Cribbing (horse)
Encyclopedia
Cribbing or crib biting (UK) is a compulsive behavior
or stereotypy
seen in some horse
s, and considered a stable vice
. It involves the horse grabbing a solid object such as the stall door or fence rail with its incisors, then arching its neck, pulling against the object, and sucking in air. Windsucking is a related behavior whereby the horse arches its neck and sucks air into the windpipe without needing to grab a solid object. Windsucking is thought to form part of the mechanism of cribbing, rather than being defined as an entirely separate behavior. Cribbing and windsucking have been linked as a causal effect to colic
and stomach ulcers.
A similar but unrelated behavior, wood-chewing, is another undesirable habit observed in horses, but it does not involve sucking in air; the horse simply gnaws on wood rails or boards as if they were food.
. Colic can also be a consequence of wood chewing due to the ingestion of wood splinters. Both cribbing and wood chewing can cause excessive wearing and deterioration of the teeth in severe cases. Horses displaying these types of oral stereotypies may be less desirable to potential buyers and may be devalued as a consequence.
It has been anecdotally reported that horses can learn to copy these behaviors from other horses, although this has not been substantiated by scientific study. Wood chewing also is destructive to barns and fences, sometimes requiring costly repairs and ongoing maintenance.
Researchers now generally agree that cribbing and windsucking occur most often in stabled horses, although once established in a individual horse, the horse may exhibit these behaviors in other places. Recently these stereotypies have been observed to occur more frequently in horses that were stable-weaned as foal
s than in those that were pasture-weaned. In the same study, feeding concentrates after weaning was associated with a fourfold increase in the rate of development of cribbing.
Cribbing and windsucking may cause a sensation of pleasure by releasing endorphin
s in the horse's brain. More recently however, it has been suggested that the increase in saliva produced during windsucking could be a mechanism for neutralizing stomach conditions in stable-kept, grain-fed horses.
that provide higher amounts of roughage and limited amounts of concentrates. A growing body of work suggests that fat and fiber-based diets may also result in calmer patterns of behavior.
There are a number of traditional methods for minimizing or preventing cribbing, windsucking, and wood-chewing. However, the effectiveness of these methods is arguable since they do not address the underlying causal factors. One method involves the horse wearing a collar-like devce that prevents it from arching and swelling its neck to suck in air. Covering exposed edges with metal or wire or painting surfaces with bitter substances such as carbolineum
or a commercial "chew stop" product may reduce wood-chewing, though do not entirely prevent edges being gripped by the teeth. Other methods to prevent cribbing have included surgery, acupuncture, use of pharmaceuticals, operant feeding, and environmental enrichment.
Compulsive behavior
Compulsive behavior is behavior which a person does compulsively—in other words, not because they want to behave that way, but because they feel they have to do so....
or stereotypy
Stereotypy (non-human)
In animal behavior, stereotypy, stereotypical or stereotyped behavior has several meanings, leading to ambiguity in the scientific literature. The terms usually refer to Stereotypy, repetitive behaviors in captive animals, particularly those given inadequate mental stimulation...
seen in some horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s, and considered a stable vice
Stable vices
Stable vices are stereotypies of equines, especially horses. They usually develop as a result of being confined, particularly with insufficient exercise . Vices can develop out of boredom or hunger, excess energy, isolation...
. It involves the horse grabbing a solid object such as the stall door or fence rail with its incisors, then arching its neck, pulling against the object, and sucking in air. Windsucking is a related behavior whereby the horse arches its neck and sucks air into the windpipe without needing to grab a solid object. Windsucking is thought to form part of the mechanism of cribbing, rather than being defined as an entirely separate behavior. Cribbing and windsucking have been linked as a causal effect to colic
Horse colic
Colic in horses is defined as abdominal pain, but it is a clinical sign rather than a diagnosis. The term colic can encompass all forms of gastrointestinal conditions which cause pain as well as other causes of abdominal pain not involving the gastrointestinal tract. The most common forms of colic...
and stomach ulcers.
