Why do horses crib

Why do horses crib2007-11-24 21:23:18

and destroys fence and stall boards.) Cribbing is not only rough

on barns and fences, but it also may be detrimental to a horse's

health. The horse wears down his teeth and swallows air which can

lead to inappropriate digestion and colic. Some equine insurance

companies won't provide insurance for cribbers.To reduce cribbing...

Provide companionship

Allow time to graze and roam

Train and handle consistently and intelligently

Feed less grain concentrate (consider using higher-fat rations)

Feed more roughages (consider using forage supplements)

OCDs have not been reported in free-ranging wild or semi-wild

horses. These animals live as horses have lived for thousands of

years. They spend 90 percent of their time grazing, and the

action of using upper teeth to grab and pull on plant material is

routine.

Horses have small stomachs so wild horses are constantly using

their mouths and always have full stomachs.

Domestic horses -- especially those kept in stalls all day --

spend less than 30 percent of their time eating and often have

empty stomachs. A horse's inability to graze can be a significant

stress that is commonly thought to lead to repetitive cribbing

behavior.

That cribbing can be greatly reduced by allowing horses more

pasture time seems to support this view. Many stall cribbers do

not crib in the field, though the worst cases will crib inside