Cribbing Question

[MzCarol]

@candyappy

It may be a mild addiction if you are lucky.

My first horse was a cribber and developed the habit as a 2 year old. I did try a collar but it was an awful experience. I just decided to let him crib and did leave him a spot to do so outside and in. He never gave up the habit even being out 24/7, but truthfully he never suffered any ill effects.

He held his weight beautifully, loved to eat and never had a single health issue. I had him 21 years.

That’s encouraging, thank you. He’s eating very well - picking up weight. He’s still getting used to being outside and developing his relationships with my other 2. I think they’ve realized he’s a baby so leave him pretty much alone I’ve caught them standing close with no ill effects so that’s a plus. I’ve watched him approach the wood posts but he doesn’t put his mouth on them. There’s a very large shed for them so plenty of wood to chew on and he hasn’t touched anything and for that I am thankful.

Honestly, I don’t hear him gulp all that often so crossing my fingers it’ll either stay that infrequent or disappear altogether.

[MzCarol]

@Edre

Trainer had a horse who was a religious cribber. Metal framed stall did not stop him - added bonus, required special dentistry to fix the damage that cribbing on metal did to his teeth. Do not assume that a horse will not crib on metal.

Additionally, my yearling (lives out 24/7 with 24/7 access to hay, grazing, etc) has 2 agemates who crib. One of them cribbed prior to weaning (her dam did not crib). The second picked it up post-weaning (I assume stress/ulcer related). The owner of one has undertaken several approaches for ulcer treatment with no impact on the cribbing behavior (and the other owner hasn’t done anything). Both yearlings remain cheerfully dedicated cribbers.

Just a word of caution to temper your expectations. Ultimately, it really does vary from horse to horse. You can have the most ideal horse management set-up in the world, and a horse will still crib.

I get it. I could be hoping an uphill battle but there is hope until there isn’t. Time will tell. Friday is 3 weeks home and he’s been dealing with getting to know and works things out with my other 2. As he settles we’ll see if things change. I’m in my barn for hours in the evenings and I’ve never seen him touch the metal - that doesn’t mean he doesn’t do it in the dark when I leave for the night He doesn’t gulp that often at all so that’s a plus, too.

[MzCarol]

@Sansena

Can you describe how you’re treating for ulcers? What you are giving, dosage, duration?

Gastrogard 1tube daily for 30 days then taper off over 2 weeks.