Would this make you mad???

S

Starbucks

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 May 2007
Messages
15,799
Visit site
My dad has a little TB for sale, a friend (or so we thought) from the hunt has a livery who currently has a cob but has decided she wants a TB because her cob is "holding back her riding". Anyway, sounded like a bit of an arse but she came to see him anyway, rode him a few times including jumping and a hunt ride, on both counts he was pretty good (especially for a 5 yo ex racer with a numpty on board!).

He cribs which we have been quite open about, and we've heard though a friend that this friend from the hunt and a local dealer (who specialises in 3 yr old cobs and who also happens to be our farrier) have been telling her "don't touch it with a barge pole if it cribs - they will all be doing it before long!!"

Now, are they a bit out of order or do you think they are right to say this about a cribber?? Bear in mind this horse is great in every way, well put together etc.?

I would personally be inclined to find a new farrier but he does a very good job and so I might hold my tongue. As for the mate from hunting, I think she's being a bitch!
frown.gif
 
Tricky one, but don't do anything rash, good farriers are like gold dust. People will always gossip and give their opinions, and obviously he would be an even better prospect if he didn't crib. I have to say from a personal view I'd take a weaver over a cribber any day. I think you ought to rise above it all tbh, this person's spent a long time trying him and in my experience these are usually the people that turn around and say no....
 
I wouldn't buy a cribber unless it was absolutely something amazing, for very little money. I know the thinking is now to treat the cause rather than the symptom, and vet treatment can add up the $$$. If for whatever reason you choose not to treat the cause, the crib-proofing of the stable and fields is expensive, and a lot of livery owners won't tolerate cribbers for that reason.
 
Recent research has shown that cribbing is caused by an excess of stomach acids. This is exacerbated by feeding cereals and limited forage and in the case of TBs, is quite often caused by weaning far too young. I had a cribber years ago - he was one of the best horses I have ever had, as honest as the day is long and the most fantastic hunter, taking me across Meynell and South Notts Country. A lot of cribbers can be helped by feeding them a forage based diet and an antacid. I would suggest that you tell your farrier politely to check his facts before he insults your horse and also to let him know that it is unprofesional to talk about other clients horses. Cribbing is not "caught" - several horses may crib on the same yard but this is likely to be caused by poor feeding rather than a catching vice. I would never be put off buying a good horse because it cribs.
 
Having had a horse in a livery yard (where I worked) other horses can copy them.. and the damage they do is unbelivable, though once he had a miracle collar on he stopped, but started to windsuck when under saddle
frown.gif
prob cos he wasn't allowed to crib
 
Well this horses isn't something amazing but is cheep, however my horse is something quite amazing, is a cribber, and he certainly would not be going for cheep!!

Thanks TE, we won't say anything to our farrier, he is a dealer and so I expect he's planning on selling her one of his cobs.
smirk.gif
We've all got to look after No.1 after all so I can understand where he is coming from.

It is more the woman from the hunt who has peed me off. she's got a yard full of naughty/bent legged/just crap nags to be fair so I am quite offended actually.
mad.gif
 
Interesting because at my old yard we had a cribber who shared a stable with another horse who was a non cribber - and the horse never learnt to crib despite being in the same stable and field with it at all times and neither did any of the other horses.
 
Hmm, I think people like to jump on the bandwagon with this. Not on my yard, etc... I know a yard of 2 horses, one cribs one doesn't!! I wouldn't be put off buying a cribber. The horse I know probably started because of dental problems.

Yes, I would be annoyed. But I probably wouldn't say anything!
 
I can see both sides of this, I have a bad cribber, we've been asked to move from at least 4 yards because of the damage he's done to the fences even with a miracle collar!! i've had my 5yr old kept with him since birth though and he has never cribbed although he does like to eat tanalised posts!! i always said i would never buy another wind sucker, more for the fact that if you buy one who is known to windsuck and it turns out that it is much worse when you get home you're stuck! he also costs me twice as much to keep weight on in the winter!!

i'm sure if he's a nice lad though and sensibly priced you should have no problems selling him!!
 
LOL, totally the same with keeping my big boy in the winter!! He's a nightmare!! He's also the most talented horse I've ever had though, and I could only afford him because of his vice so I'd have another!!

