[Trump Card]

My horse TC i have found out is a windsucker. I dont really care but i dont want him 2 become sick over it. He has not lost any weight so i dont think he does it all the time. I have a collar on him but i dont really no how tight i should put it on? Should i be able 2 get a finger under it or what? Any info would be great. I really dont want him showing the other horses how 2 do it. Is it true they can teach each other? When i put him out into his paddock he will walk a little while then have a suck and walk off. I dont really no how much he does it in the paddock but i dont think that much.

Thanks,
Alex n TC

[clyde-gal]

Hi! I've heard that windsucking is a habit formed from boredom. Horses by nature are suppose to graze and eat for 20 hours a day and in our society they are not able to do so, or at least when they are stalled. Also stimulation of the mouth releases serotonin a hormone that gives us a natural calming effect.

With serious windsuckers a problem is a larger than normal throat and possibly bad teeth.

I had my horse around a windsucker and he never picked it up however I think a horse could pick it up.

I'm not sure about the collar, and the horses that I've seen with a collar still do it.

Hope it helps!

[Trump Card]

Thanks i really dont think he is bored tho. He is on a 10acre paddock with 4(i think) other horses. There is trees that he can run in and out of and everything. Its just strange coz he went 2 my instructors for 4 weeks for training and n was in a privet paddock and she said he never did it!

Please i do really need 2 no how tight 2 put the collar on tho! The collar doesnt stop them doing it but it means they cant take in as much air 2 make them full and thats how they end up lossing weight

[Trump Card]

Please Any One!!!!!!!!!!!

[luckylady]

Originally Posted by Trump Card

Please Any One!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi there , I have a horse who cribs also ( lucky me) and we used the collar for awhile, but the other horses would bite and pull it around so it wasn't sitting properly. So as long as you can get your finger under the throat part, the brow band can be a bit tighter. The collar is only supposed to work when they put their heads in the sucking position.
We ended up getting the surgery for her, since she was only 2 yrs. when she started. Sometimes it is stress induced, but once they learn it can never be resolved. Actually the surgery only worked for a little while , and then she learned to use another muscle to do it! We now keep her in a large field that is electrified so she can't get to the fence. She has my daughters pony for company, who for some reason has not picked up the nasty habit. And she's been with her for 2 years now. But it is a very easy to learn habit, most horses pick it up from another horse.
As for health problems, we've had none ( but remember she cannot touch any fence to crib.) Unfortunately, they can crib on trees if they're really hooked.
I wish you the best of luck, I hope some of this will help you!

[TrickPony]

The collar needs to be really, REALLY tight to have much effect (I'm assuming it's a miracle collar?) If you can get two fingers under it, that's not tight enough. I would monitor him for a few days... tighten it untill he hardly ever sucks. Also - you might want to get some fleece padding or that thing will rub him raw!
This problem is kindof a pain - hope the collar does the trick!
he might have watched another horse at your trainer's... sometimes they learn strictly by observation and not boredom.

[Trump Card]

Thanks for all your help i think i might put it up one more hole if i can
Thanks

[kiera1228]

I have one too!! and he is really bad.. the collar can help for some.. but they have to be tight!! no fingers should be able to get under there. i know it sounds mean but it really helps.. also maby put something in ttheir that he could play with.. if hes that kind of horse... but make shure he gets out.. and i know a girl who used to put hot sauce on the wood... and she said that it worked like a charm.

[ejforrest]

Causes:
Boredom, excess confinement,insufficient exercise, concentrate diets, early weaning, learned behavior, and genetic predisposition are all thought to contribute to cribbing-windsucking.
Cures:
Frequent turn outs
Decreased stall confinement
Increased exercies
Increased dietary fiber(hay,straw bedding, grazing)
Reduction/elimination of sweet feed
Avoidance of an exlusive diet of pelleted feeds
Increased visual and tactile contact with other horses or companion animals
Painting surfaces with an unpalatable substance
Installing electrifeid wire on horizontal wood surfaces
Eliminating horizontal surfaces
Use of cribbing muzzle or collar
Not rewarding the behavior by feeding the horse when the behavior is displayed
Surgery to cut specific ventral muscles
Remote punishment(shock collar) occurring with in one second of the start of the behavior.
From: Barbara S. Simposon, PhD.DVM,Dipl. ACVB, of the Veterinary Behavior Clinic in Southern Pines N.C.

[John]

If possible I would spend a few dollars on running electric fencing around youir padock to give as few places as you can that he can rest his upper teeth on.