Miracle Collar- Cribbing

JoAnn1978 · 12-12-2005, 12:39 PM

Hi all! I hope that everyone had a nice weekend!

My horse has been wearing a cribbing collar for about the past month. He recently (within the past 3 months) developed a cribbing habit, and the previous owner believes that he picked it up from other horses that were exhibiting cribbing.

He's wearing a miracle collar, and it's really helping. He hasn't cribbed while wearing it, and he has put on some weight (he was cribbing really badly during all times of the day, distracting him from eating, etc..).

My question is- I know he hates wearing it, and I don't want him to have to wear it forever. Does anyone know how long before I can start trying to take it off, or does he have to wear this forever now??

Does anyone have a horse who cribs, and if so- have you had success with the miracle collar??

ToveroMom · 12-12-2005, 12:40 PM

With few exceptions and barring the rather pricey surgery-it is generally a forever issue.

snickers · 12-12-2005, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToveroMom

With few exceptions and barring the rather pricey surgery-it is generally a forever issue.

Totally agree. Once they start, almost impossible to stop
without what ToveroMom suggested.
I have used the collar and have had great results.
You will eventually have to replace it with a new one.
Just take it off long enough to clean and oil.
I know it may be uncomforatable, but if it works, I
wouldnt let it stress you to bad. It is helping him.

JoAnn1978 · 12-12-2005, 12:51 PM

I actually just bid on one on ebay. The one he is wearing is borrowed, so I'll have to give it back soon.

I just hate having to make him wear it constantly- and every time I put it back on it breaks my heart. He stares at me with those big brown eyes, pleading to be spared! I find myself explaining that it's his own fault he's wearing it in the first place!

Someone told me that if he was doing it only for a short time, that I may be able to reverse the process and I was hoping that was true... But I know it's best that he wears it, so I will keep him in it.

EquineAlberta · 12-12-2005, 01:05 PM

Properly applied staples in the ears can help with a mild cribber. Works using accupuncture/pressure type theories, and is not painful. Find out if your vet can do it.

Grazing muzzles can work too for cribbing, as can the traditional collars. I have seen good results from alternating the collars used.

I am sure you will feel more guilty watching him suffer through weight loss and colic then from him wearing the collar. Cribbing is not something to take lightly.

Karen2

QuartersAllTheWay · 12-12-2005, 01:24 PM

Hi
I feel for you I have a cribber too. It does make you feel bad to put a collar on them. I had tried everything with our horse. Hershey. We tried horrible tasting sprays, ketchup, hot pepper spray, cribbing collar, miracle collar, shock collar, and then we bought a basket. I think of all of the ones we tried, I like the basket the best. The miracle collar is fine in the winter, but in the summer when they get hot and sweaty just standing around it can actually pull there hair off and make a blister underneath. Make sure you grain your horse everyday. If he is a really bad cribber like hershey was. Lots of groceries or they can lose weight so fast. Also check him really well. Sometimes pain can make them to it more. The guy we bought hershey from said he had just done his teeth. (floated) but when we checked them at the vet. The vet said they were really bad and that they had probably never been done. Hershey went from cribbing 43 times a minute.

to now I have seen him do it maybe 3 times and when I see him do it now. He does it once and walks off. So there is hope. I think for one of the tools though I would use a basket. Like this one. http://www.doversaddlery.com/product...at+Muz zle_E_

They make them already on a halter. thats the way we bought it. Also buy some wool or something really soft and put extra cushion on the top where it rests on their nose. Then it has no pressure on their neck and they can still eat hay with it on. I would just take it off for grain. It worked the best for us anyway. Make sure you have a vet if you can afford one to look the horse over for anything that may be causeing him pain. Ulcers are common in cribbers too. Good luck. Just know that there are others out there that know what a pain it can be to cope with cribbers. Your horse is lucky to have you. Very pretty too I seen his pictures in another one of your posts.

JoAnn1978 · 12-12-2005, 02:11 PM

Actually the damages from cribbing do concern me greatly- moreso than making him wear the collar, which is why I put him in it in the first place.