We keep ours at home though so it's not that much of a problem.. I once took my weaving pony to PC camp though and can;t believe what a slagging the poor boy got!! Prejudiced I say!
mad.gif
tongue.gif
smirk.gif
 
People will always comment on horses wether the comment is wanted or not. They will always express their views if they consider a horse is suitable or correctly priced, or it has vices infact will comment on anything.

A friend of mine bought a cribber for doing working hunter & dressage. She bought him many years ago, he's 19 years old now & she doesn't compete very often any more. He has 98 British Dressage Points & he has competed Working Hunter at County level & been very successful. He also has a jump to die for & accellerates like a Ferrarri.

He has done everything that she ever wanted of him & he's a lovely lad. Does he still crib.....course he does, but he does the job she had him for & more. She also got him cheaper because of this vice. She actually took him out to do some Dressage the other week....he wiped the floor with the opposition.:)

Don't worry, you'll find the right someone for your horse.
wink.gif
 
Thanks T_Z, I think people either like horses for what they are or will want to pick out all their faults to find the "perfect" horse.

Well, all I can say is good for your friend you saw past his little habit and got the horse of a life time!
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Recent research has shown that cribbing is caused by an excess of stomach acids. This is exacerbated by feeding cereals and limited forage and in the case of TBs, is quite often caused by weaning far too young. I had a cribber years ago - he was one of the best horses I have ever had, as honest as the day is long and the most fantastic hunter, taking me across Meynell and South Notts Country. A lot of cribbers can be helped by feeding them a forage based diet and an antacid. I would suggest that you tell your farrier politely to check his facts before he insults your horse and also to let him know that it is unprofesional to talk about other clients horses. Cribbing is not "caught" - several horses may crib on the same yard but this is likely to be caused by poor feeding rather than a catching vice. I would never be put off buying a good horse because it cribs.

[/ QUOTE ]


Actually, even more recent research, including post mortems etc, shows that cribbers have been found to have different levels of the brain chemical dopamine in a certain area of the brain that is responsible for habit forming which makes them predisposed to addictive habits/vices (the same as we'd say some people have addictive personalities) - I have a cribber and she (and my non cribber for that matter, as a comparison) have been involved in further research on the matter.


Cribbing is not catching. In another horse in the yard takes it up then it is because that horse already has the predisposition for the habit and then the liklihood is that the same trigger, or possibly another one, has set off the habit in the second horse - be it due to diet/lack of turn out/isolation from other horses/early weaning.

As I say, my horse cribs - and she's a horse of a lifetime
smile.gif
I love her to pieces. And the fact she cribs is the only reason that I could afford her in the first place. However, I agree with Emma, maintaining the damage they do to the yard is too much, and I wouldn't buy another one.
 
I have owned a cribber, and never once had problems with other horses picking up this vice, but a friend of mine has had youngsters picking it up off older horses, this, might i add totally dismisses the theory of lack of fibre etc. as both these foals which picked up this vice lived out unweaned with addlib forage. I would just be very carefull with babies as they definately copy.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have owned a cribber, and never once had problems with other horses picking up this vice, but a friend of mine has had youngsters picking it up off older horses, this, might i add totally dismisses the theory of lack of fibre etc. as both these foals which picked up this vice lived out unweaned with addlib forage. I would just be very carefull with babies as they definately copy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ummm, I don't think they do. See my post above
smile.gif
 
I dont believe the idea that other horses "catch" cribbing! I read somewhere that the only times another horse might start doing it is if it was unhappy in itself anyway.

I had one and none of my other horses showed signs of copying, and that included a young VERY influential horse! People either really hate cribbers or they dont mind. Having had one, I wouldnt have another unless the horse was perfect in every other way, which in this case sounds right! I hate when people come along and try to put off what could be a sale for you!
 
I went to a stud to see a stallion and a mare was in the field who was a cribber and young horses do copy, her foal at foot cribbed using the mare hock he was 5 months old
 
This person is being very unprofessional as they are your farrier.

However, lots of people won't buy a cribber - and if you have to keep a horse on livery this can be a real probelm.

