Windsucking and Crib Biting in Horses

Crib biting, or cribbing, while not a sickness, is a type of behavior that can be very destructive. Just as humans and other animals exhibit obsessive behavior that is non-lethal but still destructive, horses too will exhibit repetitive and habitual behaviors that are difficult to control.

Crib biting is recognizable by the way in which a horse will grab at something with its front teeth and pull at it, repetitively, with seemingly no other purpose except to fulfill an urge to do so. It is not usually related to nutritional disorders or underlying illnesses, but has been frequently linked to boredom and mimicry. Again, keeping in mind that this behavior is more of an annoyance than an actual health issue, cribbing, if left unchecked, can lead to some superficial health issues.

Crib biting is also called wind sucking, and for a reason. As the horse is cribbing, the incidental arching of the neck causes them to swallow in air as well, moving the excess air down the esophagus and into the stomach. The sucking in of air can become a secondary habit, with the horse arching its neck and taking in unnecessary air habitually.

Experienced horse owners find that they recognize when their horse is wind sucking as the horse  tends to let out a loud grunt as it is doing so.

Symptoms and Types

Crib biting

• Gnaw marks on wood pieces, parts of the stable, crib, etc.
• Physical evidence of crib biting such as wood pieces on ground around horse's living space, wood pieces in stool, etc.
• Cribbing can take place in the stable and in the pasture
• Front teeth are worn more than normally found in a horse of its age

Wind sucking

• Arching neck while chewing on object
• Grunting
• Sore stomach
• Bloating
• Excess gas/flatulence
• Tendency to graze more often

Causes

• Restlessness/boredom
• Stress
• Stable Fever
  • Horse is spending too much time in the stable without enough outside time
  • Empty Stomach, need to chew on something
  • Not enough hay in the diet
  • Horses are inclined to eat and rest; cribbing may be a substitute for grazing when stabled

Diagnosis

Cribbing and wind sucking are fairly common when it comes to the types of vices horses are prone to. However, it is important to note that there are issues that go along with cribbing that can make it a problem. Outside of the obvious property damage, it may cause long term problems with the horse's dental and digestive health.

The behavior is singular enough that it can be diagnosed by an experienced horse person. It would still benefit the horse to be seen by an equine veterinarian, who will definitively diagnose this as a behavioral disorder. Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your horse, taking into account the background history of symptoms. Your doctor will also want to take a closer look at your horse's mouth to check for changes to the teeth, and will palpate the abdomen for signs of colic. If there are minimal symptoms, your veterinarian will advise you on ways to discourage the behavior so that it does not lead to anything that will need medical intervention.