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by Ditte Young
Updated on February 5, 2024
Estimated reading time: 6 minutesย
Have you ever caught your horse holding onto the fence with its incisors, pulling back, and grunting? This behavior is known as cribbing, and itโs more common than you might think. If your horse does it too much, however, it may become a problem for your horseโs well-being down the road.
In this article, I will cover what cribbing is, what is commonly believed to be the cause of it, as well as what you can do to stop your horse from cribbing.
Cribbing, or crib biting, is a repetitive behavior that some horses develop. Cribbing involves the horse grasping a fixed object โ such as a fence, stall door, feeder, or bucket โ with its incisors and pulling back, contracting the neck muscles and producing an audible grunting sound.
Cribbing is a well-documented behavior in domestic horses and has also been observed in some captive wild horses. The behavior is referred to as stereotypy โ a persistent, repetitive behavior lacking an apparent goal or function. Other stereotypies include weaving, stall kicking, and stall aggression.
Cribbing is a risk factor for several reasons. The behavior wears down the horseโs incisors, which may not immediately cause problems for the horse. However, when the horse gets older, its teeth may be at risk of falling out, ultimately shortening the horse’s life, as horses need their incisors to eat effectively.
In addition to excessive wear on the front teeth, horses that crib have also been reported to exhibit weight loss, poor condition, and abnormal muscling in the neck. Cribbers also seem to be at higher risk for colic, and they are more likely to have stomach ulcers than horses that do not crib.
You might also be interested in: โHow to tell if your horse is in pain.โ
While there are many theories about the behavior, researchers have yet to find conclusive evidence as to why some horses crib. Most agree that cribbing is not โcontagiousโ, meaning that horses do not adopt the behavior after seeing other horses crib.
In some breeds, there seems to be an underlying genetic predisposition to cribbing. The general opinion on this is that an individual horse might have a genetic predisposition to crib, but the behavior does not trigger until the horse is subjected to stressors related to the horseโs lifestyle.
Cribbing has been linked to diet โ specifically to feed consisting of too much concentrate and not enough forage. Research has shown that horses with more grain are more likely to develop stereotypies such as cribbing. The type of grain seems to play a role, as horses fed sweet feed have been known to crib more than horses fed oats.
You might also be interested in: โHow to stop a horse from bucking.โ
Like other stereotypies, cribbing may be a coping mechanism induced by stress or frustration. Recent studies have shown that when horses can perform stereotypic behavior such as cribbing, their cortisol levels and/or heart rate are reduced.
Though the exact reasons why some horses crib remains unknown, multiple factors are likely responsible for the behavior โ for example, a combination of some of the factors above.
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Cribbing is a difficult habit to break. Cribbers also tend to be very motivated to crib. Many handlers find that cribbers will work just as hard for an opportunity to crib as they will for a chance to eat sweet feed.
But simply preventing the horse from cribbing may not be the answer, as horses allowed to crib after being prevented from cribbing for a while tend to increase their cribbing rate โ almost as if they are trying to make up for lost time.
Itโs also important to remember that if your horse is cribbing to cope with stress, preventing the horse from cribbing may increase its stress levels. When deciding whether or not to prevent your horse from cribbing, you should, therefore, always weigh this risk against the risk of health issues associated with the behavior.
Cribbers are sometimes isolated due to the worry that the behavior will spread to other horses. However, as mentioned above, cribbing does not seem โcontagiousโ โ spending time with other horses may help your horse crib less.
Stereotypies such as cribbing sometimes develop when horses are bored or have too much energy and no way to get it out of their system. This is where enrichment comes in.
While not eliminated entirely, cribbing behavior has been shown to be reduced when the horse can socialize with other horses consistently. Giving your horse plenty of opportunity to run, play, and get all its energy out can also help. So, if your horse is a cribber, make sure it has other horses to socialize with.
You might also be interested in: โHow to stop a horse from biting.โ
If your horse is using cribbing as a coping mechanism for stress or frustration, the best thing you can do to help your horse stop cribbing is to reduce the stressors your horse is trying to cope with.
For example, if your horse has become anxious, getting to the root of why your horse is anxious will help you determine how to help ease that anxiety. I have also written a blogpost on how to calm an anxious horse.
You might also have a horse with a personality type prone to becoming stressed. For instance, if you have a sensitive horse, your horse may react to changes with stress, and it may be hard for your horse to adapt. Learning how to work with your horseโs personality type will help you figure out how best to help your horse overcome stress, nervousness, and anxiety โ and that can help reduce or even stop your horseโs cribbing.
You can read more about horse personality profiles in my article: โWhat personality type is my horse?โ
As I mentioned above, there is no conclusive evidence to say why horses crib. While some horses may be genetically predisposed to cribbing, the exact reasons behind the behavior vary depending on the horse.
Therefore, the best way to stop your horse from cribbing is to find out exactly what is causing your horse to crib. The best way to do this is to understand what your horse is telling you. A horse whisperer can help you do just that.
With the help of a professional horse whisperer such as myself, you can learn how to ask your horse why it is cribbing, listen to what your horse is trying to tell you, and get to the root of what you can do to reduce or stop this behavior. Not only will this help you improve your horseโs health and quality of life โ it will also help you strengthen the bond between you and your horse.
You might also be interested in: โHow to stop a horse from rearing.โ
I, Ditte Young, have been a spiritual coach, therapist, and clairvoyant for 25 years. I am the author of three books about animal communication and am known as the most recognized animal communicator and horse whisperer in Europe. Iโve made various onlineย animal communicator coursesย for those interested in learning more.
In my online course, โHorse Personality Types,โ I will help you get to know your horseโs personality profile and gain a new, more profound understanding of how your horse understands you, responds to you, and reads your signals. Myย online animal communicator courses about horsesย willย help you know exactly what your horse is trying to tell you and what you can do to stop your horse from cribbing.
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