Simple Ways To Prevent Cribbing

Cribbing happens when a horse swallows air. By definition, someone who does not know a lot about horses would think that this is nothing serious but for a horseman who has dedicated all his time and effort raising horses. This is something that is painful to witness. Cribbing is done by a horse who gets an immobile object by pressing its teeth against the object and then bend its neck before he swallows air into his throat and lets out a belching or grunting sound.

There is a great uncertainty as to why horses do this but most experts believe that cribbing is done out of boredom. This thing that horses do to battle boredom becomes a habit. This is because of the pleasure that the horse gets when he cribs.

Cribbing may be a source of a lot of problems related to the horse's health conditions. Among the many effects of cribbing are: dental problems, indigestion and gastrointestinal concerns caused by the air that is sucked down the horse's throat. The worst thing that may happen because of cribbing is the death of a horse if it is done very often.

Unfortunately, once cribbing manifests in a horse's behaviour, it will not be a very easy task for a horseman to get his horse to stop. The best way to handle this problem is to avoid the occurrence of such activity.

The first thing you should do to prevent the happening of this bad habit is to make certain that your horses get enough activity so that boredom does not persist. Since they are, by nature, foragers, keeping them confined in stables over long periods of time can be a cause for them to feel stressed and bored. And when they are bored they will try to look for something to do to get them out of their boredom. It is important that you provide your horse with a toy that he can play with inside the stable. Also, allot a time for your horses to be able to grazie in a big pasture.

Stress may be a result of pain, distress or unease. Horses feel good when they are cleaned and well-groomed. Improper grooming leads to anxiety which can lead them to resort to cribbing. Keeping your horse clean will make them feel happy and contented even when they are left in a stable for a long period.

Like what they always say, prevention is always better than cure so take this measures and you will be ensured that the chances that your horse will crib will be reduced.

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