Windsucking

AmyMay

AmyMay

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Wasn't sure where to put this - so stuck it here.

So - what are our views on windsucking please?? (Ocassional apparently)

Taa
 
Not a fan tbh. Even if the horse was sensational i wouldnt touch it with a barge pole
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Aside from the health risks that can go hand in hand with it, it causes immense problems in regards to liverying them. Many people still believe that the behaviour can be copied and nothing will get them to stop thinking this way. Soooo you get all the "i dont want my horse out / next to THAT horse thanks".

Some livery yards have a blanket policy of no windsuckers, no cribbers, no weavers.

I particularly hate windsuckers but if it was any horse with another behavioural issue (cribbing, weaving etc), i'd want my own place before i took it on (and it really would have to be a sensational horse). Again, purely because moving or selling them is just so difficult and you can never guarentee that you wont need to.

On a more personal note, i HATE the noise windsuckers make which is why i couldn't have one. We had one briefly on our last yard and the noise drove myself and the head boy up the wall so it got sent back to it's owner. If it can irritate me for a day or so, id be awful after a week.

Lot of horses out there without the problems :|
 
I asked a similar question a couple of weeks ago and had some really helpful replies when I was thinking about a horse that windsucks. Some people were saying that they had had a lot of success with stopping the habit with corrective diet and a decent t/o regime. Other people mentioned really good dressage/jumping horses that windsucked and were competiting at the top of their game with no problems.

I think something like windsucking can put a potentially really good horse back into the price bracket of a lot of keen amateur riders!
 
personally if it was occasional it wouldnt put me off all that much (reduces the price though!)

we have had a couple of fab horses that have windsucked, and with the right management i think with ours it has proved to be manageable and reducable and has never effected performance at all.
 
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I think something like windsucking can put a potentially really good horse back into the price bracket of a lot of keen amateur riders!

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Mmm. This horse is being marketed at around half it's commercial value because of it. It is being sold by a friend of mine who sells the odd horse for clients, so reliable source etc.

I wondered too about the feeding and turnout regime.

Would love some other views please.
 
Have a TB mare who windsucks, put her on Coligone and plenty of turn out and the result was very positive, she reduced her amount of time windsucking and has been a happy girl since, although she does start again if anything changes, i.e when they have to come in for a day due to weather and also if she gets stressed for some reason. She also does everything that I want her to do and my other horses are fine with her and do not copy her and they have all been together for 4 years, also I am on a livery yard and they are fine with it....
 
Thanks Heidi, that all sounds very positive. So stress can trigger, as well as being habitual by the sounds of it.
 
Yes stress or even a change in routine can trigger it....... I try to get mine into a really good routine, I know sometimes it's hard, but it really has worked with my girl......
 
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I try to get mine into a really good routine, I know sometimes it's hard, but it really has worked with my girl

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Oh I'm a routine kind of gal - so no problem there.

So, being put off less and less by the windsucking. Am having some pictures posted to me today of the lad - so will let you know if I go for a visit and sit.
 
Stress can definitely trigger - I used to have a BSJA grade A who windsucked when bored or stressed. He was the best horse I have ever ridden and I would never rule out a horse because of a vice. I have also had horses who had vices when on certain types of yard, but were fine when moved. I think if you keep them happy and occupied, you can reduce their desire to windsuck.
 
I stopped my windsucker!! He colicked regularly because of it. When he almost had to go to Leahurst I decided something had to be done. Had a piece made for the stable door. It is metal and very wide so he cannot get hold of it. He stopped overnight. Occasionally has a couple of pulls on a fence post when out otherwise nothing! Result no more colic.
 
My horse is a windsucker has been since he was two now sixteen. Never tried to stop him, couldn't see the point. Has never had any proplems associated with it. The only proplem is the noise, drives me crazy. Buy earplugs along with the horse.
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There's a horse on the yard next door has had an op to cure it! Don't know much more, apart from the fact that it doesn't windsuck any more. The op was done by Graham Russ at Yarm I beleive.
 
depends on the extent of the windsucking - we have a horse that does it around meal times, or if in a long time and bored, but it is manageable and he will have periods where he doesn't do it at all. He is a super horse, and great in every way - we sent him to a training yard when he was 3, only for 2 months, where there was no turn out and he was given more grain then we would have fed him. when we got him back home we found that he had started the habit, (had never had it before he was sent away). it's hard to break, although now he is older (7), and with the right management, it is ok. I would say that on a horse that has been managed in conditions likely to cause this behaviour for a long time, it would be almost impossible to stop completely.
I have seen some horses that are very bad, literally grabbing on to doors, posts etc if anywhere near them, and heard of several that would do it to their knees if a suitable surface wasn't available to them.
So it really depends on how bad you think this horse is....
 
