Question: Why does cribbing start?
Answer:
The root cause of cribbing is stress and boredom. Wild horses do not crib, and spend up to 90% of their time grazing and searching for food. Domestic horses kept in small enclosed spaces for extended periods of time and not allowed graze naturally are more susceptible to forming habits such as cribbing. There is some research that suggests that cribbing is a response to gastric acidity caused by stress. Cribbing may produce saliva that neutralizes stomach acids.
Foals born to mothers who crib are more likely to become cribbers. Either they imitate their dam and are rewarded with the endorphin hit, or there is a genetic pre-deposition
