cribber

trackgal · Postby **trackgal** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:56 am

Well, my newest boarder is a "cribber" does anyone have any devices they can reccommend? I havn't had a cribber at my barn in years, (yes he has a gorgeous pile of hay in front of him and he'd still rather crib) he is wearing a basket muzzle but he gets sore's on his nose, anyone have any other idea's ? Thanks!

Laurierace · Postby **Laurierace** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:12 pm

There are any number of devices that you can try. None of them work on every horse but if you play around with enough of them you can usually find something that does the trick. I always start with an old stirrup leather and go from there. Some do well in the miracle collar, some do well with the nutcracker type. Its just trial and error.

ratherrapid · Postby **ratherrapid** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:43 am

though its been a while since i had a cribber, my memory, you never stop it. i'd think you avoid cruelty to the horse with "devices", and reduce cribbing opportunities. if its stalled, chicken wire the edges and position buckets in such a manner that cribbing is difficult. distract the horse with activities.

if the horse is pastured, there's the danger that it will induce others to crib. again, believe you have to reduce opportunity by eliminating cribbing sites. at some point maybe, they'll come up with a behavior collar involving electrical conditioning.

griff · Postby **griff** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:32 pm

Don't accept cribbers

griff

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:25 am

Where he's cribbing you can also paste some cheyenne pepper

Mood Swings · Postby **Mood Swings** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:03 am

Some cribbers are relentless and very destructive. Hopefully your newest boarder is not one of these :wink:

We had a mare arrive recently that was a terrible cribber, until we put the miracle collar on her. It has virtually stopped her cribbing. She and her foal are outside for 22 hours a day with a lot of pasture and friends which I believe curbs boredom.
There are a variety of pastes and sprays that can be applied to wooden surfaces as well if the horse is in a stall for large periods of time. Unfortunately they are almost always messy to apply. Cribbox ointment works well.

Good luck

cng · Postby **cng** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:40 pm

Best method I've found is a .357 Magnum.

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:54 pm

Well it's a boarder so the OP can't SHOOT the horse. The Weaver Miracle collar is the best thing I've found.

Cree · Postby **Cree** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:43 pm

My gelding is a cribber. I don't like him wearing his strap in the field because he's out with other horses that grab whatever their buddy is wearing (blankets, halters, etc.). He usually doesn't need it in the field, he has friends to play with and hay and grass to eat, although I have noticed when it's dinner time he stands at the gate and cribs on the fence post.

He also likes cayenne paste, so that doesn't work! He respects the cribbing strap, but if it's not super tight, he can work past that.

He cribs the worst in his stall, especially after getting a treat (carrot or peppermint). The best idea so far is eliminating ANYTHING he can grab a hold of in his stall. This has really helped. But....I think with cribbing it's a case by case problem.

majxmom · Postby **majxmom** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:19 pm

I've had very good success with just letting a horse be a horse. While cribbing can be habitual, it is often a response to pain, especially gut pain. I feed my horses alfalfa for one meal, and the alkaline content helps reduce acid in the gut. 24/7 turnout with other horses can really reduce cribbing. A vitamin supplement and worming can help. Finally, make sure a vet has a good look at his teeth. A bad cribber will have worn off his front teeth, but look for other sources of pain.

I've owned four horses in my life that were cribbers, and three of them stopped. The fourth I bought this year, and she has reduced her cribbing tremendously. All of them have been horses that used crankiness to discourage human contact, so that lets me know that there is a lot of anxiety there. Please be a good horseman and be sure to investigate possible causes for cribbing. Don't just put a tight strap on the symptom.

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 1:36 pm

Cree wrote:My gelding is a cribber. I don't like him wearing his strap in the field because he's out with other horses that grab whatever their buddy is wearing (blankets, halters, etc.). He usually doesn't need it in the field, he has friends to play with and hay and grass to eat, although I have noticed when it's dinner time he stands at the gate and cribs on the fence post.

He also likes cayenne paste, so that doesn't work! He respects the cribbing strap, but if it's not super tight, he can work past that.

He cribs the worst in his stall, especially after getting a treat (carrot or peppermint). The best idea so far is eliminating ANYTHING he can grab a hold of in his stall. This has really helped. But....I think with cribbing it's a case by case problem.

Re cheyenne paste......my paste consists of cheyenne pepper, and the worlds hottest hot sauce mix together and paint on wood... No horse will bite there twice!

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 7:52 am

I think Cheyennes were Indians, and the pepper is cayenne.

wilf · Postby **wilf** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 9:05 am

I LOVE CRIBBERS! Every one that I have trained was a stone cold runner, I guess it was from the endorphin high they got from the practice. Any way my old warrior at home is a cribber and over the years I tried to reduce the gas colics he would bring upon himself and finally settled on a simple broad nylon strap around his throat about 2 inches wide, I would cover it with sheepskin similar to those that you slip onto your halter for a long journey, this prevents rubbing and works well.

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:01 am

madelyn wrote:I think Cheyennes were Indians, and the pepper is cayenne.

Indian pepper....lol...

ooopppsss

Cree · Postby **Cree** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:07 pm

I know he cribbed like crazy at the track, and his front teeth are worn funny.

I've noticed a connection to when he gets a treat to when he cribs, especially mints. He eats one, he takes a little crib. I wonder if the cool sensation from the mint and air feels extra good.

He's my endorphin addict.

But, actually, he doesn't crib that often anymore and I've preferred keeping the strap off of him. He has found a place in his stall to grab onto, the frame of his window looking out of his stall. But, hey, it's so small, I think it takes him more time trying to grab a hold of it, than it does to crib.