Why Do Horses Crib? How Can You Stop Cribbing?
Horses need to spend adequate time grazing.
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What is Cribbing?
Cribbing is a repetitive action done by a horse. The horse grasps a firm object by its front teeth, arches its neck, and sucks in air. Sometimes the action is followed by a grunt. The grasped objects are usually made of wood, like a fence rail, a post, or a stall door; however, a cribber might also use a metal object. For example, we had a quarter horse mare who would often use a metal gate for her cribbing fix. In most cases, a cribber doesn’t actually eat wood, but the cribbing can still take a toll on your fences and gates. Of course, it’s not good for the horse, either!
What is Cribbing?
Why Do Horses Crib?
The act of cribbing releases endorphins in the horse’s brain. Endorphins are hormones that attach to reward receptors and affect the nerves, reducing pain, relieving stress, and promoting a sense of wellbeing. It’s easy to see why endorphins are often referred to as “feel good” hormones.
A horse might crib for a variety of reasons. Perhaps it’s bored or lonely. Maybe it’s not getting enough exercise or mental stimulation. A horse under a lot of stress is also more prone to the behavior. Even an improper diet might lead to cribbing. Pain can also prompt a horse to start seeking relief by cribbing, especially pain in the belly or intestines.
Horses need plenty of time outside the stall.
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How to Stop a Horse from Cribbing
To stop your horse from cribbing, you need to try to discover the root cause first. Have a veterinarian with equine experience examine the animal to see if it’s in pain. If the pain can be identified and remedied, the cribbing might very well stop.
A major cause of cribbing is loneliness. Horses are herd animals and do not like being alone. If you can’t get another horse, a donkey, a goat, or a dog might just do the trick. I even know of a horse whose best friend was a cat!
Another major cause is boredom, often brought on by too much time in a stall. Horses should have “free time” when they can run. If you have to keep your horse stalled for long periods of time, provide some stall toys. You can buy these or make your own. An empty gallon milk jug hung overhead in the stall will give your horse something to do. In a pasture, most equines enjoy playing with a large ball.
Talk to an expert about your horse’s diet. In the wild, horses graze on roughage for most of the day, but the same is not true for many domesticated horses. A small amount of highly concentrated feed takes only a few minutes to consume, which goes against the horse’s instincts. You might need to decrease the amount of concentrated feed and add more roughage that takes longer to eat.
Some horsemen might advise you to use a cribbing collar or cribbing muzzle. In my opinion, however, they can make the situation worse. In most cases, a horse cribs for a reason, and cribbing helps it to cope with whatever the problem is. If you take away that option and not address the root cause itself, the horse will become even more stressed and frustrated.
In all honesty, there's a chance you will never be able to completely stop your horse's cribbing behavior. Success depends on the reason or reasons that caused the behavior in the first place, how long the horse has been cribbing, how consistent you are with remedies, and on the individual horse.
Is Cribbing a Serious Problem?
Cribbing can lead to several health problems. For one thing, a cribber’s front teeth will be significantly worn, especially the top teeth. In some cases, the top teeth can be worn down to the gumline. Obviously, this would make it difficult for the animal to eat properly. There’s also a specific type of colic that cribbers are more susceptible to. Another problem is what the horse might accidentally ingest: wood splinters, nails, or bits of plastic.
On the other hand, some equine experts see no harm in cribbing. They see it as a stress-relieving activity that serves a valuable purpose.
If you have a horse that cribs, be patient. Your getting upset will only add to your horse’s stress. Do your best to find out the reason the horse is cribbing. Even if you never discover the root problem, you can still employ methods to make your horse happier and healthier. First, consult a veterinarian. If he finds nothing physically wrong, get your horse a friend, give him plenty of exercise, provide him with toys, and add some roughage to his diet.
Is Cribbing Always Dangerous?
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
