Would you buy a wind sucker if it was perfect in everway?

[Mrs B]

I would take a punt if he is perfect in every way but if you are keeping him on someone else's yard, make sure they are OK about it. Some won't allow because the vice can be copied by other horses.

I'm afraid this is an urban myth: horses don't copy stereotypic behaviour. This is from an article by Rachel O'Higgins, BVMS, MRCVS:

STEREOTYPIES ARE NOT 'CONTAGIOUS'
Owners often regard wind-sucking as 'contagious', believing other horses will copy the behaviour. As such, these horses are often confined away from other animals on the property because their monetary value is usually less than a similar animal free of any stereotypies. However there is no evidence to support this. Development of stereotypies does not normally occur at pasture, and it is unlikely that wind-sucking behaviour would be copied in these circumstances.

When stabled horses show stereotypies (see fig 3.) they must have frustrations over their environment, whether or not they have initiated that behaviour by copying others. Equally the idea that there is a genetic component to stereotypies is unproven. It is likely this idea stems from related horses being kept in similar housing and management conditions.

The entire article is very enlightening and explains cribbing/windsucking well: worth a read

http://equinedentalvets.com/articles/wind-sucking

 

[Daytona]

Yes it would not bother me

 

[Bertieboy]

I would and have!

 

[EquestrianFairy]

I bought a very 'un perfect' horse that (and still does) crib and whilst I wouldn't actively seek out another one and I love my quirky girl to bits I would only grudgingly buy another if it was in fact perfect.

In my case I wanted to find the cause and she had grade 5 ulcers which cost a lot of money to sort out. She now lives out 24/7 as she's being turned away for a bit and she cribs about 2% of the time instead of 50% however I don't know whether this will change when she is brought into work etc.

 

[Mr Nick]

It's been verified countless numbers of times by countless numbers of researchers that horses do not start windsucking by copying others.

Indeed

 

[debsg]

Yes, I had one and stabled him on a yard of an international show jumper. He was never worried that his horses would copy mine and they never did. Mine was always in fab condition, never bothered him in the slightest.