Instructions
Allow your horse plenty of time to graze and roam freely. Horses that are cooped up in close quarters for too much of the day are most likely to become cribbers. Especially if your horse has a genetic predisposition to cribbing, make every effort to allow them as much time in the paddock or pasture as possible.
Keep your horse away from other horses that are cribbers. Sometimes cribbing is a learned behavior picked up from another horse. Ask the stable manager and other horse owners if any of the horses yours shares a barn with are cribbers. Once you have this information, request to place your horse as far away as possible from cribbers.
Place toys and other distractions inside your horse's stall. While toys are not terribly effective in stopping a horse from cribbing that is already in the habit, they are great for providing the necessary distraction and entertainment your horse needs to keep him from thinking about cribbing.
Exercise your horse by spending plenty of time handling, riding and training him. A horse that gets plenty of time for work and play doesn't have time to pick up the habit of cribbing.
Find a companion for your horse. Goats make great companions for horses if you can't get another horse. In addition, they are small enough to share a stall with if your horse spends a large portion of his day in the barn.
Change your horse's diet. In some cases, an imbalance in stomach acid is a cause of cribbing since some think the behavior soothes the horse. Avoid food that is overly sweet or acidic and allow your horse plenty of access to fresh hay, grass and water.
How to Keep a Horse from Cribbing
Horses that practice cribbing will bite a fence rail or stall door, arch their necks and forcefully suck in air. It's annoying for the horse owner and detrimental to the health of the horse since it can cause colic, poor digestion and dental problems. The habit of cribbing is difficult to break, but you can take steps to prevent the vice from forming and keep your horse happy and healthy.