Hi everyone! I was just reading a very informative article on Cribbing at HorseSport. The article explained how cribbing is actually due to changes in the brain, and that there is a genetic predisposition.
Now to my question: has anyone had a horse who has STOPPED cribbing, after a lifestyle change? I would be interested to hear about what you did, previous history etc?
article is linked here: https://horsesport.com/magazine/behaviour/cribbing-what-research-really-reveals/
Two cribbers – one I still have (been with me for 10 years and will be forever) and the other lived to a ripe old age. Nope, neither ever stopped cribbing even while enjoying long term pretty perfect lifestyles.
I’ve had a couple few cribbers. One did stop…when she developed EOTRH. Even “mild” it was apparently uncomfortable enough to curtail her cribbing.
Before that, she had gone from a very dedicated, lift her front feet off the ground because she was so seriously cribbing, kinda horse to an after dinner only, couple gulps, kinda horse. That was just treating her ulcers and making her happier. Sort of like going from a 4 pack a day chain smoker to having a couple puffs after dinner.
I raised a cribber. She’s now 20.
Mom did not crib. Dad did not crib. However, I 100% believe it is a genetic predisposition.
She was 3ish when she started cribbing out of the blue. She lived an idyllic life-- full-time turnout in a 10+ acre field with a lovely herd that included a same-age playmate, two older mares who kindly enforced manners with the youngsters, and the world’s greatest gelding-who-thought-he-was-a-mustang-stallion, who kept the herd perfectly in line with no more than a glance. She ate nothing but good pasture, good hay, and a ration balancer. I don’t think she knew what stress was.
With all that said, this horse’s brain is definitely not wired typically. 
At one point, this mare’s BFF was a very stressy, anxious horse who tried to copy everything my cribber did, including cribbing. But it was hilarious-- she would place her teeth on an object, just like her friend was doing, but clearly could not get the action down or understand the appeal. Eventually she stopped trying to copy. To me, that definitely busts the copycat myth and indicates there needs to be an underlying neurological or genetic predisposition to pick up the vice.
Many years, ago we had OTTB gelding that had to use a crib collar at home but never needed one at a horseshow. (Trainer was happy about that)
I have a 26-year-old that I’ve owned for 11 years. He would crib mostly after eating. He stopped cribbing after I moved him to a boarding barn. Previously, kept at home with another senior horse (who was a bully), shared a pen together and fed three times a day. He is now housed by himself (because his teeth are worn down and it takes him a long time to consume his feed) in a large paddock and fed free choice grass hay. My thoughts are he stopped cribbing because he is now able to eat free choice so less idle time and having other horses on both sides so more companionship but no bullying.
I have one who cribs. Bought him as a yearling, he’s sixteen now. Didn’t start cribbing until he was five. Up until that point he was mostly out 24/7 in big fields with friends and free choice hay. I moved for school and brought him with me, he was fine until I went home for Christmas and there was a big ice storm. The barn decided for safety reasons to keep the horses in and do arena turnout. No one bothered to let me know that my young gelding lost his arena turnout privilege’s because he was knocking down jumps. Anyway, five days of stall rest pushed him over the edge and he started cribbing. Not hardcore, just a couple gulps after treats or a meal. I suspect he was predisposed and if it hadn’t happened then some other stressful event would have brought it on.
When I graduated that spring I brought him home and it mostly disappeared. In the fall I moved him across the country with me, put him on outdoor board. He would only crib if I stuck him in a stall for something, never saw him do it outside.
A couple years later I moved across the country again and made the mistake of moving to a barn that only had indoor board. He was ok for a few months and then started cribbing exponentially more whenever stalled. Moved him back to my parents farm and kicked him out 24/7 with a buddy and didn’t ride all summer (we had just bought our first house). Moved him to my current trainers barn where he’s out 24/7. He now only cribs for a few minutes after meals or treats. At shows he’ll go a few days without cribbing and then once he’s bored of watching he’ll start again sporadically.
I’m not sure that a confirmed cribber will every really stop. But the amount that they crib can certainly go up and down based on management and stress.
There are two other cribbers at our barn. Both were born there, by the same stallion. One started cribbing as a 2yo for seemingly no reason. She was out 24/7 with the same herd and seemingly started out of the blue. She has figured out that if she doesn’t like the texture of an object ie a metal gate, she can rest her chin on the object an pull and crib. Her half brother started cribbing after weaning, even though outwardly he didn’t seem too stressed. Both crib more than my gelding even under near identical management.
I had my horse in a variety of environments-full pasture board, full care, partial training, at home, and boarded. He cribbed in every location but was significantly decreased as I knew his triggers and tried out some solutions. My main takeaways were:
*he did best with an active, varied weekly routine. Hacking, flat work, and things to keep his mind busy.
*he wasn’t a stress-y horse but the cribbing tendency decreased from frequently throughout the day to only after dinner after giving him ViaCalm. He was fed an ample amount of alfalfa grass hay, low NSC feed, and other supplements
*closely monitoring for signs of ulcers and treating immediately
*frequent bodywork. I originally learned about myofascial release professionally as a human modality and followed up with the equine courses. Cribber’s tend to hold a lot of tension in their TMJ and poll, MFR was really helpful in reducing that. An unexpected side effect of the MFR and the calming supp was that he started playing with his pasture mates! He spent way less time cribbing since he was busy chasing the young geldings or loafing with older guys engaged in some bitey face.
Overall, it takes a lot to manage but I did see “good enough” improvements that I felt decently successful 
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