Thoughts on my cribber and what to do with him..

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Think I need some sensible advice as I'm probably a bit deluded!!

I moved my horse to new yard a week ago. He's been at my mums for 5 years before this and has been allowed to crib as he pleases and had and had places to do this.

Anyway, his new stable door has metal on the top so he's not doing it on that and his field fence has electric wire on the top so that's a no go either. He doesn't seem that fussed, although his big fat belly has gone down lots and I'm not sure if he's not eating as much as he should or if it's just because he hasn't got lots of air in it??

I guess I'm just a bit worried about him with him just moving yards and losing his no1 hobby! But I guess it can only be a good thing??

What do normal people think lol?
 
:D you may find that he is still adjusting to the new yard and is finding other things to interest him. my mare used to crib more when she had limited turn out and i am very pleased to say she hardly ever does now, she is out all day in the winter(in at night) and out 24hours in the summer and is very happy. has he got more turn out?? , is the new yard busier. it may just be that the new yard suits him more..
 
agree with ceiron - metal door will not stop them! Wears their teeth more!

We gave my cribber his very own wooden post in the field-we called it the 'smoking hole'

See how things go - as people suggest he may have other things to keep his active brain occupied but once he gets bored of the view so to speak you may see him want to crib!

Would rather have a cribber than a weaver or box walker! Had them all in my time!
 
If he has actually stopped then that's a good thing, maybe he is more settled there? Has he made new friends? Has his diet or hay supply changed etc? If he was stressed and desperate to crib, he would find somewhere, trust me! It sounds as if he has settled down and is happy, hopefully he will stay that way.

Agree with above though, if he is still cribbing on the metal.
 
Thanks guys. I know he still wants to do it because when I bring him in and take the wire off the gate he starts doing it on the gate. He started doing it on his metal door and I was going to put some rubber on it (worried about his teeth) but then he seems to have stopped – obviously not as much fun if it hurts your teeth! Well I say he’s stopped, what I mean is I haven’t seen him, but he doesn’t do it when eating his feed which is his main thing.

I don’t think it’s got anything to do with his happy/settledness.. he doesn’t do it in a stressed out kind of way just that’s what he does and what he’s done for a long time. He’s maybe turned out a bit less now but on better quality grass/hayledge. Hasn’t made any difference what diet he’s on at home though. There is quite a lot going on at new yard (like a peacock parading in front of his stable with his tail fanned out, and yesterday sheep sheering!) so he might be a bit less bored I guess, but also more on edge!

So, if I see him do anything on his metal door then I’ll get OH to put some rubber on it. If not, should I do the rubber/post in field anyway and let him get on with his cribbing in peace or see it as a good opportunity to stop his bad habbits?

He has been colicy on several occasions and I’m almost sure this is down to his cribbing – so would really be better if he didn’t do it… but I don’t want to be cruel if that’s what he needs to do? Certainly wouldn’t want someone taking my ciggies away from me if I’d just moved house!
 
My horse cribs and when I moved him to where he is now he didn't crib for 3/4 days! However once he had seen all the new sights and met the other horses he started again!! I doesn't bother me. He only does it after food. He has a metal strip on the door just to protect it and he has a cribbing post in the field if he wants to use it. I assume he has done this for a fair while and fortunately you cannot tell from his teeth that he does it. I personally would just keep an eye on him and let him crib if he wants.
 
My TB cribs & for the past 6 years has been allowed free rein pretty much to bite whatever he wanted! He has completley destroyed a 15ft 6 bar metal gate! His teeth are absolutley fine mind, much to every dentists suprise! He has had colic issues in past but vets absolutley convinced not cribbing related.
Anyway, farmer (which I understand) has suddenly decided no cribbing please!
He's turnout, over the last month or so has changed, so he actually has no access to anything & to be honest he's happy as larry.
Before, I would feed him & he would go out & head straight for the nearest post. He's not bothered now, he wanders straight off to his mates.
He's living out at the mo - which definatley makes a difference. All gates in stable have now been covered - have used flexible ducting (bit like drain pipe) over all gates so he can't get mouth around. I don't see it being a problem - but when he does start coming in it is something I will monitor.
My only concern was, that if he was desperate, would he start wind sucking? Which would obviously be much harder to control without the use of a collar, which I absolutley hate.
If you do want to stop him, pop something like drain pipe over stable door so he can't get his mouth around. If you don't, then rubber will save his teeth. Although I imagine eventually he will twist the door/hinges etc & it may need replacing!
 
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