Horse Cribbing: Causes And Solutions

Horse cribbing can be triggered by a variety of factors, including a stressful weaning process, prolonged confinement in a stall, limited opportunities for social interaction with other animals, or an inadequate diet. Whatever the cause, it is a horse’s way of relieving stress. Just like us humans, a horse will adopt coping mechanisms to manage stress levels and when healthier strategies like exercising, social support, and a healthy diet are unavailable, they will turn to a more repetitive, compulsive behaviour for relief. Where we might adopt a bad nail-biting habit or turn to a glass of wine, a horse may start to crib.

In this article, we explain what “horse cribbing” truly means, exploring its probable causes and effects. We also provide valuable tips and advice on effective management strategies, including how mobile field shelters can help reduce stress in horses. By the end, you will feel more confident in understanding and caring for your cribbing horse.

What Is Horse Cribbing?

Horse cribbing is also commonly known as wind sucking and describes when a horse places his upper teeth firmly on a hard object (typically a fence, stall door, water trough, or anything within his reach) and pulls back, arching his neck, and gulping in air into the upper part of his oesophagus with an unusual grunting sound.

Cribbing is one of those cyclical behaviours that once started, is hard to change. It can quickly become compulsive and seems to serve no purpose other than to provide the horse with a way to channel stress and comfort themselves.

Unfortunately, in severe cases, wind sucking horses are at risk of some health problems such as some types of colic. It is also extremely hard on their teeth, and some horses will even often give up food to do it. Prolonged cribbing can wear down a horse’s upper incisors, and in turn, affect their neck muscles and cause other physical problems. The pressures of wind sucking can lead to osteoarthritis of the hyoid (a small bone in their throat). Cribbers that prefer to crib than eat, will inevitably lose weight too, which contribute to further health issues.

Horse Cribbing Causes And Possible Solutions

Any horse owner will concur that environmental factors play a huge role in shaping horse behaviour, influencing everything, including cribbing. Horses are naturally social, herd-oriented animals that thrive on open environments where they can graze, move around freely, and interact with their peers. When these innate needs are unmet by the environment in which they spend time in, horses may develop behavioural issues as a way of coping with their frustration or stress. Let’s look in detail at some of the probable causes of cribbing and how they may be managed or resolved:

Lack Of Forage Or Inadequate Diet

Horses love to graze, not just because it is more fun than being cooped up indoors, but because it involves eating small amounts of fibrous forage over extended periods.  When fed low fibre diets or diets with long gaps between meals, they may develop digestive problems and experience increased stress. Horses that are fed highly concentrated grain-based diets with limited forage may turn to cribbing as a way to relieve discomfort related to their feeding routine.

Possible solutions: 

  • Increase their forage intake by ensuring they have constant access to high-quality hay or grass.
  • Reduce concentrated grain-based feeds to minimise the risk of digestive discomfort and energy spikes.  If your horse needs extra calories, choose a high-fibre, low-starch alternative to provide the balanced nutrition they need without the added stress.
  • Create a regular feeding routine and stick to it Just like us humans, consistent feeding times helps to stop irritability and helps prevent an upset tummy. When it comes to forage-based meals – little and often is best as it is closer to a horse’s natural eating pattern.
  • Embrace feeding toys and tools. Feeding hay in a slow-feeder net can help mimic grazing and help them to eat continuously and prevent long gaps between meals. A slow-feed hay net has smaller holes which makes it harder for horses to pull out large amounts of hay, encouraging them to eat more slowly. Graze boxes are also great tools for slowing down eating. It is basically a container that holds hay in a way that mimics grazing from the ground, which is natural for horses. The hay is placed in a box with a perforated lid or mesh, requiring the horse to pull hay through small openings. It not only slows down mealtimes but also reduces mess and wastage.

Lack Of Company

Horses are naturally social animals. Limited social interaction with other horses can easily stress them out, make them anxious and contribute to changes in behaviour. Lack of company in early life can be particularly impactful on a horse’s adult behavioural traits.  When horses are separated from their peers, they miss out on important social bonding, social skills, and play behaviours, which can lead to loneliness and the development of repetitive behaviour like cribbing.

Possible solutions: 

  • Provide a companion. In an ideal world, horses should be kept in pairs or small groups to promote a natural social life. If this isn’t possible, could you consider an alternative companion such as goats or a donkey to reduce loneliness?
  • Provide more opportunities to socialise. Allow horses to spend as much time with others. Whether you have a group turnout or adjacent paddocks and stalls where horses can see, touch, and interact with each other.  This is an important point to consider when designing your stable layout. For example, Talk Grilles are a great way to allow horse to socialise while stabled.
  • Gentle weaning practices. For young horses, using a “buddy” weaning method (where foals are weaned in the company of other foals or with a calm, older horse) can help reduce anxiety and encourage healthy social development.
  • Enrich their environment. In scenarios where companionship is limited or not possible, use toys suitable to horses, mirrors, or lickable treats to help alleviate boredom. While they are not a substitute for having a friend to play with, then can reduce stress and provide the mental stimulation they need.
  • Refine stable management.  If turnout isn’t possible, try rotating schedules so horses have regular contact with stable mates (such as grooming or standing side by side). This can really help meet social needs.