I was given the heads up about a horse that sounded perfect for me - however it cribbed, so I didn't go and see it. My horse is kept at livery and I certainly wouldn't have been allowed to bring a cribber on to the yard.

However, If my horses were kept at home I certainly would have considered this particular horse.
 
I don't know about cribbing but I've seen a horse imitate another one and start weaving!

It wouldn't bother me to be honest, I'd slap a rug on him and turn him out 247 for the summer to let him chill before bringing in overnight in the winter. So many ex racers crib - can't say I blame them though after being stuck in a stable 247!
 
Mums horse is a windsucker and we kept him with my two for years (like, 10 years) at home and neither of them "learnt" to windsuck from him. She has never been asked to leave a livery yard because of his windsucking but one yard made him use a miracle collar all the time. It made him miserable though. We have tried those feed supplements for an acidic stomach etc in case it was that but nothing worked. He is a fabulous horse in really amazing condition so it obviously does not affect his well being. Its just horrible to watch. We think its a form of OCD!

My cob is a wood chewer when he is stabled 24/7 though, (I think its boredom as he does not do it when out during the day and in at night) I told my current livery yard that we will just pay for repairs to the stable when we leave, its easier that way!!

Cassandra
 
Puppy is 100% right, they DO NOT copy one another when weaving, cribbing, windsucking etc etc. If more than one horse on the yard is doing it then it is because they are BOTH frustrated due to something in their husbandry or management. I find it quite worrying that people still believe the old wives tales that it can be learned from other horses.

Also cribbing collars of any description are inhumane, if the behaviour cannot be stopped by changing the horse's management so that it no longer needs to do it then the horse should be allowed to perform the behaviour as a coping mechanism.
 
[ QUOTE ]
We think its a form of OCD!

Cassandra

[/ QUOTE ]

It is really, it's rather like us biting our nails when we're nervous or stressed, it calms us without us even realising we're doing it most of the time!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Puppy is 100% right, they DO NOT copy one another when weaving, cribbing, windsucking etc etc.

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually that is not quite true.

My mare - who was never seen to weave - started to do so after moving to current yard where she is surrouned by weavers!

Some are just more inclined than others.
 
my horse was stabled with only a partition dividing him from a cribber (ex racehorse interestingly) and he never took it up as a new hobby
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Puppy is 100% right, they DO NOT copy one another when weaving, cribbing, windsucking etc etc.

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually that is not quite true.

My mare - who was never seen to weave - started to do so after moving to current yard where she is surrouned by weavers!

Some are just more inclined than others.

[/ QUOTE ]

Then she is trying to tell you there is something she doesn't like in her new regime. Please listen to her and don't just pass it off as "oh she's picked it up from the others". By acknowledging that she is "surrounded by weavers" you have given yourself the answer - there is something about the yard that is frustrating the horses greatly! Listen to your horses everyone, they are trying to tell you something! You are right that some horses are more inclined to become weavers/cribbers etc (just as some people never bite their nails whilst others do) but they won't start without a trigger. It has been scientifically proven that it is not learned (it is actually to do with beta endorphin levels) but it is a nice excuse so you don't have to go looking for the problem.
No offence meant but there are plenty of scientific papers on the subject if you are interested, or you could just pretend she copied the others.
 
100% agree with Polygon. I've had to endure that old wives tail when I almost bought an ex racer who 'has been seen to weave' - the yard I was already at refused to have her, because they said all the other horses would 'catch it' and their values would decrease. Load of rubbish. It something we learned about at uni in the first week! (BSc Equine Sports Performance)
I really dont like the fact that some poor horses are subjected to cribbing collars etc when its the management of the animal that is the problem

xx
 
I am inclined to agree with Polygon also.
If one horse cribbed or weaved then every other horse surrounding them would do it, but at my farm, only one of the horses cribbs. And of the horses that do weave, the ones who do it are on opposite sides of the yard and cannot see eachother in the stable.

It is to do with the way they are kept, and if all, or most of the horses on one yard do it, it is not because they are copying, it is because the thing that is leading one horse to do it, whether this be them being unhappy with routine, stabling, grass quality etc, is effecting them all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top