ok my friend has leased a horse for a year but in the contract it states she is not allowed to put a wind collar on this horse to prevent him from sucking - so now we have a potential problem in the stable as he's constantly doing it around in particular my younger horse - we have no where else to stable him but Im worried my horse will start copying him - and also its just bloody annoying! Thankfully I've never had the pleasure of owning a sucker so does anyone have any ideas on how to stop him doing this - without a collar! Ive tried creoting the doors etc but this doesnt stop him. Any ideas appreciated! thanks!!
2006-10-18 23:58:25 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Hi Pamela O,
A very good question, and you are lucky to have an expert online today.
Whether called cribbing, wind sucking, or aerophagia, it is a destructive habit in horses caused by boredom and stress and possibly stomach acidity. Once the habit is learned there is no sure remedy for breaking it. Foals can learn to crib from their mothers and young horses may learn it from others. Before you buy a horse, pony, donkey or mule that cribs make sure you are willing to deal with the damage to fences, trees, and stables and cope with the possible health risks.
I have include a link from my very own website which should hopefully give you some helpful pointers.
Good luck.
2006-10-19 02:02:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Unfortunately there is no cure for windsucking. Once they start they will do it for as long as they are able. I think the best prevention other than the collar is distraction. You could try hanging licks, treatballs to kick about, apples in water buckets etc. You should make sure there is always plenty of food too as they do it far more frequently when hungry.
I would also recommend any young horse be kept out of sight or they will pick it up.
2006-10-19 07:55:52 · answer #2 · answered by A Nonymiss 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make a muzzle that attaches onto the halter and stops them from being able to grab anything. It is like a cage and they can eat with it on.
Many horses that do this have ulcers. They have found that if they are treated for the uclers it stops.
Not in all horses.
Where I used to board there were 16 horses and only one did this and he never taught any others to do it and nobody learned or picked up the habit from him. These horses had been with each other for about 4 years and he was the only one who did it.
He had been kept in a stall when he was young and learned it as a way to releave stress and boredrom.
2006-10-19 09:52:18 · answer #3 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if he is windsucking, which is taking gulps of air and swallowing it as opposed to crib biting in which the horse does the same thing but holding onto his manger or door and using that to help him swallow air, you could use what is known as a "flute" bit. it is basically a bit which is a straight bar, hollow with holes in it like a flute and at each end. with this in, it can't swallow the air as it goes straight out the sides of the bit. if he is crib biting, make sure all the surfaces have either some really nasty tasting substance on it, like Cribbox, or bitter allum, or if you have to do something really drastic, put electric fence wire on the edges of surfaces and connect it, or try carpet gripper - a bit extreme, but it works.
good luck
2006-10-19 07:54:14 · answer #4 · answered by tradcobdriver 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a huge race horse agisted on my property who did this, its consumed his day, it was like he was in a trance.
It is not easy to stop, but it can usually be traced to a problem, most commonly stress or extreme boredom, if she is stabled she may be bored, you could try to curb her attention to something else, like a toy, maybe a salt lick or more turning out in the paddock.
Punishing the horse WILL make it worse as you will stress the horse out, you need to try to either make her forget about it or make it impossible for her to do.
You could try to make the surfaces she is grabbing impossible to grab, like a flimsy board on the top of the post, or (i hate to say it) barbed wire or something spikey.
You need to do this now, not only will the horse get worse, it wont to your fences any good.
Good luck!
2006-10-19 07:15:42 · answer #5 · answered by Krystle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ohh I feel so sorry for you, I have had same problems in
the past, and it is VERY contagious !! I have used all you
suggest with some success, but have found a muzzle most
effective... it is large enough for the horse to nibble his hay,
but not wide enough for him to 'get a grip' !! I had the muzzle
made by my local saddler....good luck
2006-10-19 07:07:40 · answer #6 · answered by landgirl60 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put bars on his door to stop your horse seeing him doing it do he wont copy
2006-10-19 07:25:16 · answer #7 · answered by Mi Yah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to www.horsedata.co.uk/windsucking they have info there.
2006-10-19 07:08:00 · answer #8 · answered by Lucianna 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