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Post by sonylou on Sept 26, 2011 16:51:24 GMT 1
Hi all, just thought i'd pick your brains and wondered if anyone else has a horse who cribs/wind sucks and has any advice how to deal with it.
It's quite distressing to see and so far the new boy only seems to do it in the stable. I know one solution would be to leave him out 24/7, but all other horses come in at night and I fear the stress of being left behind could trigger him to do it in the field and i'd rather he didn't start that incase he then does it all the time.
He only arrived on saturday so he might settle down with a new routine, i'm going to kit his stable out tonight with lots of distractions but if anyone has previous experience i'd appreciate some pointers.
Thanks :-)
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Post by leanneandposh on Sept 26, 2011 20:15:05 GMT 1
hi there my horse cribs, only in her stable aswell and only does it when shes stressed or stuck in (like just now as were on boxrest) i put her on a digestive supplement and that really really helped her. it was digestive plus i put her on. hope that helps.
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Post by sonylou on Sept 26, 2011 20:45:54 GMT 1
Thanks for that, I've put half his hay on the floor of stable, and put a ball with a hole in it filed with treats in, he loves it! hadn't even thought about cribbing, whereas yesterday he went straight into it after his dinner, so I've broken one habit :-).
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Post by leanneandposh on Sept 26, 2011 21:34:19 GMT 1
aw thats fantastic. well dun. mine has dun it since i got her 2 years ago. bt wen shes in a routine and getting out and amused you never see her doin it. hope ur new boy gets on well though. good luck with him.
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Post by sonylou on Sept 26, 2011 22:28:32 GMT 1
Thanks leanne, i'm sure once the novelty wears off he'll be back doing it, I'll just have to keep one step ahead and keep him entertained!
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Post by chestnuttymare on Sept 26, 2011 22:41:18 GMT 1
Thanks for that, I've put half his hay on the floor of stable, and put a ball with a hole in it filed with treats in, he loves it! hadn't even thought about cribbing, whereas yesterday he went straight into it after his dinner, so I've broken one habit :-). yeah sure you have! Loads of us have horses that do it. Now take my Brooke, she can crib for scotland! She does it in her stable, in the field, being tacked up, she doesn't really do it when she is stressed it is really when she is relaxed, which is probably a bit strange. The way I see it is just the same as having a cig I think your boredom ball will have distracted him for a bit but don't reckon it will have cured it altogether. Some people might advise a collar but please don't, they are horrible, uncomfortable things and stopping them like that can make them really anxious. Sometimes it can be ulcers that cause them to do it but Brooke has been checked and is fine, it is just her wee habit, like me and me menthol cigs People seem to have a thing about cribbing or windsucking but I always point out that there are worse vices to be had, like bucking, rearing etc!
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Post by sonylou on Sept 27, 2011 8:22:28 GMT 1
I agree, he came with a collar but it was giving me nightmares about him being strangled so I've taken it off. If it makes him happy he can crack on. :-)
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Post by lisah on Sept 27, 2011 12:15:50 GMT 1
Hi honey - I totally agree with you both about the collars, they are pretty brutal to be honest. Distraction while in the stable is the key - and I have PM'd you too
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Post by gemmat on Sept 27, 2011 13:20:20 GMT 1
Firstly he has only just arrived so you are likely seeing him at his worst. Once he is happier and settles down a bit he will likely ease off on it a bit. You were not a member but Claire on here too a very neglected wee ex racer called Bally in. When he first arrived he cribbed like mad, it was constant. There was a vast improvement in him once he was more settled. If you want to be sure he does not have ulcers then you can get him scoped by the vet. They prescribe a drug called 'Gastro Guard' for horses that do have them. You could also try feeding him human indigestion remedies such as rennies sweeties and see if that helps him. Good luck.
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Eleanor
Member
The demon in disguise!
Posts: 1,283
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Post by Eleanor on Sept 27, 2011 18:19:15 GMT 1
I'd leave him too it if it makes him happy! Just watch for colic. Oh and make sure he has a metal strip across the top of his door - saves getting a new door every so often
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