Windsucking

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Henbug

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My sisters 9 yo pony gradually started windsucking from when he was about 4, it started with him just fiddling with his bolt, then he was chewing on it, then pressing down on it with his teeth, etc until now he is properly windsucking on his door (or anywhere else that he can manage). We have tried putting a suplament in his feed (called cribox, I think) which I don't think really helped (if it did it was so minimal that I could'nt tell), we have this stuff that we spread on the top of his door (and anywhere else we can find that he might be doing it) and this seems to work well, except that when he puts his head over his door he gets it all over his neck and it takes 3 washes to get rid of it. So, does anyone have any experience of things to help e.g. feed supplaments, does anyone find that those collars help, and what are the possiable reasons and consequences of him cribbing.

Thanks for reading my long long post and any help would be really appreciated. thanx
 
The reasons he's doing it is very possibly due to high acid levels in his gut, which may have lead to ulcers. The horse will windsuck in an effort to alleviate the pain or discomfort caused by this acidity.

Although the cribox may stop him doing it, you need to look at reducing the acid levels in his gut, so that he no longer needs to do it; keep hard feed to a minimum and feed him lots of fibre instead, ie chaff-based feeds (with oil if he needs energy) and access to hay or haylage at all times (if he is a fatty this can be soaked).

By giving him ad-lib hay the pony will then be 'trickle feeding', which is how horses naturally eat, in that they are eating little amounts constantly, therefore reducing the acid levels of the gut.

Coligone is an excellent supplement for windsuckers as it acts as a buffer to the acid and really calms the gut - you can order it from www.coligone.co.uk I would really recommend you try him on this, it is great stuff.
 
My horse was 9 when I got him and windsucked badly enough to colic at least once a month. I had a metal piece made for the top of his door. it is too wide for him to get hold of and amazingly it stopped him. He does it very occasionally in the field. It doesn't appear to have caused any problems in his behaviour and he seems a happier. if a little fatter. horse. He is now 13.
 
Thanks very much for all your help I'll have a look on new lounge and see what came up there. Thanx
 
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