There is an older horse at the stable who is an awful cribber, and he has barely any teeth left in his mouth, needs to be on high fat percentage feeds because of weight loss, and has suffered colic and choked. I certainly don't want Jim to go through any of those things.

Equine Alberta- thank you for the compliment about Jim, and the words of support.

I swear I fall more in love with that horse everday. I was just telling my boyfriend that there are times when I'm with him, grooming or tacking him up- and I catch him looking at me with one big, brown, sweet eye and I literally can feel my heart melting! It amazes me every day that this huge, beautiful and athletic animal needs me as much as I need him!

LiquidStarlight · 12-12-2005, 04:28 PM

I have a cribber too, and as much as it hurts me to put it on him, it's for his own good.
While on this topic, is there a rule of thumb to follow when tightening the collar? Like, you should be able to fit x amount of fingers comfortably in the collar or something? I am worrying about putting it too tight.

JoAnn1978 · 12-12-2005, 04:30 PM

I put Jim's on so that I can easily get a finger or so between that plate thingy on it between his cheekbones and him (not sure what the real name of that part of the collar is). I don't make the brow strap too tight, though.

I was instructed to do it that way by someone who has used one for a long time.

It doesn't seem to bother him when it's that tight, and I was told it has to be fairly snug to work properly.

DixieHorseChick18 · 12-12-2005, 04:35 PM

I did have a cribber but he stopped. I dont know why, I guess he just got tired of me popping him i the nose every time he tryed it. Have you tryed that stuff you put on your wood that tastes really bad to them, it is " suppose" to stop it. Other than that all I know is to keep the collar on.

LiquidStarlight · 12-12-2005, 04:41 PM

I've also tried a spray, I think it's called "McNastys". It's some really nasty spray I've accidentally had some get in my mouth before, and it was awful tasting. It works great for some horses, but others love it! I don't know why, but it doesn't work on all horses. It works on all surfaces, including blankets, wood, metal bars, etc. But if the cribbing collar is working, I would stick with that. If you put your hand on the surface where the spray is, then accidentally wipe your eyes, or mouth, it is some NASTY stuff!

JoAnn1978 · 12-12-2005, 04:43 PM

The stable owner had said that she had tried some of the sprays and that he would go out of his way to find other pieces of wood or flat objects to crib on. So I guess he's one of those horses!

I wish you luck with your cribber, too. It's scary to think that a nasty habit can be so dangerous!

Riley'sMom · 12-13-2005, 02:13 PM

I have a good friend that has a cribber. She tried the collar on him and somehow he found a way to still do it. Then she tried a basket and she loves it! He can still eat and seems very happy wearing it. She owns a tack shop and said she would recommend the basket over the collar to anyone who has a cribber. Good luck!

BarrelGirl · 12-13-2005, 02:21 PM

We, too, have a cribber. When he is outside, he has nothing to crib on (we have no wooden fences). He doesn't have a chance to crib out there, but when he comes inside for grain every night, he cribs. He doesn't do it a lot, and it doesn't interrupt his eating. We have a collar for him, but we don't put it on him unless he's going to spend a lot of time in his stall (which is rare). He hasn't dropped weight or anything.

I have heard many different theories about why horses start cribbing. Is it a behavior they learn from seeing other horses do it?

QuartersAllTheWay · 12-13-2005, 02:38 PM

No most the tme horses will NOT pick it up from other horses. Unless it is a baby and it learns from mom. It is normally a stress or boredom issue. From being stalled to much. Sometimes it can aslo be because of pain. I agree with Riley'sMom on the basket thing too. Much better than the collar.

Alberta Lolita · 12-13-2005, 05:17 PM

I have tried absolutley everything, the basket rubbed my horses face under her chin until it bled, so you couldn;t keep it on all that long. She wears a collar religiously and it has to be tight to be effective, if its not tight enough she can still crib. The only thing that has stopped her from cribbing without the collar was being in a fully electrified pen without a shelter (to crib on) and a water trough that is on the ground, so she can't get at it.

