adopting a cribbing thoroughbred

I was looking in a popular online site with horses for sale. And something really bothered me I guess it was the sadness in the eyes of an ex racehorse and I couldn't ignore so I sent a message to the owner. She is a cribber and with a collar and electric fencing and this is supposed to be a rescue where shes at. At first the owner stated she purchased her for breeding originally. Couldn't get her papers from the original owner now is looking to adopt her out. I'm really concerned to the point I would like to adopt her give her a loving home. She supposed to be a very friendly horse that's turned out daily by a 10 year old. On the temperament scale shes listed 4/10. That's confusing. This situation is really bothering me. Advise?




Sounds like you may be getting some mixed information but let's go with what you have. Do you know how old this horse is? How long has she been at this current place? And what is your horse experience?

The scale they used to rate her disposition is at best just an opinion and not very valuable or likely accurate information. What you would want to do is see for yourself someone handle her to really know what she is like. You would want to know all the things this horse can and cannot do.

Now the cribbing issue. There are several reasons a horse gets into this habit but for me a cribbing collar is a band-aid short term fix and not a solution to the condition. We see this a lot within the race track (thoroughbred) industry likely due to the amount of highly stressful conditions placed upon these horses and then add the incorrect feeding of highly concentrated foods and infrequent feedings they are given and you have digestive and emotional problems that surface. The longer a horse has been doing this can make it more difficult to treat. The collar and electric fences are there to discourage the behavior but again, it doesn't cure the problem.


If you would like to take this situation on here is the protocol I would do:

- Have a Homeopathy doctor do a hair test analysis plus recommend any remedies along with a constitutional one. If they recommend a vet check and blood work too then do that as well.

- For at least 4 to 6 months place no demands upon this horse like riding or anything that would cause stress instead create calming consistent routines around the barn (do lots of loving grooming)

- Hay available 24/7 so she can munch and never feel hungry, remove all extruded grain feeds. Go natural sources as much as possible.

- A natural stress free environment, living outside 24/7, with another horse/horses

- You need to show her you are going to treat her differently than anyone else has ever done before.

Going forward, all training should be done with positive reinforcement methods only.

Elaine