Cribbing Cures

Cribbing in horses is somewhat like the habit of smoking in humans. Cribbing is learned out of boredom, usually from a buddy, and it is very hard to cure. The reason it is so addictive is because it triggers a release of endorphins in the horse as he arches his neck, contracts his larynx and allows air to travel into his stomach. The endorphins give the horse a high and he becomes addicted to the feeling.

  1. Eliminatng Opportunity

    • For some cribbers, especially those that have just started, eliminate things with edges onto which they are able to grab hold with their teeth to crib. Do not let the horse have a stall with a window ledge, be corralled in board fencing or have a run-in shed with a manger. Horses that have cribbed for years are much harder to break of this habit. In extreme cases, horses crib on the withers of other horses. Try to always keep hay or grazing available to horses that crib.

    Electric Devices

    • Using electricity sometimes helps keep the horse away from areas that allow her to crib. Stall walls and board fencing are able to be electrified to keep the horse away from cribbing surfaces. Some trainers also use electric shock collars on horses. Every time the horse cribs, the trainer shocks her, so the horse no longer assimilates cribbing with the endorphin high. The only thing with the electric collar is its use needs to be consistent.

    Cribbing Collars

    • Cribbing collars are straps of leather that are placed around the neck and put pressure onto the larynx. The idea is that the larynx is not be able to open up enough to give the horse the same satisfaction. For horses that have recently learned to crib, cribbing collars tend to cure cribbing. For horses that have cribbed for quite some time, the collar initially hinder them, but they eventually condition themselves to be able to crib around the collar. What usually happens is these horses develop large neck and throat muscles.

    Forssell's Procedure

    • Forssell's Procedure is a surgery that is done to a cribber to eliminate the ability to contract the larynx. The surgery cuts muscles and nerves in the ventral neck region. Some critics do not like this procedure, which has a 60 percent success rate, according to the Alpha Horse website. Horses that have had it done do not seem to be bothered. Rarely are there any scars from the surgery, and it is usually safe.