Cribbing (horse)

Common card · No. 319588

Cribbing is a form of stereotypy (equine oral stereotypic behaviour), otherwise known as wind-sucking or crib-biting. Cribbing is considered to be an abnormal, compulsive behavior seen in some horses, and is often labelled a stable vice. The major factors that cause cribbing include stress, stable management, genetic and gastrointestinal irritability. Cribbing was mentioned in the literature as early as 1578 and occurs in 2.4–8.3% of horses depending on breed and management. A similar but unrelated behavior, wood-chewing or lignophagia, 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.

Read on Wikipedia · Image dora1977, Public domain