Why Do Horses Crib?

Why Do Horses Crib?

“Cribbing” is the act of a horse gripping an edge such as a wooden fence,
grain bin, metal round pen, stable door, etc. with his front teeth, arching
his neck, and swallowing air. In turn, the act of swallowing air creates a grunting
or belching sound. But do note that cribbing and wood chewing are not the same.
There are times when some horses will chew on wood without arching their neck
or sucking in air.

By nature, horses are grazing animals. When forced to remain within a stall for long
periods of time without hay to graze on, they will become stressed. This stress leaves
them open to picking up a vice to distract their idle mind. So the easiest way to prevent
this vice from taking root to take is to ensure that your horse does not stand idle all day
and become bored.

So what should a horse owner do about a cribbing horse?

Dr. Jonathan Magid, Ph. D., an equine veterinarian of the College of Veterinary Medicine
of the University of Illinois, provides the following recommendations:

1. Have your horse thoroughly examined by your veterinarian to determine if there
   is a medical cause;
2. If possible, change the horse’s environment to make cribbing inconvenient and to
   provide some entertainment;
3. A horse would have a difficult time cribbing on objects below knee level, so equipment
   and items such as feed bunks can be lowered. You could also try installing metal strips
   on stall doors and electrical fencing to prevent any damage to the woodwork;
4. Some horses enjoy rattling a plastic container with gravel hung in their stall or have some
   large beach balls in their pasture;
5. Sometimes providing a companion or buddy, such as a kitten or a goat, will keep a
   horse content;
6. Try adding some hay to the diet which should keep your horse busy eating; and
7. Try putting your horse to work. A hardworking horse doesn’t have time for cribbing.

Related posts:

1. How do horses learn to crib?
2. Why Do Horses Pass Out From Cribbing?
3. Colic in Cribbing Horses
4. How do you prevent horses from cribbing?
5. Can You Stop Horse Cribbing By Wrapping Your Stalls With Metal or Rubber?