Wind sucking

[vicky_744]

Hi I’m looking for info on how to try and reduce the amount of time our pony wind sucks.
He picked this habit up from a youngster before we purchased him.
He will do it on anything, hay net, wall, wood, bucket, rugs that are on other horses, any thing he can get hold of. We have tried the collar, the spray, a grazing muzzle which helped but now he’s even doing it on this now. He lives out with 3 other horses, we have tried him in his own field as didn’t no if he anxiety of too many horses. Have tried him in an electric fence paddock but he just gets really low in mood. I can no longer rug him as he is even doing it on this. I’m now arriving in the morning to find him away from the other horses constantly wind sucking on the gate posts. Any advice on what else I could possibly try. Thank you

 

[TheMule]

Asking the obvious- have you had him scoped?

 

[Equi]

I don’t think there is good evidence saying horses learn this behaviour from others, it is more likely it eases some form of stress or pain and then becomes ingrained habit.

First step would be get the vet to examine him looking for ulcers or other unseen pain. When it’s become an ingrained habit I’m afraid not a lot stops them.

 

[Nocturnal]

As the others said, horses don’t learn to wind suck from others, it’s a stress response. First step is to get him scoped for ulcers.

 

[Traks]

100% check for ulcers