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Crib Biting What is Crib Biting?
Crib
biting is where horses use their teeth to grasp onto objects, such as their
manger, or the top of their stable door, then arch their necks and swallow
air.
Crib-biting or wood-chewing occurs in both stable-kept
and grass-kept horses.
Why does Crib Biting occur?
Although a nutritional
deficiency may be an underlying cause, if the horse is being fed a balanced
diet and has free access to a mineralised salt block this should not be the
case. A chronic crib-biter will develop abnormal wear of the incisor teeth
which could lead to digestive problems.
Some say that swallowing air releases
pleasure chemicals in the brain whilst others say that boredom or
frustration brings crib biting on.
It
is possible that crib biting is instigated by the need to salivate. The
horse salivates only whilst chewing.
How can I control Crib Biting?
The
problem can be controlled by minimizing the number of surfaces which the
horse has available to chew:
for example,
removing the manger, placing a strip of metal over the top of the door or
placing a grille on the door.
Don't try making surfaces unpleasant to taste as this is only likely to make
the horse more frustrated. It is better to allow your horse to crib bite on
a suitable surface, such as a hard rubber board, than to try to physically
prevent the behaviour with straps or collars.
Some horses are helped if they have a companion - a small pony, a sheep or a
goat. Others are improved if a solid object, such as a rubber ball, is hung
from the ceiling. Increase turn-out with as little time stabled as
possible. Increase visual horizons e.g. extra windows in the stable.
Increase social contact - grilles between adjoining stables.
Make sure your horse has lots of roughage in his
diet and plenty to chew on during the day.
In a joint project between the
University of
Lincoln and Feedmark horses fed an antacid supplement did not exhibit crib
biting and windsucking as often. Feedmark have launched an antacid
supplement for horses -
Settlelex. For more information call 0800 585525.
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The only mirror suitable for use in a stable or horse transporter
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Acrylic Mirrors may shatter or crack when chewed or on impact leaving
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Stable Vice Questionnaire
Joanna Brewer is
doing her HND final in Animal Science/behaviour specialising in stable vices.
She would be very grateful for any HorseData visitors to
fill in this questionnaire.
Useful Web Sites:
University of Sydney - Horse research sheds light on stable
vices
Horse vices
Recent Advances in the Treatment of
Equine Stereotypic
Behaviour by Daniel Mills
NB Creosote
has been banned for "non-professional" use from May 2003. The new laws have
been introduced following studies that showed a stronger link between
creosote and cancer. You can find the relevant information at
http://ens.lycos.com/ens/nov2001/2001L-11-01-04.html.
Stable
Vices
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