What is Cribbing and Why Does It Matter?
Cribbing (also called windsucking) is a stereotypic behavior in which a horse grasps a solid object—like a fence rail or stall door—presses its incisors, arches the neck, and gulps air. It’s not a “bad habit” in the moral sense; it’s a coping behavior linked to stress, confinement, high-starch diets, or past discomfort such as gastric irritation.
What You’ll See and Why It Happens
- The behavior: Grabbing a surface, bearing down with the teeth, then a grunt as air is swallowed. Horses may seek specific rails or ledges.
- Drivers: Limited turnout, low-forage/high-concentrate rations, boredom, social isolation, or unresolved pain (e.g., gastric ulcers). Once established, cribbing tends to persist even if conditions improve.
Health and Management Implications
- Teeth & condition: Excessive wear on incisors, possible weight maintenance issues if severe.
- Ulcers & colic: Cribbing correlates with gastric ulcer risk; associations with certain colic types are reported, but risk varies by individual and management.
- Injury & property: Worn wood, occasional skin rubs under the jaw.
Management options (work with a vet):
- Environment: More turnout, forage-first diets, slow feeders, and social contact reduce triggers.
- Medical: Diagnose and treat issues like ulcers; adjust grain/starch.
- Behavioral aids: Cribbing collars or strap devices can limit the act but don’t solve the cause and must be fitted correctly.
- Surgical (select cases): Procedures such as a modified Forssell may reduce cribbing frequency; outcomes vary.
What It Means for Handicappers
- Cribbing itself is not a reliable speed or form angle. Most affected horses train and race normally if well managed.
- Focus on observable performance: steady work tabs, consistent spacing, and normal late effort matter far more.
- Be cautious only when you see weight loss, dull coat, or irregular training alongside known cribbing—those are the red flags, not the behavior alone.
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