by Lucy Collins

Created on: November 25, 2011   Last Updated: November 26, 2011

Stable vices may develop in a horse that is stabled, common stable vices being crib biting, wind sucking, box walking and weaving. Not all horses develop stable vices, some seem to be more predisposed than others. Some may even have more than one vice.

Crib biting - When a horse crib bites, it places it’s top teeth on the stable door, tenses it’s neck and gulps in air. It will usually make a grunting sound. Though the horse may make a mark on the door, due to pulling backwards, it is not the same as wood chewing. Wood chewing is when a horse chews wood, either the stable door (if there is no metal strip) or the top of a fence. Crib biting is a common stable vice. Not only will it cause excessive wear on the horse’s teeth, it may also cause digestive problems. Crib biters commonly have an overdeveloped muscle under their neck due to crib biting.

Stable doors can be painted with a special preparation which is harmless to horses, to discourage crib biting. Cribbing collars can also be worn. A cribbing collar is a metal strip than goes beneath the horse’s throat which is attached by a leather collar strap around the neck. This can help to prevent the horse from taking in a gulp of air. It may not work if the vice is already established. It will not prevent the horse from eating or drinking. If the horse crib bites in the field, an electric fence can be placed around the field to stop the horse from reaching the fence. If the stable is wooden and has been treated, it could be toxic to the horse, so special care must be taken to ensure that the horse does not inhale any toxins.

Wind sucking is similar to crib biting, but the horse does not need to grasp it’s teeth on anything. The horse will just arch it’s neck and gulp in air. The horse is more adept at gulping in air so it doesn’t need any help at all. A horse may wind suck and crib bite, they are both common stable vices. Obviously if a horse does not need to rest its teeth on anything, wind sucking may be more difficult to discourage. A horse could wind suck anywhere. It could also cause digestive problems. It should not cause excessive wear to the teeth, unless of course, the horse crib bites as well.

Box walking is when a horse constantly walks around the stable. It is a common repetitive behaviour. A horse that box walks in the stable, will have a very messy bed. Bedding will be wasted as most of it will have to be thrown away the next day. It will also expose the

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