what do you think to this horse?

I did notice with my daughter's pony, which had to be kept in a lot because it got far too fat and unfortunately started wind-sucking by the age of 3, that he developed a 'heave line' along the lower part of his rib-cage, rather like that found in broken-winded horses.

I used to put an anti-crib collar on him which had to be fastened very tight as otherwise it would twist round. It did work, but as already stated it didn't really help to solve the original cause. This was over thirty years ago and more thought has been put into the causes and treatment of wind-sucking in recent years. He lived to the ripe old age of 34 and was still in gentle work in a riding school until his cataracts forced his retirement at the age of 33.

The only way to get the collar tight enough was with his head lowered to the floor (poor little s*d!). On two occasions he went down with colic because it had slipped, so I would just check with the seller if this mare is prone to colic and ask whether or not she normally wears a collar.

Even so, she's still worth taking a look! She'll probably not be looking her best this time of the year but, judging by the pics. she really is a nice looking horse.
 
Horse very rarely learn behaviour from others. There are lots of studies on the internet with info on stereotypies (im doing my dissertation on them!) go on google scholar and type in equine stereotypies, will give loads of papers. Often the abstract is enough if you dont want masses of information.
Mc Bride is doing alot of research at the neurological side of crib biting and wind sucking, the horses he has studied seem to suggest it is genetic, but a stimuli is needed to spark the stereotypic response, nothing to do with "catching"!!
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Yeah, I agree there is no evidence that horses copy windsucking.

My youngsters Sire was a windsucker (RIP - he was PTS this summer) and all the mares and babies he was around all the time never got the habit. I've heard many many people say the same.
 
Thanks so much for everyones advice and experience i am going to have a chat with her tonight as she is such a lovely woman and i will definatly ask about colic.

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Wow, just seen what prices others would pay - is 15 years old really classed as being ancient??

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I'm not put off by the age in the slightest, but I would put a lowish price on her because of the wind sucking.
It is a vice after all, and I would also be concerned about symptons associated with wind sucking, such as struggling to keep condition on, and colic.

Nice horsie though.
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