious addiction

[/ QUOTE ]

Makes it sounds like equine crack.

 

[Weezy]

"Inhale deeping, breathing...Rupture its stomach"??????? I thought breath went into LUNGS

I would love some evidence of horses sucking so much air into their stomach that it ruptured! And "mind-altering" hehehehe, soothing it may be, but not sure the horse gets stoned... And "fumes" hahahaha - no, that will be "air" - oh I see, you mean they only suck on WOOD - hmmm, try telling that to the cribbers I have known

 

[soph21]

i thought cribbing can cause colic thats why they wear collars.

sorry if i read this wrong its late and my eyes are a bit blurrry!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

yes, it can cause colic, because they suck air into the stomach.

 

[zigzag]

Must have a go at cribbing myself ;p

 

[Fairynuff]

well bugger me! Who wants to tell the BHS that all their text books are wrong?
Where did you find that little 'gem'? M.

 

[Laafet]

Well atleast they got the serious addiction bit right, the work I did with a pyschologist from southampton uni was interesting. He was testing the theories around stereotypies and it was becoming apparent that cribbers were in fact like alcoholics or drug addicts and thats why it is so difficult to stop. They had a switch in their brain which locked in the habit, bit like nicotine and smokers.

 

[soph21]

my friends horse does it and has done since he was 2, he's now 13 and was kept as a stallion for many years he started because he was bored being on his own, he always does it after a treat and after his breakfast and dinner. i always have a fag in the morning with a coffee and one after my dinner!!!

he used to wear a collar but his muscles must have built up so he cribs with it on too!!

 

[Shilasdair]

They used to think cribbers/windsuckers swallowed air, and that caused colic, but they've disproved that, now.
The research I've read (from Uni of Bristol folk) suggests that it is linked to excess stomach acid (perhaps from concentrate feeds) and the horse's need to swallow saliva to neutralise it.
Recommended (humane) treatment is to feed plenty of forage, turn out if possible, perhaps feed antacids, and certainly don't stop horsey from doing it.
S

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
breathing in mind-altering fumes.

[/ QUOTE ]

ROTFLMAO!! Oh that explains SO much about Star's behaviour