Cribbing or weaving horse?  I have found that these vices are not behavioral at all…they are ALL linked to physical/mental/emotional pain and discomfort. 99% of the cribbing I see and treat are due to Gastrointestinal issues such as Ulcers. Weaving can also be a sign of ulcers.

Some horses will respond to full time 24/7 turn-out with hay available at all times WITH COMPANIONS. But most will need this to be treated as any other medical issue. Each situation is unique so each horse should be treated individually.

I often see cribbing collars put on horse that have severe stomach pains and now just can’t show you that they are hurting…I don’t like cribbing collars and don’t agree with them. We need to get to the root cause.

Also please remember Ulcers can be tricky to treat…and especially to diagnose. The ulcers may not be detectable through tests due to them being far down the GI tract…and drugs only suppress the issue and make it difficult for your horse to digest his food properly. There are natural solutions to cribbing, weaving and the problems that are underlying.
It is also very important to note. Some horses will get stressed when we keep taking their friends away. In boarding situations this can be very hard I realize but please be aware due to horses social bonding some will NEVER be able to tolerate being separated from friends when they are taken out to go riding or moved to another paddock or barn. Losing friends for some of these sensitive horses is devastating and the only way to make them happy is to give them a ‘permanent’ friend. A Mini horse is actually quite perfect for these situations as they don’t eat much and can keep your horse company for less money…

Remember ‘bad’ behaviors are only symptoms to something else…if you haven’t figured it out please keep trying as these small symptoms have a tendency to grow into bigger problems like Colic later on if not addressed.