Efficacy and effects of various anti-crib devices on behaviour and physiology of crib-biting horses.

The research discussed in the article investigates the effect of various anti-crib devices, including surgical rings, on crib-biting behavior, other maintenance behaviors, and cortisol levels in horses. The study demonstrates that these devices significantly reduce crib-biting, but the surgical rings were only effective temporarily and likely caused pain to the horses.

Research Methodology

• The research was carried out over two experiments in a randomized, crossover clinical trial involving established crib-biting horses.
• In the first experiment, two anti-crib collars and a muzzle were used on eight horses, each wearing three different devices for seven days, with a week-long device-free period between each treatment.
• The horses were video recorded for 24 hours at least three times each week before the placement of any device, and again the day after the removal of a device.
• In the second experiment, surgical gingival rings were implanted in six horses. These horses were video recorded for three days preceding the surgery and every day post-surgery until the rings became ineffective.
• Plasma cortisol levels were measured every day during the second experiment and on the first, third and fifth days of each week during the first experiment.

Key Findings

• All the tested devices led to a significant reduction in the crib-biting behavior compared to control periods when the horses were not wearing any devices.
• There was no significant variant in crib-bite reduction among the devices in the first experiment, or between pre-device periods and the first day the device was removed.
• The only notable increase in plasma cortisol levels, indicative of stress, occurred on the day of the gingival ring surgeries in the second experiment, suggesting that the surgical procedure was likely painful to the horses.
• The surgical rings were only temporarily successful.

Conclusions and Recommendations

• The research concluded that common anti-crib devices are successful in reducing crib-biting in horses, but did not induce significant distress, as per the findings.
• The effectiveness of surgical rings was temporary and the procedure was probably painful for the horses, suggesting a need for alternate long-term solutions.
• The authors recommend improving husbandry factors shown to contribute to crib-biting and emphasize the continuation of research into ways to decrease horses’ motivation to display this behavior.