Windsucking?!

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iAMASHOWJUMPER

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Basically, I've found my DREAM horse, well, almost..
He seems perfect for me bar one thing...
He windsucks at feed time, and I don't know how much I should be put off by this!
What health problems can it lead to?
Is there any ways I can prevent/stop this without using a windsucking collar?!
Advice appreciated!
 
Horse on our yard wind sucks. He has a collar which does help but he windsucks all the time, or at least tries too.

I do not know much about it but think i am right in saying that it makes them more prone to colic.
 
My lad is a windsucker,he does it when he is excited,eg when we arrive or when he gets his bucket or when he is stressed, vet or very windy weather. Personally it is not an issue for me. He does colic occasionally but we keep him on Coligone and it is getting rarer and is always gaseous. However, I would not use a collar, imho I think they are cruel, as I believe collars will stress them and make it worse. Be aware some people believe it is a sign of gastric ulcers. Also some yards are wary of windsuckers or cribbers because others might "learn" to do it, they don't but it is a bit of an old wife's tale.

Hope that is a little help, but in the end it is down to what you will and won't compromise on. Good luck.
FDC
 
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I share a windsucker ( just after treats/ dinner ) and it hasn't caused any health problems in the last three years ive had him:)

i think it depends on how much they do it and how much it bothers you and others on the yard. Some people went through a stage of worring their horses might copy his behaviour but none of them ever have phew!
 
There is no conclusive evidence that windsucking makes horses prone to colic, but it will, gradually, wear down the front teeth. If the noise doesn't drive you bonkers, then get the horse. PF windsucks. She does it less when turned out and not at all when fed only forage. I'd never use a collar; mostly they don't work and IMO it's unfair to curb comforting behaviour in this way.
 
PapaFrita said:
There is no conclusive evidence that windsucking makes horses prone to colic, but it will, gradually, wear down the front teeth. If the noise doesn't drive you bonkers, then get the horse. PF windsucks. She does it less when turned out and not at all when fed only forage. I'd never use a collar; mostly they don't work and IMO it's unfair to curb comforting behaviour in this way.
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I think it is cribbing that wears their teeth not wind sucking. Some horses don't crib when they wind suck,my lad doesn't, he does a kind of burp thing whilst rolling his neck- if that makes sense.

I believe it does cause my lad's colic because his is gaseous and is at times when he stresses, eg. spring when he gets extremely excited (forgets he is a gelding and has been for some time) but of course they may just be coincidence.

Does the horse wind suck or is he a cribber? Or both? A horse on our yard is a cribber but doesn't wind suck and another I know does both. Be very wary if it is a cribber, a lot of yards won't have cribbers because of the damage they do to stables and fences.

FDC
 
Things to think on: Yes windsucking WILL increase the chance of colic, if the horse has to bite a surface to suck in air it's front teeth WILL get worn down. There does seem to be a link between gastric ulcers and windsuckers, so I'd get the horse scoped to check for this as this can in itself cause colic I believe.

Also consider, alot of yards won't accept them, the noise can drive you mad, like nails across a chalk board to some!! Re-sale ability WILL be seriously affected. In a market like this if you are not sure that you'll be keeping it for the rest of it's life it's something to really think about.

Some horses will struggle to maintain weight, so watch for increased feed bills.

If the horse is perfect and the noise doesn't affect you and you don't need to worry about stabling issues or re sale etc then don't let it put you off. But go into it with your eyes open. The best way to keep a windsucker is out 24/7 with adlib hay and with company. Though because there is no actual evidence either way as to whether it is learnt or not this may affect what horses it can go out with. Having owned one in the past i've been on the receiving end of all this, she never coliced, though she did wear a collar (yard rule, only yard that accepted her, so bound by it!)
 
All the evidence suggests that it doesn't 'catch' or make them more prone to colic. Not sure whose doing the research then tbh.

I am a reasonably (MSc) competent scientist and my cribber (same) colicked 7 times last year and her highly intelligent foal seems to chew wood when she cribs. Suspect horse behavioural research is very low budget. Most others I have spoken to have similar experiences (not with foals but with colics)/
 
Research has been done which shows it is associated with ulcers, you will need to manage the diet carefully as a low fibre diet will cause the horse to do it more. You can also give an antacid supplement which reduces the problem - lots of variations, global herbs etc do them.
Collars solve the problem by inflicting pain when the horse does it so they advise against the use as this is more stressful to them rather than tackling the cause of the issue.
Just about to take a windsucker on myself so will see if the above proves true as this is just what I have researched so far! I have another horse too who I have just took on and he was known to windsuck but on a high fibre diet and 24/7 turnout is proving beneficial as no signs of it so far :)
So if you like the horse and are prepared to try to solve it rather than mask the issue go for it. However if you wanted to sell in future it does often affect the value as people will question like yourself.
 
Sorry for the numpty question but what is the difference between cribbing and windsucking? The two terms seem to get used interchangeably so wondering what the technical difference is...
 
justjoules said:
Sorry for the numpty question but what is the difference between cribbing and windsucking? The two terms seem to get used interchangeably so wondering what the technical difference is...
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Windsucking they gulp air without grasping anything with their teeth, cribbing they will grip the top of a door or fence with their teeth and gulp in air.

I owned a cribber for 23 years and he never had colic.His teeth wore away though:(
 
My mare cribs and windsucks at the same time. She's done it since she was approx 4 years old and is now 26. I've had her since she was 17.

Firstly i've been on several yards with many different horses and not one has tried to copy her... even foals/youngstock, but i have heard this can occasionally happen...

She is hard to keep weight on as she spends a lot of time cribbing out in the field instead of eating, also her teeth are worn down almost to the gums now, so she finds it difficult to pick grass with her front teeth, therefore has to have relatively long grass so that she can get hold of it! Obviously she is a veteran too, and is a TB, so probably wouldn't be a 'good doer' even if she didnt crib!

She's never had colic since i've known her.

I've never used a collar on her, but if she is turned out in a field with no posts/fences to crib on, she gets very stressed after a while and will sweat/shake and become frantic!

At her age we have just accepted that she does it, and that it's just her. She's still looking well at 26 (see image below!) and it has never caused any health problems that we know of. I do think that it will be the lack of teeth that will be the end of her, as the teeth have almost worn down to the gum now, causing obvious issues if she carries on crib biting with no teeth there.

You do have to be aware of gastric ulcers, maybe get the vet to advise you on this.. i dont know a huge amount about it?

Many people have mentioned how the noise is annoying... I've never even thought that! She does make a loud noise when sucking in the air but it doesn't bother me in the slightest, you soon get used to it! :)

I have no regrets of buying a horse who windsucks, she has been a perfect horse for me and the windsucking has by no means got in the way!
 
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Forgot to add image to last post!
 
Oh! also! ( sorry :D )....

I've found that keeping her turned out 24/7 has reduced the amount she cribs by a huge amount..

She was never a hugely stressy horse when stabled but is certainly a lot happier since living out and more relaxed in general, reducing the cribbing! She still does it at feed time and if she's in a field with little grass, but nothing compared to what she was like before!
 
We have a cribber but since putting her on a forage only diet it has reduced by about 75%. She is turned out as much as possible, and has a Himalayan salt lick in her stable which she goes through in a month (large size!)

C/B (or W/S) does not cause colic, but a horse with a sore belly (ie ulcers, etc) is more likely to C/B to relieve the pain, thus the confusion. The air does not pass into the belly.

Those collars are the devils device, I've even seen one that admininsters a shock when the horse cribs, how viscious is that.

If you think you will have a problem with it, walk away now. But if you can live with it, go for it.
 
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