What Is a Crib Biter?

Cribbing is a stereotypy, that is, a behavior that is repetitive and compulsive. The behavior includes the horse grabbing onto something solid (like a fence board, bucket, or door) with his top incisors, arches his neck, and sucks in air. An audible gulping or belching can usually be heard.

What causes crib biting?

One of the most common stereotypies in horses is equine oral stereotypic behaviour, otherwise known as cribbing, wind sucking or crib-biting. ... The major factors that cause cribbing include stress, stable management, genetic and gastrointestinal irritability.

Is crib biting bad?

So why is it a bad thing? Horses that crib bite (where they grasp an object with their front teeth, contracting neck muscles, drawing in air and grunting) or wind suck (same action without grasping something physical) can harm their own health, leading to bad teeth and weight loss.