by Ashley Daily
Cribbing — also called “crib-biting” — can be an annoying, destructive behavior for horse owners, who often try a variety of “treatments” to stop it. But before attempting to curb the behavior, it’s important to understand a little about why horses crib.
Understanding Cribbing
Cribbing is a stereotypic behavior in which a horse grasps an object — such as a fence rail or stall door — with its incisors, pulls back, arches its neck, and emits a characteristic grunting sound. Cribbing is often brought on by a combination of factors including stress, boredom and diet. Some research suggests a genetic component that makes certain breeds more likely to engage in the behavior.
A 2009 Cornell University survey included more than 3,500 horses. Of those, 162 were identified as cribbers, with 13 percent being Thoroughbreds and 5 percent Quarter Horses. Cribbing has not been observed in wild, free-roaming horses but has been seen in captive wild horses. Interestingly, cribbing is less common in donkeys and mules.
Cribbing will sometimes show up when a horse is young, most likely due to the stress of weaning.
“It’s usually a learned behavior,” says Dr. Logan Kembel-Whitfield of Equine Medical Associates in Edmond. “A lot of horses will pick it up from their mom or a cribber in the barn while they’re babies.” Curbing a foal’s cribbing is often easier and more successful than waiting until adulthood, when the behavior has become ingrained.
In some cases, cribbing can be caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Humans aren’t the only ones who suffer from heartburn after consuming certain foods. GERD is caused by stomach acid rising up into the esophagus, resulting in pain or a burning sensation. If your horse cribs during mealtimes or directly after eating, GERD might be the culprit.
Since the exact cause of cribbing can’t always be pinpointed, completely eliminating the behavior isn’t possible. Opinions also differ on whether or not to allow horses to crib, as it can be used as a stress reliever and coping mechanism.
Recognizing the Risks
Cribbing does pose a few health risks, however. Horses who crib can quickly wear down their incisors. “Protect them as best as you can by not having metal or something wood for them to chew on all the time to damage their teeth,” says Kembel-Whitfield.
Cribbing can cause weight loss in horses that spend more time cribbing than eating. It also increases their risk for certain types of colic, including epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE), a condition in which a portion of the small intestine becomes trapped between the pancreas and the liver. A 2004 study looked at 419 horses treated for EFE. Of those, 47 percent were cribbers, while 53 percent developed EFE with no history of cribbing. Horses that crib are also more likely to develop temporohyoid osteoarthritis.
Kembel-Whitfield has firsthand experience caring for a cribber. “With my personal horse, when I tried to take everything away that he could crib on, he found a girlfriend in the pasture who would let him crib on her. Some of them are bad enough that they’ll find a way,” she explains.
Managing the Behavior
If your horse cribs, start by talking with your veterinarian to rule out any health issues. Studies have shown a link between cribbing and digestive problems, such as ulcers. Once health concerns are addressed, examine your horse’s lifestyle. Stress can result from a lack of forage, a high-grain diet and little turnout. Ideally, horses should have 24-hour access to pasture, though that isn’t always possible, so ensure they always have hay available. Stall toys can provide mental stimulation, and rubber-padded cribbing boards offer a safe outlet while protecting their incisors. Because cribbing is often stress-related, ask your vet if a calming supplement would be beneficial.
Cribbing collars — leather straps that horses wear around the throatlatch to prevent cribbing — can be purchased, but some still manage to crib even when wearing the device. Kembel-Whitfield advises keeping a close eye on your horse while he is wearing the collar, paying special attention to any rubs. “If they have prominent neck vertebrae, they can get rub sores. Make sure the fleece padding stays in place,” she says.
Proper fit is also important. It should be snug but not so snug as to interfere with airflow or eating and drinking. You should be able to slip one to two fingers under the collar. Keep in mind that once cribbing is ingrained, some horses will continue their behavior even after management changes.
Cribbing still isn’t completely understood, but researchers have shed light on the behavior over the years, challenging the old assumptions that once kept people from purchasing known cribbers and potentially missing out on a trustworthy partner.
Dr. Daniel Burba, McCasland Professor of Biomedical Lasers at Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, agrees that these outdated beliefs still persist — even though cribbing rarely limits a horse’s quality of life or usefulness.
“Unfortunately these assumptions are still out there with some scientific backing, but the incidence of causing problems is quite low,” he says. “Cribbing is displayed in approximately 5% of the horse population, which is a fair amount. However, cribbing does not deter from the ability of the horse to perform their function or be a great companion. These horses can live a wonderful life, but management and husbandry is important. Little to no stall confinement and plenty of roughage as well as physical activity is key.”
