It is exceedingly unlikely you will completely stop a determined cribber. No one remedy or combination of remedies has yet proven 100% effective. You can only take steps to minimize damage done to your woodwork and your horse’s health.
The most effective remedy will be to allow your horse to live in the most natural environment possible. Free access to pasture grass or plentiful hay will fulfill the horse’s normal instinct to graze. Wide open spaces will help a horse, stressed by stabling, feel more at ease.
In addition you could try any combination of the following:
- Cribbing straps or collars that are worn high up on the horse’s neck to prevent expansion of the esophagus.
- Consult your veterinarian for advice about treating ulcers.
- Pepper sprays or formulas containing bitter flavors can be purchased to spray or paint on fences.
- Calming herbal mixtures.
- Low acid feeds developed for horses with sensitive.
- Flower essences
- Aromatherapy
- Homeopathic Remedies
- Surgical alteration of the throat muscles.
- Toys such as balls and jugs hung on strings for the horse to mouth.
- Mineral supplements.
- Anti-acids.
- Chiropractic treatments.
- Electric fencing either on its own or over wooden fences.
There are some drastic measures such as electric shock collars or electric round pens, but to the average horse owner these remedies bridge on cruelty and are not 100% effective.
