🚀 Quick Summary
- The Myth: “Cribbing is a bad habit caused by boredom.” (Only partly true).
- The Science: Cribbing produces Saliva. Saliva is Bicarbonate (Antacid). Horses crib to buffer their own stomach acidity.
- The Fix: Treat the ulcers FIRST. Studies show Omeprazole reduces cribbing frequency significantly.
- The Collar: Use with caution. Stopping the behavior without stopping the pain leads to sky-high stress levels.
Table of Contents
Open Table of Contents
1. The “Self-Medication” Theory: Why They Do It
Watch a cribber closely.
- Grabs the fence with incisors.
- Arches neck and swallows air (Aerophagia).
- Produces massive amounts of frothy Saliva.
Research (Mills et al.):
- Saliva has a pH of ~8.5 (Alkaline).
- Stomach acid has a pH of ~1-2.
- Conclusion: Cribbing is a physiological attempt to neutralize gastric acidity. It is a coping mechanism for pain.
2. Does Cribbing CAUSE Ulcers or vice versa?
Both. It’s a vicious cycle.
- Pain -> Cribbing: The initial trigger is often weaning stress or high-grain diet (Acidosis) which causes pain.
- Cribbing -> Gas: Swallowing air bloats the stomach/intestine, causing mild colic.
- Stress -> Ulcers: The inability to graze 24/7 causes stress -> Cortisol -> Ulcers -> More Cribbing.
3. Treatment Approach: Diet & Drugs
If you buy a cribber, do this immediately:
- Scope: Check for Ulcers. 80-90% of cribbers have them.
- Treat: 30 Days of Omeprazole (Gastrogard).
- Result: Many horses stop or reduce frequency by 50% once the pain is gone.
- Forage: Remove ALL grain. Feed Free Choice Hay (Slow Feeder).
- Why: Chewing hay also produces saliva, replacing the need to crib.
4. Cribbing Collars: Tool or Torture?
The Debate:
- Pro: Prevents destruction of property and potentially colic/teeth wear.
- Con: Prevents the horse’s only coping mechanism.
- Study: Horses forced to wear collars showed higher cortisol levels + worse ulcers than those allowed to crib.
Recommendation:
- Fix the root cause first. Treat the gut. Change the diet. Turn him out 24/7.
- Use the “Miracle Collar” loosely only if necessary to save the barn.
- Better Option: Paint surfaces with “No Chew” or install metal caps. Let him crib on a designated “Cribbing Post” (Rubber covered).
5. Supplement Support for Cribbers
Since cribbing is Dopamine-driven (addiction):
- Magnesium: Calms the nervous system.
- Tryptophan: Precursor to Serotonin (Happy hormone).
- Antacids: Feed Calcium/Magnesium Carbonate (e.g., U-Gard or Outlast) before every meal. If he has a buffer, he might not need to crib.
6. FAQ: Is it contagious?
Q: Will my other horses learn to crib from him? A: Probably NOT. It is widely believed to be a “learned vice,” but studies show horses do not mimic cribbing. It is genetic + management based. However, if all your horses start cribbing, check your feeding program (Too much grain? Too little hay?).
🏆 Final Verdict
Behavior is Communication. A cribbing horse is screaming: “My stomach hurts.” Don’t just strap a collar on him. Listen. Scope him. Treat him. Feed him fiber. Turn a “Vice” into a “Diagnosis.”