Its a curse and I know becuase my cribbing horse that I felt sorry for and didn't make wear the collar had colic surgery, and I'm here to tell you its not worth it. Id rather see her in uncomfortable looking collar than flat on her back in the operating room again.

baylady · 12-13-2005, 06:40 PM

I use a miracle collar on my TB Buddy. The previous owner said that he cribbed so I keep it on him. I have owned him since August and I have not seen him crib once. So sometimes I forget to put it on. I dont know I figured it was just a habit he picked up on the track.

JoAnn1978 · 12-15-2005, 10:52 AM

I have actually read that some do believe it is a learned habit that horses pick up from other cribbers. I have heard things to the opposite of that also, so I guess they're still trying to figure it out.

I know that Jim has no health issues being masked with cribbing, he is pasture boarded so is not experiencing stall boredom, and did not crib for the first 2 years he lived at the farm he is currently at. He had been pastured for a short while with an older horse that has a very bad cribbing habit and then Jim suddenly started cribbing out of nowhere. So to me that would seem like a learned behavior- but I'm not an animal behaviorist!

He's doing really well with wearing the collar, aside from the obvious frustration that he has with wearing it. But I want to see him healthy so I will keep him in it forever if necessary!

Thanks for the advice everyone, it is really appreciated!

Alberta Lolita · 12-16-2005, 09:24 AM

My horse did pick it up from a horse who cribbed who was in the pen next to her. She has plenty of room and a round bale and is not bored, but she picked up the habit a day or two after the horse moved in next to her. She had been in the same living situation for a year and as soon as he came, she started cribbing...I think its learned!

JoAnn1978 · 12-16-2005, 09:32 AM

I have to agree with your opinion- horses are very intelligent and they're herd animals. I would think that they learn many behaviors from their board and pasture mates, including cribbing!

I would love to be able to get into their heads and know how the communicate with one another. How interesting that would be!

12-12-2005, 12:39 PM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	Miracle Collar- Cribbing Hi all! I hope that everyone had a nice weekend! My horse has been wearing a cribbing collar for about the past month. He recently (within the past 3 months) developed a cribbing habit, and the previous owner believes that he picked it up from other horses that were exhibiting cribbing. He's wearing a miracle collar, and it's really helping. He hasn't cribbed while wearing it, and he has put on some weight (he was cribbing really badly during all times of the day, distracting him from eating, etc..). My question is- I know he hates wearing it, and I don't want him to have to wear it forever. Does anyone know how long before I can start trying to take it off, or does he have to wear this forever now?? Does anyone have a horse who cribs, and if so- have you had success with the miracle collar??

12-12-2005, 12:40 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	With few exceptions and barring the rather pricey surgery-it is generally a forever issue. __________________

12-12-2005, 12:51 PM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	I actually just bid on one on ebay. The one he is wearing is borrowed, so I'll have to give it back soon. I just hate having to make him wear it constantly- and every time I put it back on it breaks my heart. He stares at me with those big brown eyes, pleading to be spared! I find myself explaining that it's his own fault he's wearing it in the first place! Someone told me that if he was doing it only for a short time, that I may be able to reverse the process and I was hoping that was true... But I know it's best that he wears it, so I will keep him in it.

12-12-2005, 01:05 PM
EquineAlberta Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,417	Properly applied staples in the ears can help with a mild cribber. Works using accupuncture/pressure type theories, and is not painful. Find out if your vet can do it. Grazing muzzles can work too for cribbing, as can the traditional collars. I have seen good results from alternating the collars used. I am sure you will feel more guilty watching him suffer through weight loss and colic then from him wearing the collar. Cribbing is not something to take lightly. Karen2 __________________ New Hillside Website The Art of Praise