Confinement And Lack Of Movement

Horses are designed to be constantly on the move, grazing over large areas. When they are stabled for long periods or confined to small paddocks for lengthy stretches, it can lead to boredom and frustration, as these environments lack the stimulation and exercise they naturally crave. Horses with restricted movement may resort to cribbing to relieve boredom and reduce stress.  It is common for horses to be stabled when they are poorly, or when the weather and conditions outside are very extreme. It’s also common for first time horse owners to stable horses in temporary accommodation whilst trying to find the right long-term accommodation for them.

Possible solutions:

  • Increase turnout time even if for short periods when conditions allow. Providing turnout in larger paddocks or pasture areas, where horses can feely move around and engage in natural behaviours.
  • Provide varied environments. If turnout isn’t possible, consider rotating horses between different areas within the stable or paddock to keep their environment fresh and stimulating.  For example, allow access to a covered area or a small, enclosed walking path where they can explore, move and experience new surfaces.
  • Introduce regular exercise. This is crucial for keeping restlessness at bay and maintaining physical heath.  Hand-walking, lunging, or using a horse exerciser will all help rid pent-up energy.
  • Toys and treats as we mentioned above, can help too.

How Mobile Field Shelters Can Reduce Horse Cribbing and Other Behavioural Issues

Unlike fixed stabling, mobile field shelters allow horses access to new locations, which helps mimic their natural grazing behaviours and provides much-needed mental and physical stimulation. These shelters can be moved around the field, encouraging horses to explore fresh areas, engage in natural foraging, and avoid becoming bored with a static environment. This flexibility can significantly reduce the stress and frustration that often lead to cribbing and other stress-related behaviours.

Mobile shelters can also prove a valuable tool in managing herd dynamics. Placing mobile shelters strategically in different parts of the field can help manage space and reduce competition, creating separate areas where less dominant horses can find refuge. By using these shelters as part of a herd management strategy, you can help prevent unwanted behaviours such as aggressive interactions, resource-guarding, and the stress that comes from confined social spaces. The added protection from extreme weather also helps maintain calm within the herd, allowing horses to move in and out of shelter without feeling confined.

For further customisation, many mobile shelters are available with adaptable features to suit specific needs. Options like adjustable walls, feeding slots, or added partitions can be helpful in catering to the unique behaviours of individual horses or groups. For example, shelters with partitions can provide personal space for horses who prefer solitude, while others may benefit from open shelters that encourage group sheltering. Investing in customisable mobile field shelters tailored to your herd’s unique needs can significantly improve their well-being, reducing stress, boredom, and undesirable behaviours like cribbing.

Lastly, mobile field shelters do not normally require planning permission to build, making them a cost-effective choice amongst horse owners.

Positive Takeaways

It’s natural to feel concerned about cribbing, but there’s no need for alarm. Importantly, cribbing is not contagious – horses don’t pick up the behaviour simply by observing others. Research suggests that cribbing is not learned but rather a behaviour some horses are predisposed to due to their unique neurological makeup. Some horses may spend plenty of time around cribbers without ever adopting the behaviour themselves.

One often overlooked benefit of horses that crib is their strong sense of perseverance. Studies indicate that horses who display stereotypic behaviours, like cribbing, often show a remarkable ability to stick to routines. This perseverance is part of what drives them to crib in the first place, as it offers them a way to cope with stress. However, this same trait can also make these horses especially well-suited as school or lesson horses, as they tend to form and maintain habits reliably.

If a horse is neurologically wired to crib, trying to prevent them from doing so can actually increase their stress. Instead, the key is to address the root causes we’ve discussed in this article and to implement practical solutions that help relieve their stress and enrich their environment. Cribbing horses are just as intelligent, capable, and full of personality as any other, and their cribbing shouldn’t define them or be seen as a flaw.

So, if you have a committed cribber, why not try some of the solutions outlined here? From dietary adjustments to environmental enrichment and the introduction of mobile field shelters, each strategy offers a positive way to improve your horse’s well-being. If a mobile field shelter is part of your plan, we’re here to help you find the ideal setup. Contact us today to speak to an expert and learn more about our quality shelters designed to support your horse’s needs.