What does it mean when my horse puts his top teeth on the fence, pulls down, and makes a grunting noise?

My horse (12 year old male QH) looks like he's stretching his mouth, but he'll do it for hours on end. He's also been a LITTLE bit more tempermental, but that could be because I couldn't ride him for a couple of days. When he does the aforementioned activity, his lips are covered with thick, white, foamy saliva.





Is he okay?

What does it mean when my horse puts his top teeth on the fence, pulls down, and makes a grunting noise?
He is cribbing or windsucking...is detrimental to his teeth, his nutrition and his propensity to colic. You can consult your vet, or you can buy a cribbing strap which, (for the most part) eliminates cribbing. There is also a surgery that is available to eliminate the habit, but, personally, I wouldn't recommend it. If your horse is stalled much of the time, turn out is essential, and if you can go ahead and turn your horse out 100% of the time, it would help even more. Try to keep a high quality grass hay in front of your horse 24 hrs a day, to try and keep his mouth busy.
Reply:It's called "cribbing". My 8-yr old Gelding QH does it too.





Obviously the horse finds it enjoyable, but it's not the best thing for his teeth or your railing. There are some things on the market (a special collar, sprays, etc.) that are supposed to make them stop. Or just run some electric wire.
Reply:He's cribbing.





I would start him on ulcer meds to rule out





and





more turnout time if hes soley stalled
Reply:He is cribbing.


Mulereiner's suggestion is a good one. Defenitly do that!


If he doesn't stop, you shouldn't put a collar on him. Cribbing is often stress related, and if it is, putting a collar on him will add more stress, because he can't do what he want's to do.


In my opinion it is best to just let them crib, as long as they aren't hurting themselves, etc.


My riding instructor had a horse that cribbed, and he was put down this summer at the age of 37. He was healthy and happy until arthritis took him over.
Reply:He is fine it's a little annoyance called cribbing. Basically it's a bad habit he has developed b/c he is bored. Being 12 years old it'll be hard to get him out of the habit as he has probably been doing it for quite a few years you may just not have noticed it. There are things that you can do to sopt it or lessen the frequency of which he does it. there is a spray called no chew you can spray ontop of fencing , boards anythign he is cribbing on. You can also feed him a supplement called quitt that is supposed to stop wood chewing and help decrease cribbing or you can buy a cribbing collar which puts pressur eon the muscle sof the throat thus preventing him from being able to crib and finally this is expensive but it workd there is a surgery you can have your vet perform that will remove a small section of the muscle that they use to crib in the throat. It's fairly simple and has wonderful effects. A friend of mine had a 15 year old gelding that even a cribbing collar wouldn't work on and they did the surgery to him. He was literally casuing thousands of $$$ worth of damages to the fences and barn. anyway long story shortened he's just got an annoying habit b/c he's bored (or atleast he was when he first started it, now it's just habit) Good luck on trying to get him to quit:)
Reply:He's cribbing.





I have a 14 year old App mare that cribs severely. She will stop eating her grain to crib. Cribbing is caused by boredome and usually when horses have been kept in a confined space like a stall. Sunni, on the other hand, has always lived in a 5 acre pasture with plenty of hay, grass and a buddy. I have had her from the day she was born. Some horses colic from cribbing. Fortunately, she's never colicked (sp?) from it, but I don't like. Spraying the wood on the fences, gates, etc. has not helped. The only thing that does stop her is a cribbing collar, but it rubs her neck badly. I just have a regular cribbing collar for her with the metal pieces that pinch together when she cribs (not one of those mean ones that have pieces that look like nails that actually "stick" them).





A friend of mine had a Miracle Collar for a buckskin QH geling she had. She had to get the fleece wraps for it so it wouldn't rub him. It worked well also.
Reply:He's cribbing. They make several products to help prevent it, but if he is a very determined cribber, I would recommend one of the free-to-eat muzzles, because often they will continue to crib right through the collar. My horse is a serious cribber. The nutcracker type didn't work, and the miracle collar didn't work and just rubbed all the hair off where it sat so I got rid of it. The muzzle is the only thing that has worked without hurting him. It is important to get something though because if they do it too much they can get gas colic from it. Also talk to your vet. It could be that he has stomach ulcers. Sometimes horses start to crib because their stomach is bothering them (otherwise it's usually from bordem). We've had a couple of horses with this problem. We use Equisea (Not sure that's how it's spelled) but that has made a big difference for some of our horses. It won't do anything for the cribbing but it can make him more comfortable.
Reply:he is cribbing.I would recommed more outdoor time.Try putting no chew stain on your fence(that is horse safe and made to prevent cribbing) keep him busy, offer horse toys,balls,empty jugs hung around.


Cribbing is a stable vice and is often a sign of boredom.
Reply:He is cribbing or windsucking. It is really bad for them! It screws up their teeth and they can get ulcers, it also means they are bored, but soon it becomes a a habit. Now there are many things to do, you can get him a cribbing collar. spray the fences with creosote paint (red pepper paint). Give him toys, more turn out time(altho I find that doesnt work)


But I mainly sugest a basic cribbing collar. Its a black strap that goes around their neck with metal on the bottom. When the go to bend their head in that way it pinches them so they stop. But take it off when you exercise/ride them
Reply:its called cribbing. it can ruin a horses teeth very quickly. they have these collors to help stop it. i would get one.
Reply:its called cribbing my horse does it to he is a 9 year old sorral qh gelding its not good for them and gives them stomach aches


try cribbing colars


my horse wheres one of those all the time when im not riding him
Reply:He's just cribbing, basically getting high.





He is sucking wind, which releases endorphins that makes him feel like he's on drugs. It's just a bad habit but you can buy a 'cribbing collar' in most tack stores, or on line.


He'll be OK =)





Best wishes!
Reply:its cribbing. You must get a cribbing collar because this means he is sucking in air. It can cause stomach problems and even colic sometimes. He could have learned this habit by watching another horse or he could have developed this from becoming board. Once you have the collar it will just become annoying to you, he will be fine.
Reply:he is bored or not getting enough salt/ minerals. give him a salt/ mineral block, and it will both help with boredom and lack of salt or minerals.