Show How to Prevent Nervous Horses From Cribbing The dramatic increase in pleasure horse numbers is reflected in the growing number of queries horse specialists are getting on horse manage ment questions Dr W S Tet Tet- Tet Teter er Manager of Horse Research for the Ralston Purina Com Com Com- Company pany says that one frequent question asked by horse own own- owners ers concerns cribbing or manger chewing DR TETER says that crib crib- cribbing cribbing bing is a nervous habit of horses It may be due to a alack alack lack of activity more than to any desire for additional feed or nutrients One solution is to slow slowdown slowdown down the horses horse's rate of eat eat- eating eating ing This may be done by using a trough about three feet long then spreading the feed out the full length of the trough Some horse owners try putting smooth rocks or orrock orrock rock salt in the feed box or feeding the horses horse's ration in three meals once in the mor mor- mor morning ning once at noon and once in the evening This will make the horse spend more time at atthe atthe the manger giVing him less time to indulge nervous hab- hab habits habits its Another solution Dr Teter leter suggests is to make the wood wood- wooden en surfaces of the stall so un un- un unpalatable palatable the horse will not chew it This may be done by spraying the wood with insect oil or similar substances HORSES THAT are ridden frequently do not seem to crib as much as those who spend much time idling in the stall Cribbing is not an abnormality all ty but merely a nervous habit Dr Teter emphasizes It happens even in the best of families he says Fre- Fre Frequently Frequently thoroughbred farms in Kentucky have to rebuild major portions of their wood en fences each year |