12-12-2005, 01:24 PM
QuartersAllTheWay Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 854	Hi I feel for you I have a cribber too. It does make you feel bad to put a collar on them. I had tried everything with our horse. Hershey. We tried horrible tasting sprays, ketchup, hot pepper spray, cribbing collar, miracle collar, shock collar, and then we bought a basket. I think of all of the ones we tried, I like the basket the best. The miracle collar is fine in the winter, but in the summer when they get hot and sweaty just standing around it can actually pull there hair off and make a blister underneath. Make sure you grain your horse everyday. If he is a really bad cribber like hershey was. Lots of groceries or they can lose weight so fast. Also check him really well. Sometimes pain can make them to it more. The guy we bought hershey from said he had just done his teeth. (floated) but when we checked them at the vet. The vet said they were really bad and that they had probably never been done. Hershey went from cribbing 43 times a minute. to now I have seen him do it maybe 3 times and when I see him do it now. He does it once and walks off. So there is hope. I think for one of the tools though I would use a basket. Like this one. http://www.doversaddlery.com/product...at+Muz zle_E_ They make them already on a halter. thats the way we bought it. Also buy some wool or something really soft and put extra cushion on the top where it rests on their nose. Then it has no pressure on their neck and they can still eat hay with it on. I would just take it off for grain. It worked the best for us anyway. Make sure you have a vet if you can afford one to look the horse over for anything that may be causeing him pain. Ulcers are common in cribbers too. Good luck. Just know that there are others out there that know what a pain it can be to cope with cribbers. Your horse is lucky to have you. Very pretty too I seen his pictures in another one of your posts.

12-12-2005, 02:11 PM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	Actually the damages from cribbing do concern me greatly- moreso than making him wear the collar, which is why I put him in it in the first place. There is an older horse at the stable who is an awful cribber, and he has barely any teeth left in his mouth, needs to be on high fat percentage feeds because of weight loss, and has suffered colic and choked. I certainly don't want Jim to go through any of those things. Equine Alberta- thank you for the compliment about Jim, and the words of support. I swear I fall more in love with that horse everday. I was just telling my boyfriend that there are times when I'm with him, grooming or tacking him up- and I catch him looking at me with one big, brown, sweet eye and I literally can feel my heart melting! It amazes me every day that this huge, beautiful and athletic animal needs me as much as I need him!

12-12-2005, 04:28 PM
LiquidStarlight Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 865	I have a cribber too, and as much as it hurts me to put it on him, it's for his own good. While on this topic, is there a rule of thumb to follow when tightening the collar? Like, you should be able to fit x amount of fingers comfortably in the collar or something? I am worrying about putting it too tight. __________________ There are times when you can trust a horse, times when you can't, and times when you have to.

12-12-2005, 04:30 PM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	I put Jim's on so that I can easily get a finger or so between that plate thingy on it between his cheekbones and him (not sure what the real name of that part of the collar is). I don't make the brow strap too tight, though. I was instructed to do it that way by someone who has used one for a long time. It doesn't seem to bother him when it's that tight, and I was told it has to be fairly snug to work properly.

12-12-2005, 04:35 PM
DixieHorseChick18 Long Yearling Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,206	I did have a cribber but he stopped. I dont know why, I guess he just got tired of me popping him i the nose every time he tryed it. Have you tryed that stuff you put on your wood that tastes really bad to them, it is " suppose" to stop it. Other than that all I know is to keep the collar on. __________________ I love horses that are not broke under saddle, it gives me a reason to jump on BAREBACK!!!YeeHaaww Lifes to short to pretend like you know what smart people are talking about.

12-12-2005, 04:41 PM
LiquidStarlight Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 865	I've also tried a spray, I think it's called "McNastys". It's some really nasty spray I've accidentally had some get in my mouth before, and it was awful tasting. It works great for some horses, but others love it! I don't know why, but it doesn't work on all horses. It works on all surfaces, including blankets, wood, metal bars, etc. But if the cribbing collar is working, I would stick with that. If you put your hand on the surface where the spray is, then accidentally wipe your eyes, or mouth, it is some NASTY stuff! __________________ There are times when you can trust a horse, times when you can't, and times when you have to.

