Cribbing, Wood Chewing & Windsucking
Windsucking / Cribbing
Definition: is a compulsive behavior or "stable vice" seen in some horses. It involves the horse grabbing a solid object, such as the stall door or fence rail, with its incisors, arching its neck, pulling against the object, and sucking in air.
Causes
- Boredom
- Research is indicating the cause may be due to acidity build up in the horses stomach. Due to feed concentrates
Stomach Acidity
Horses naturally graze for ~16 hours per day. Constant grazing keeps stomach acidity balanced.
Saliva also helps regulate acidity - but saliva is only produced when chewing.
Solutions
A multifaceted approach should be taken - Cause, and discouraging the behaviour.
- Ensure adequate daily paddock exercise
- Avoid constant stabling or yarding.
- Provide unlimited hay - Ensure it doesnt run out. The horse will self regulate intake after a few days.
- Social interaction or stable toys.
- Behaviour - Treat stables and fences with CribX
Wood Chewing
Does not involve sucking in air; the horse simply gnaws on wood rails or boards as if they were food
Causes
- Boredom
- Possibly deficient in copper or lime
Solutions
- Ensure constant access to hay.
- Addition of copper to their diet - Place a piece of copper pipe in the water trough, or Mineral Salt licks.* Check with your vet first.
- Behaviour - Treat stables or other wood areas with CribX