Pedigree Query

I personally dislike cribbers and pretty much won't buy one unless there are extenuating circumstances. I sold a yearling filly once that was a cribber and it was announced from the auctioneers stand when she came into the ring. The funny thing is, this was the only filly I ever made money at the sales with. This leads me to question what effect, if any, the announcement that a horse is a cribber has on the actual sales price?

My experience is most of the time cribbing has a negative effect on the sales price. But, as always , there are exceptions to the rule. Who really knows if a horse sells for $40K and is a cribber, if they might have gone for $50K and not a cribber.

It would have to be a hellova good animal to earn a spot on my place as a cribber. I hate "stump suckers".

Since cribbing is controllable and varies in degree, I think it's hard to generalize. We have one, and his positives far outweigh the little bit of extra time and effort we have to put in.

As a buyer though, I have my eye on a cribber that's an otherwise outstanding horse. I'm really hoping that the cribbing keeps other buyers away!

Supposedly Kelso was a cribber. It may have an effect on sales price, but apparently it's possible to have a pretty good racing career just the same.

It seems to me that it has a definite negative effect on sales prices, but it wouldn't bother me at all to buy one, especially on a broodmare. I've had good success with getting them to stop. I think people misunderstand their reason for cribbing quite often. If you take away the thing that is bothering them, whether it is pain, isolation, or anxiety, they seem to quit altogether. I've actually never had one that continued to crib after I've owned him for a while, although I did have one that I sold that started up again right away (and I did disclose it). If you address their issues by treating them for ulcers, turning them out in a herd, etc., they seem to stop. But if I looking for a weanling to pinhook, I would probably never consider a cribber.

casallc wrote: I hate "stump suckers".

I reallllly dislike this vice. It is terribly annoying to watch, listen to and of course it is destructive. I had the misfortune to purchase an un-announced cribber at an auction last year. Luckily she is one of the few I have seen that stops when she is wearing a miracle collar.

I do think it deters buyers however I doubt it have a huge effect on quality horses presented at auction.

Hi Folks,

There are various degrees of 'cribbing' and the most serious ones are difficult if not impossible to stop. Collars and other methods may work on some but not all. Some studies claim that increased grazing helps alleviate the problem. If the problem is a compulsive behavioral disorder then it won’t be so easy to eliminate.

Cribbing, aka 'wind sucking' is when grabs a stationary object (like a fence or stall board), arches their neck and pulls back while swallowing air (and grunting). Technically there’s a difference between a cribber and a wood chewer but the term is usually applied to either. Young horses seem to learn the habit from their elders.

Cribbing can adversely affect the teeth (wears them down), throat (irritation, inflammation and infection) and the gastric system. Any stationary object that a horse can crib on is likely to be a haven for germs that they will inhale. I’ve seen cases where cribbing race horses have gotten serious throat infections from splinters that lodge in their throat.

I purchased 2 mares, one from Keeneland and the other from the Adena Springs (Fasig-Tipton) November Mixed sales several years ago and neither was announced as a cribber yet when both arrived at the farm in NY (several days later) they were cribbing. Geoffrey Russell of Keeneland happily announced that I was a few hours past the deadline for lodging complaints (72 hours) and refused to discuss the situation. Jack Brothers of Adena Springs was willing to take the second mare back (despite being 5 days after the sale) but it turned out that she had 'learned' to crib from the other mare and soon stopped.

The cribbing mare was 17hh and made short work of her stall (in NY). A cribbing collar helped along with a lot of handling and pasture time but she never stopped. I sold her soon after at a loss but did declared as a cribber. The original sales consignor (a major KY farm) claimed that this mare never cribbed when in their care at the sale but she incorrigibly worked through 2 boards in the van (that I compensated the owner for). She was worse than a hive of termites before we slowed her down.

If announced as cribbers it's probable that you will lose interest from some bidders and in my experience the Europeans stay well clear of them. My advice when purchasing any stock is to alert the people where they will be stabled immediately after the sale to watch for cribbing and then lodge a complaint if they do (and you no longer want the horse).

I've found that cribbing is now left to the honor of the owner and consignor to declare and its buyer beware. You can’t and shouldn’t assume that the horse doesn’t crib until proven otherwise.

Regards,

Pete

I tend to think that a lot depends on WHO is looking at the horse. you and I might not want a cribber in the barn (controllable or not - you can't be sure of that, or the root cause of the behavior when you're buying something at a sale), but for some people, it doesn't matter, because they don't have to deal with the horses they buy, day in and day out. Personally, I need something that is relatively tractable, easy going, not given to hissy fits, isn't going to try to use me as a chew toy, etc. That's why I won't buy/breed a Fleetwood Mac or a Storm Cat. Because *I* am the one handling my horses. But for someone who's just going to turn around and send the horse to the trainer or a breeding farm, cribbing can be almost a non-issue.

Hi Timex,

You make a good point that some owners aren't sensitive to the vices of the horses that they acquire (and don't have to personally care for).

Cribbing affects human property and horse health and value. It's easy to identify and should be announced or a penalty should be imposed. I'd recommend that potential buyers look the consignor in the 'eye' and ask if a mare is a 'cribber' and don't accept 'I don't think so' as an answer.

Temperment is an issue that's harder to 'define' in terms of loss of value because a horse that one person might handle another might not. Once identified, a cribber is known while aggression or foul temperment may not be so easy to see from only a few minutes viewing a prospective buy.

Regards,

Pete