12-12-2005, 04:43 PM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	The stable owner had said that she had tried some of the sprays and that he would go out of his way to find other pieces of wood or flat objects to crib on. So I guess he's one of those horses! I wish you luck with your cribber, too. It's scary to think that a nasty habit can be so dangerous!

12-13-2005, 02:13 PM
Riley'sMom Newborn Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4	I have a good friend that has a cribber. She tried the collar on him and somehow he found a way to still do it. Then she tried a basket and she loves it! He can still eat and seems very happy wearing it. She owns a tack shop and said she would recommend the basket over the collar to anyone who has a cribber. Good luck!

12-13-2005, 02:21 PM
BarrelGirl Started Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,042	We, too, have a cribber. When he is outside, he has nothing to crib on (we have no wooden fences). He doesn't have a chance to crib out there, but when he comes inside for grain every night, he cribs. He doesn't do it a lot, and it doesn't interrupt his eating. We have a collar for him, but we don't put it on him unless he's going to spend a lot of time in his stall (which is rare). He hasn't dropped weight or anything. I have heard many different theories about why horses start cribbing. Is it a behavior they learn from seeing other horses do it?

12-13-2005, 02:38 PM
QuartersAllTheWay Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 854	No most the tme horses will NOT pick it up from other horses. Unless it is a baby and it learns from mom. It is normally a stress or boredom issue. From being stalled to much. Sometimes it can aslo be because of pain. I agree with Riley'sMom on the basket thing too. Much better than the collar.

12-13-2005, 05:17 PM
Alberta Lolita Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 457	I have tried absolutley everything, the basket rubbed my horses face under her chin until it bled, so you couldn;t keep it on all that long. She wears a collar religiously and it has to be tight to be effective, if its not tight enough she can still crib. The only thing that has stopped her from cribbing without the collar was being in a fully electrified pen without a shelter (to crib on) and a water trough that is on the ground, so she can't get at it. Its a curse and I know becuase my cribbing horse that I felt sorry for and didn't make wear the collar had colic surgery, and I'm here to tell you its not worth it. Id rather see her in uncomfortable looking collar than flat on her back in the operating room again.

12-13-2005, 06:40 PM
baylady Yearling Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: PA Posts: 771	I use a miracle collar on my TB Buddy. The previous owner said that he cribbed so I keep it on him. I have owned him since August and I have not seen him crib once. So sometimes I forget to put it on. I dont know I figured it was just a habit he picked up on the track. __________________ \"Experienced riders are not prone to brag. And usually newcomers, if they start out being boastful, end up modest.\"

12-15-2005, 10:52 AM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	I have actually read that some do believe it is a learned habit that horses pick up from other cribbers. I have heard things to the opposite of that also, so I guess they're still trying to figure it out. I know that Jim has no health issues being masked with cribbing, he is pasture boarded so is not experiencing stall boredom, and did not crib for the first 2 years he lived at the farm he is currently at. He had been pastured for a short while with an older horse that has a very bad cribbing habit and then Jim suddenly started cribbing out of nowhere. So to me that would seem like a learned behavior- but I'm not an animal behaviorist! He's doing really well with wearing the collar, aside from the obvious frustration that he has with wearing it. But I want to see him healthy so I will keep him in it forever if necessary! Thanks for the advice everyone, it is really appreciated!

12-16-2005, 09:24 AM
Alberta Lolita Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 457	My horse did pick it up from a horse who cribbed who was in the pen next to her. She has plenty of room and a round bale and is not bored, but she picked up the habit a day or two after the horse moved in next to her. She had been in the same living situation for a year and as soon as he came, she started cribbing...I think its learned!

12-16-2005, 09:32 AM
JoAnn1978 Weanling Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 395	I have to agree with your opinion- horses are very intelligent and they're herd animals. I would think that they learn many behaviors from their board and pasture mates, including cribbing! I would love to be able to get into their heads and know how the communicate with one another. How interesting that would be!