Exploring the Compulsive Behavior of Horse Cribbing

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Written by Jennifer Geer

Published: December 31, 2024

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Horse cribbing on fence rail
Carol Hamilton/Shutterstock.com

Domestic horses sometimes engage in stereotyped behaviors (a repetitive movement that appears to have no purpose or function.) In horses, these behaviors may include cribbing, pawing, head shaking, weaving, and windsucking. Today, we’re taking a closer look at the compulsive behavior of horse cribbing, also known as windsucking or crib-biting.

In the video above from My Horse University (MHU), two horses are behaving in a strange manner. You can watch as they place their top teeth on the top of a wooden post and pull backward, taking air into their lungs and letting out a grunting sound. The two horses each take turns performing the behavior. This is horse cribbing or crib-biting. Why do horses do it and can it lead to problems?

Handsome Peruvian Paso Horse Displays a Bad Habit

Horses can pick up bad habits, such as cribbing, when they are anxious or stressed.

What Problems Can Arise When Horses Crib?

Horse cribbing is an unwanted behavior among horse owners because it can lead to various physical problems. Horses that crib may cause damage to their teeth due to excessive wear. It’s also thought to result in abnormal muscle development in their necks. Horses that crib excessively may do this behavior in place of their regular activities. If the horse is busy cribbing rather than grazing, it can result in unhealthy weight loss. Research has found horses that crib are at a higher risk for arthritis in the temporohyoid joint, gastric ulcers, and colic.

What Causes Horse Cribbing?

Like other stereotyped behaviors, there can be various reasons why a horse might learn to crib and experts really aren’t sure the exact cause. However, people have theorized that a horse may learn to crib by watching other horses. It also may occur when horses are bored or kept in cramped and isolated quarters, or when a horse is under stress or feeling frustrated. There could also be a genetic cause in some horses that are more likely to engage in compulsive behaviors. My Horse University suggests that limiting a horse’s opportunity to forage in the pasture or not giving the horses a chance to socialize with other horses can also lead to stressed and obsessive behaviors, like cribbing.

How to Treat or Prevent Horse Cribbing?

The experts agree, that once a horse has begun the act of cribbing, it’s incredibly hard to stop. However, horse owners have found that by keeping their horses entertained they may crib less often. Some of the preventative measures to stop horse cribbing can create even more stress in the horses and aren’t recommended. My Horse University recommends letting horses forage for their food, giving them plenty of time to roam in the field, and letting them socialize with other horses. These positive behaviors may not stop cribbing altogether but can cut down on the amount of time they spend on it.

When a horse is cribbing, it’s important to have a full health exam by a veterinarian for the horse. The vet can make sure there are no underlying conditions and check for gastric ulcers.


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About the Author

Jennifer Geer

Jennifer Geer is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on animals, news topics, travel, and weather. Jennifer holds a Master's Degree from the University of Tulsa, and she has been researching and writing about news topics and animals for over four years. A resident of Illinois, Jennifer enjoys hiking, gardening, and caring for her three pugs.

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