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Discussion on Cribbing & Wind Sucking...
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Member:
Lanna1
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 - 3:01 pm:
Hi everyone,
I've read the article on cribbing/wind sucking and also read some of the earlier posted messages on this topic.
First of all, I noticed that DrO didn't respond to any of the discussions that I read & secondly, no one responded to say that they had used the Vice Breaker (an electric shock given the instance you notice your horse cribbing/wind sucking).
The lady who purchased one of my geldings last year contacted me today to tell me that she's noticed him cribbing/wind sucking on fence posts & even did it on one occassion when she had him tied and was grooming him.
I don't have any previous experience with cribbers except that I've seen them before at public facilities, I've also seen horses with collars on cribbing/wind sucking off their fence!
Is there a cure?
What is the best product available?
And, what is the best way to approach this vice once it's noticed?
Please, any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
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Member:
Annes
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 - 4:59 pm:
My 20 year old TB, Monte, was from the race track and cribbed when I got him. In the 12 years I've had him, I have only had to replace one board because of his cribbing. He only cribs in two places - the board above his feeder (the one I had to replace) and the wood fence where he stands to wait for me at feeding time. His cribbing hasn't given any of the other horses the bad habit. The only vet bill from his cribbing was for removing a wood splinter he got under his upper lip last year. I did try the Miracle Collar once for 2 weeks (you can purchase from most catalogs)and it worked wonderfully....but it made him mean. He hated it so much that when he saw me coming he would run up to me throwing his head and acting like he would run over me. He was so miserable that I gave up and took it off. He went back to being his usual mild mannered self immediately. Monte has pasture access 24/7 with other horses so he is usually not bored enough to think about cribbing. His teeth are in good shape. I made the decision just to let him crib rather than be so unhappy. Others have told me their horses did not react like Monte to the Miracle Collar so, hopefully, your horse would accept it. I do not know about the electric shock - but I think it would be like trying to keep a dog from chasing cars by correcting him only when you were around....it just doesn't work. I know it is a bad habit but I can live with it.
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 - 5:31 pm:
I believe I read somewhere that “ boredom is the root of all vices”, and in the case of horses it really is. Some competition horses are not allowed to run and roll in the mud and have squabbles with their mates in case they injure one of those expensive legs and coats, hence they tend to have horrible tempers and all kind of vices.
Chechen a rescue horse that lived alone for may years and endure some Victorian tortures, used to crib especially when being groomed, some times I would even have to give him a brush to keep between his teeth.
My suggestion is that rather than going Medieval with the torture chamber on the horse, with electric shocks and grids that will give him a back ache, try to keep them amused and make them feel secure so they do not have the need to suck a thumb kind of thing.
Keeping a horse as close as possible to their natural behavior has been the best for me, lots of love, freedom and guidance.
All the best
Liliana
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Member:
Tagloili
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 18, 2004 - 6:50 pm:
There is only one solution I've ever found: Don't confine the horse.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Mar 19, 2004 - 6:12 am:
Lanna,
My thoughts and experiences are in the article on cribbing and I guess I have not read comments by others that needed correcting.
DrO
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Member:
Frances
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Posted on Saturday, Mar 20, 2004 - 12:36 pm:
I remember reading an article on recent research into cribbing/windsucking and their relation to gastric ulcers. Trials indicated that stressed horses which were allowed to crib/windsuck had a far lower rate of gastric ulcers than those which were prevented from doing so. These so-called "vices" seemingly stimulate the secretion of protective ..... somethings. This is where a memory would come in handy!
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