wind sucking

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FlorasMummy

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Anyone have any idea's for wind suckling? Flora had got halfway through the wood at top of door this morning. Put an aliminum door on it but she is biting into that now so I don't know what to do now!! This is my first horse so I have never been through this before.I heard someone saying this makes them unable to put on weight. Is this true?
 
As far as I am aware, this is crib biting and is a stable vice thought to be caused by lack of forage when stabled or in empty paddock. Ensure she has plenty of forage. Also consider the risk of ulcers
 
Definitely crib biting when they grab something then gulp in air, i see you are having some issues mounting her, the two things may well be linked and are both signs of ulcers.
 
Flora is straight from a racing yard. I have been told that they only put a small amount of haylage in to do them all day. I always make sure she has hay in. I'm up 3 times a day just know as I like to see her eating only because she is a bit on skinny side and I need to put weight on her. She is very spooky but only been at yard for a week so hopefully she will calm down. The best ride I have had with her was when a wee girl on pony was in the arena she let me mount and never spooked but when she left she was spooking at her shadow. Iam putting it down to her settling in and will address it if it keeps continuing. Sorry bit off topic there. She hurt her nose today off it so I am getting really worked up about it. Does anyone know how to put pics up here.? X
 
I have no idea about pics. You ideally don't want her to run out of hay at all. Horses can't produce saliva without chewing, and their stomachs produce loads of acid and ulcers in the gut are v common in racehorses, in fact possibly across the general horse population. I was always taught they should have a birds nest amount of hay left by turn out time/end of day/next morning. I suggest you stop thinking of her as being straight from a racing yard and start treating her as your horse and responsibility as a lot of people get tied up with what their horses have done and it affects how they approach or treat them. People have suggested working with an instructor: you should definitely do this, take your time, get to know her and if at anytime she shows unusual behaviour or reactions, call a vet to check her out as I remember you bought her untried or vetted.
 
I'm a bit confused. Did you loan Flora when she was on the racing yard? Did you see her wind suck before when you had her on loan, how was the wind sucking managed then, or has she just started to do it? Did/does she get ad lib forage?

FlorasMummy said:
Anyone have any idea's for wind suckling?
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FlorasMummy said:
Flora is straight from a racing yard. I have been told that they only put a small amount of haylage in to do them all day.
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FlorasMummy said:
I loaned flora for few months and when I went to yard just before Christmas the owner gave me first refusal for a very good price.
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I had a race horse straight from training. Remember they are used to going out in a string, they never seem to do anything - hack, school, work, on their own so will always have had the security of other horses with her. Also often they are fed for racing & not for bulk which is why so many develop ulcers. She needs to see, be near, other horses all the time & have constant access to fibre forage eg chaff, chop, hay. Her routine will have been consistent & is now totally different so she's finding life very stressful. Take things slowly. Lots of calm & routine that she can get to learn. Get her checked for ulcers & treated but she may continue to crib & windsuck. I had a little rescue show pony that cribbed & windsucked for England, even after GastroGard treatment but he never lost condition. I learned to live with it & my other 2 never copied him even though they were all in internal stables & could all see each other. I tried a collar but he was more stressed with it, wind sucking was his comfort blanket.
 
If she is normal/ lean give her ad-lib haylage... as much as she can eat. Doesn't matter whether she is straight out of racing or not. I would only restrict haylage when race fit in training on high concentrate rations.
 
can she be turned out with a companion? walking around and grazing would be good to get her to chill out and maybe take her mind off crib biting..my mare used to crib bite after her feed (was turned out daily but individual paddock)but since being turned out with a companion she has completely stopped and is much calmer in her behaviour...as she is an ex racehorse you may find that ulcers are the cause so i would consult your vet as a priority,,,,good luck
 
I'd not try and stop her cribbing. Both mine do it and I just allow them within reason, ie- I protect what I don't want damaged but make sure they have some place safe to suck on.
I would definitely turn her out as much as possible, your comments about visiting 3 times a day sound a bit like she's stabled all the time?
Just pump as much hay as possible into her!
I've not read about your mounting issues but some racers just are never expected to stand at a mounting block, jockeys just hop on as the lead up and past. ( This may not be your issue sorry!) if it is though it's probably perfectly fixable with patience.
I'd get the help and advice of a good instructor to get the best relationship going. Good luck :)
 
FlorasMummy said:
Anyone have any idea's for wind suckling? Flora had got halfway through the wood at top of door this morning. Put an aliminum door on it but she is biting into that now so I don't know what to do now!! This is my first horse so I have never been through this before.I heard someone saying this makes them unable to put on weight. Is this true?
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I have two livery horses who wind suck and are left to do it by the owner
 
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