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So it really depends on how bad you think this horse is....

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Well all I've been told is that it's occassional. I will find out more if I like the look of it and think I may want to buy it.

Thanks for your story.
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I have a horse that is constantly cribbing. He still is able to compete and we have very little trouble with colic. We were on a yard and had no problems with other horses. I have tried most suppliments ( bar this coligone, as it is too expensive) and nothing has worked. The collar reduces the habit.

the reason I haven't tried coligone is that I now have two cribbers and £50 a pot is a little out of my bracket.

The habit doesn't stop either of mine competing or keeping weight on, and any colic that I do have is actually brought on by stress
 
My old horse that is now on loan windsucks.

He started after we had him about 3 years - we think because he was so fit (hunting season) and we were snowed in for ages - so he got bored with all his pent up engery...

Anyway - he's now done it for the last 10 years - we went through a phase of colic suffering... but he had an iodine injection which actually sorted him out - so haven't had colic for around 5 years (He is 20 now).

I evented him with no probs, he was a good doer - so no weight probs. He is better in the field.

Had a bit of trouble at livery yards - them not wanting him there. One inisted on a collar - which didn't work (made him more stressed) - so we took it off - then they put him in a stone stable - but he carried on - so eventually he lived out - and is better living out.

Really not had much trouble with him at all really... I don't think it would put me off.
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I have a windsucker and i have never had a problem in stabling my horse at a livery yard. They will sometimes insist on a collar or you criboxing the stable door/field posts. My horse has his own special tie up spot on the yard so he doesnt crib on anyones door. Is one of the best allround safe horses i have ever come across. Only ever had a problem with colic when i kept him on a straw bed and that was because he was greedy and ate it! best of luck with your decision.
 
we made sure the horses had pink powder, plenty of fibre and lots of 'chill' being a horse time.

they seemed fine and never suffored colic etc

as others have said routein is important and keeping stressy situations to a minimum.
 
I have a dressage horse that windsucks for attention occasionally. I brought him in Germany for his ability and unbelievable temperament. It would be a very hard search to find a horse with his trainability and temperament - he is safe and yet forward going! When he arrived he started windsucking 2 weeks after I got him. We told his owners in Germany who had him for 3 yrs and they reported he had never done it before - but we had changed country and routine completely and he learnt it! I could have returned him but then I'd have to try and replace him and that is where the problem starts.

Surely you buy a horse to DO A JOB, and be safe etc etc. How many rider smoke or enjoy a drink .... or worse take drugs! Does that make you unemployable??? It's the same with a horse.

I cannot for the life of me see why people are so anal about vices. Most of them are controllable with a little effort.
 
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I cannot for the life of me see why people are so anal about vices. Most of them are controllable with a little effort.

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I agree to a point Scoobydoo - but as we know life is not that simple.

I am on a yard with a lot of youngsters, so these are the sort of things that I do have to think about. If I kept my horses at home then it wouldn't be a problem.

Thanks all for your thoughts.
 
I've run a big yard with expensive youngsters and agree somewhat that stable vices could be frowned upon. BUT with a little imagination, the odd full grille etc it can be done. I see so many people with the wrong horse because they brought looks or paces and the temperament is not there....... all the horses with stable vices I have had have all been sweethhearts that were often not considered because of their stable vice.

One of mine windsucked for England and was the perfect dressage horse with a very good temperament. We just put up a full grille, removed everything in his stable he could grab hold of and electrified his field. His was attention seeking and he just liked doing it - he liked the buzz it gave him. Never had any health problems in 10 yrs I owned him.
 
Haven't read all replies, but my attitude is that if I had a horse that started windsucking, I'd keep it and try and deal with it. If I was in the position of looking to buy a horse, I would buy one with no known vices.
 
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I would buy one with no known vices.

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Yep Sooty - that is what I have decided. Even though this one ticks all the boxes, am passing on it
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Wise. There are thousands of horses out there, take time to find one that is as perfect as possible and not just 99%.
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Yes boss!
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Sorry Amy but I really cannot stand windsuckers. I can't bear the noise they make or the damage that a lot of them do.
 
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Sorry Amy but I really cannot stand windsuckers. I can't bear the noise they make or the damage that a lot of them do.

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Thanks Tia, decided not to go with it.
 
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