A similar but unrelated behavior, wood-chewing, is another undesirable habit observed in horses, but it does not involve sucking in air; the horse simply gnaws on wood rails or boards as if they were food.
Negative consequences
Cribbing and windsucking have been linked to a higher incidence of stomach ulcers and are also defined as risk factors for certain types of colicHorse colic
Colic in horses is defined as abdominal pain, but it is a clinical sign rather than a diagnosis. The term colic can encompass all forms of gastrointestinal conditions which cause pain as well as other causes of abdominal pain not involving the gastrointestinal tract. The most common forms of colic...
. Colic can also be a consequence of wood chewing due to the ingestion of wood splinters. Both cribbing and wood chewing can cause excessive wearing and deterioration of the teeth in severe cases. Horses displaying these types of oral stereotypies may be less desirable to potential buyers and may be devalued as a consequence.
It has been anecdotally reported that horses can learn to copy these behaviors from other horses, although this has not been substantiated by scientific study. Wood chewing also is destructive to barns and fences, sometimes requiring costly repairs and ongoing maintenance.
Causes
Wood chewing has been linked with dietary deficiencies, and often can be remedied with a balanced diet or dietary supplementation. Some cases are thought to be linked to boredom or anxiety, often related to confinement. Boredom, stress, habit and addiction are also all possible causes of cribbing and windsucking. It was proposed in a 2002 study that the link between intestinal conditions such as gastric inflammation or colic and oral steryotypies was attributable to environmental factors.Researchers now generally agree that cribbing and windsucking occur most often in stabled horses, although once established in a individual horse, the horse may exhibit these behaviors in other places. Recently these stereotypies have been observed to occur more frequently in horses that were stable-weaned as foal
Foal
A foal is an equine, particularly a horse, that is one year old or younger. More specific terms are colt for a male foal and filly for a female foal, but these terms are used until the horse is age three or four. When the foal is nursing from its dam , it may also be called a suckling...
s than in those that were pasture-weaned. In the same study, feeding concentrates after weaning was associated with a fourfold increase in the rate of development of cribbing.
Cribbing and windsucking may cause a sensation of pleasure by releasing endorphin
Endorphin
Endorphins are endogenous opioid peptides that function as neurotransmitters. They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in vertebrates during exercise, excitement, pain, consumption of spicy food, love and orgasm, and they resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce...
s in the horse's brain. More recently however, it has been suggested that the increase in saliva produced during windsucking could be a mechanism for neutralizing stomach conditions in stable-kept, grain-fed horses.
Solutions
It has been shown that feeding cribbing horses an antacid diet can significantly reduce its frequency. Current research in this field indicates that the prevention of these stereotypic behaviors is based upon management conditions which allow daily free movement and feeding practicesEquine nutrition
Equine nutrition is the feeding of horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, and other equines. Correct and balanced nutrition is a critical component of proper horse care....
that provide higher amounts of roughage and limited amounts of concentrates. A growing body of work suggests that fat and fiber-based diets may also result in calmer patterns of behavior.
There are a number of traditional methods for minimizing or preventing cribbing, windsucking, and wood-chewing. However, the effectiveness of these methods is arguable since they do not address the underlying causal factors. One method involves the horse wearing a collar-like devce that prevents it from arching and swelling its neck to suck in air. Covering exposed edges with metal or wire or painting surfaces with bitter substances such as carbolineum
Carbolineum
Carbolineum is an oily, water-insoluble, flammable, dark brown mixture from coal tar components, smelling of tar. It contains among other things anthracene and phenol....
or a commercial "chew stop" product may reduce wood-chewing, though do not entirely prevent edges being gripped by the teeth. Other methods to prevent cribbing have included surgery, acupuncture, use of pharmaceuticals, operant feeding, and environmental enrichment.