crib biting

[twigs]

why are horses that 'crib' sold cheaper
I know it s classed as a vice (or think so anyway) but is it a serious condition?

[Kimmy C]

I dont think so, generally it does not interfere with their performance at all. Some yards dont like crib biters as they say horses can copy but I think that is just a myth. Dont know if it could effect their digestive system, i.e. give them colic or anything like that.

[Sunshine-x]

cribbers are more prone to colic, they wreck stable doors and it is true other horses esp youngsters do imitate them.

[Lot1983]

Because it can be a symptom of something else, plus it could also come with other vices suchs as box walking, because the horse may be a poor doer because of it, because you have to move to a nice quiet barn after they chewed through the metal strip on the other door:rolleyes:

[PacerPassion]

Plus, they end up losing weight as they lose the ability to graze well when they are older, not great in the winter.

[twigs]

thanks for replies,
seen some horses for sale recently for next to nothing just because they cribbed, is there any reason (apart from copying other horses) for them to start doing it?

[kitcat2]

Some horses can crib and it doesnt reli affect them :) Depends how bad it is etc like anything :)

[Peace]

Some people believe horses crib because they have ulcers or other digestive problems. I haven't read the current research, so I don't know if it's been proven one way or another. Anyway, as mentioned above, cribbers may be poor do-ers and cost more money to keep in weight. Ulcergard can help some horses, but it's expensive.

Also, a cribber can prematurely wear its teeth and have dental and digestive problems as a result, plus bigger dental bills.

The big reason for not buying a cribber is that many boarding stables won't have them. My YO will not. Cribbing can damage fences and doors, as said above, and whether it's true that other horses copy the behavior or not, many people believe this is true and the YO can lose boarding business because of a cribber. Plus, my YO says cribbing horses just drive her crazy.

So you may have a problem finding a place for a cribber to live, if you don't own your own stable.

[Fresco-z]

Anxiety, stress, and boredom can all lead to crib biting. I have a cribber, with plenty of turnout, excercise and something to keep him occupied, like hay or a turnip, he's not too bad.it means you have to manage hay and turnout carefully to avoid boredom or stress. DJ has destroyed his feed trough, rugs, the door and when I first got him he used to bite himself if there was nothing else!

[eml]

Intersting article in H&H I think last week suggesting that cribbing horses may be better competitors.

Peace is correct though in saying that unless you have your own place livery yards may not take them.

[Returning_Rider]

I know this might sound daft, but is it possible that some horse may crib because of being depressed, as well as being bored, stressed, etc??

I got to wondering this since a horse biting itself is the same as a person self harming through severe depression and I was wondering if it's possible that some horses may be depressed in some fashion or another.

[learningcurve]

I have a potential cribber.

Is very stressed when stabled, paces, rears threatening to jump door and small amount of cribbing.

He lives out.

[rtk]

Our youngster tried it for a few weeks when we first bought her, and then again when we moved yards. I think it was stress and luckily she only did it in the stable.

I know owners of confirmed crib biter dont rate it, but I covered everything in Cribbox and she soon stopped. Luckily she settled quickly and didn't start again.

[twigs]

googled it last night, and found an article that said, cribbing realeases something in the brain, giving the horse the impression that its full and doesnt need to eat, many horses can deteroirate quickly (not exact words, old brain hasnt fired up yet) no wonder they are cheap
theres a few on the yard i ride at, must ask about them

[Returning_Rider]

I'm wondering if it is a problem that can be rectified with a change in the horse's routine or perhaps a change of location? :)

I would imagine that with each horse, there's surely bound to be a way to help encourage a horse away from cribbing, at least I would like to hope so anyway :)

[fairlady]

I had a horse that both cribbed and windsucked. She would grab a post and gulp in air.

They are sold cheaper because

1. They are more prone to colic, especially 'spasmodic' colic because they
are at a 'post' rather than grazing.

2. They tend to lose weight and condition more quickly. Also their teeth
tend to 'wear' far more quickly resulting in more dental visits than a
horse without this 'habit/vice'.

3. They can eventually loosen the posts in a paddock or wreck stable
doors etc., which is why some Yards won't even take them.

There are lots of threads on here about cribbing/windsucking and theories
as to WHY a Horse cribs/windsucks. I know with the TB I owned it was
well ingrained by the time she came too me. I always attempted to leave
her out unless the Weather was really bad, i.e. snow. She was happier outside but would still stand at a particular post all day.

[IrishDQ]

My TB windsucks but it wouldn't put me off buying a horse at all. I have a collar on him to try and stop him swallowing the air as I don't want him getting colic but it doesn't stop him holding onto the fence. (at the moment I have a rail to screw back on!) but it doesn't affect his grazing because he has nothing to hold onto in the field. (there are a couple of wooden posts but he doesn't seem to use them) I can see how it could possibly be an issue in a livery yard though if they had post and rail paddocks, wooden stable doors etc!