Please do not use a an anti-windsucking collar, it does not treat the problem - merely masks the symptons. Additionally, it does not nothing to reduce the plasma cortisol level within the horse's body (e.g. level of stress) which is lowered through windsucking. In effect, with a collar, all you are doing is physically preventing the horse from windsucking yet not providing any alternative therapy for the horse whilst increasing the stress levels of the horse and thus increasing the desire or need of the horse to windsuck. The result = not a very happy ponio.

One of my own horses crib bites as well as weaves and box walks, particularly when the amount of time he is required to stand in a stable for increases.

Maximising his forage intake really helps - not only does it encourage more mastication (chewing) and therefore takes longer to eat, it will also encourage the digestive system to work effectively by 'fermentation' that does not happen in diets that are cereal based feedstuff. Also, cereal based diets tend to give higher amounts of energy quicker - so not only do they take less time to eat, they also provide the horse with more immediate energy to perform stereotypical behaviour!

If you are worried about feeding too much ad-lib hay, soaking it for over 12 hours removes all nutritional content - so in effect, the horse is munching oon utterly dead calories!

Stable toys can also help, as can mirrors, although the latter are more expensive.

Turn-out and grazing is one of the biggest positive adjustments you can make - although typically, it is also one of the hardest, aprticularly if you are a livery on a commercial yard.

Also, don't undermine the effects of social contact for horses - particularly those stabled, again this is where a mirror can be very useful especially if oppurtunities for social interaction with other horses is limited.


Personally, I am of the school of thought of reducing the reasons why horse's stereotype (although identifying one root cause has been very difficult) is better for the horse than simplying preventing displays of behaviour.

However, to some extent, I let my horse continue to crib/weave/windsuck - as I believe that it is better than simply preventing the horse from showing stereotypical behaviour ... as it has been shown that the horse has lower plasma cortisol (stress) levels after cribbing than before.

And that is what I believe horse management should be able - reducing the stress of horse's in an unnatural environment wherever possible, and I am not convinced that traditional treatments such as a windsucking collars, surgery or laser treatment is humane.

After all, I'm not perfect - I bite my fingernails and smoke too much when I am stressed or nervous or worried, so wy should I expect my horse to be if put under similiar strain?


P.S Clare - the concept of horse's picking up and copying stereotypical behaviour off of other horses, is one of the biggest misconceptions to stereotypical behaviour - it has not yet been proved within a number of scientific studies dating back over one hundred years

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I agree with sophia. If you prevent the horse doing the thing it uses to relieve stress you'll probably find it does something else or will be really miserable all the time. as much turn out as possible is generally the solution or 24 hour access to forage as stated before. As horses are trickle feeders they are not designed to be left in a stable for ten hours with a haynet that lasts 2 hours - sorry if that seemed rude - it's not bout you but what i saw at the last yard i was at and these people wondered why they had horses with problems. i also have never seen a horse pass windsucking on as such. people seem to just freak out about it and it's just prejudice to a certain extent. I was once told my horse was severlyy depressed and i was cruel because she wore a boett rug - the mare had chronic sweet itch and have recently met a man that believes using my horses brushes would give his horses sweet itch. i give up with some people.

sorry but i wish you luck.
I will try to get some pics of a horse at our yard who has windsucked for about 8 years.

To date he has had the vet out at least twice yearly for chronic colic through windsucking.His gums bleed where he has worn his teeth down,his owner puts up rope and toys for him as they are softer on his mouth and last month he had the vet out three times in one week resulting in the last two being on the same da and he was taken in for surgery at a cost of thousands,he isn't insured for colic induced by windsucking anymore???

When he is out in the field he stands and windsucks on the posts,when they put him in electric posts he did it on his field mates neck!!then he tries to do it on the chest buckles of the rug he is wearing!!!!Water buckets anything he can get his teeth into.

Okay I have owned horses since I was 9, I am 32 and I had never heard of the term "windsucking"....lol. I looked it up and saw cribbing and went "ah ha, gottcha"...lol. Hope this makes a few people laugh. Dumb American anyhow....lol

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Koda-my best friend, don't tell my husband, he thinks he's my best friend..lol