Cribbing Muzzles

Do cribbing muzzles work?

Cribbing muzzles, similar to cribbing collars are like grazing muzzles. Generally, this anti-cribbing device is made of lightweight steel or metal bars. It allows horses to eat and drink. Unlike e-collars, cribbing muzzles humanely hinders the animals from gulping wind and other materials when cribbing. These are specially made to fit most halters. They also come with fleece to provide comfort for the horse and protection from sores.

When attaching cribbing muzzle to your cribber pal, make sure that your paddock doesn’t have any small edges for your horse to get his muzzle caught on. If that happens, the animal can suck and gulp air even with the muzzle on. It is also best recommended to use this muzzle with breakaway halter.
For some horse owners, they vouched that cribbing muzzle works just fine to stop their equine friend from cribbing. However, there are also those that list a number of problems that such muzzle brings. Here are some of the common disadvantages of cribbing muzzle:

When not careful enough, the muzzle could get caught up into fences or anything and inadvertently allow the horse to crib.
Some horses are not accustomed to wearing muzzle most of their waking moments; hence they get even more frustrated and so their urge to crib.
When tightened, cribbing muzzle can cause sores and bleeding from too much rubbing.
Some animals might grow white hairs around the affected area.
The fleece on the muzzle that supposedly provides comfort can actually make the horse irritated as it frequently gets wet whenever the animal drinks and never or rarely dried up.
When wore during winter time, the drenched fleece would freeze, thus causes discomfort to the animal.

As for its advantages, they are as follows:

Cribbing muzzle are relatively more humane and quite effective in controlling cribbing compared to electrified fencing, collars and annoying cribbing straps.
When used on your gelding, he doesn’t have to undergo any surgical operation to remove some of his neck muscles.
The animal might look silly with it, but it helps them to stop the urge to suck air.
It allows them to eat and drink.
It is relatively cheaper, safer and more affordable and readily available than those pricey e-collars, anti-depressant drugs and surgical operations.
It can be put on whenever the need arises, and can be also easily removed.
They come in different sizes, shapes, features and colors to suit your animal needs.

So, do these cribbing muzzles? To a certain degree, yes. They are so much better than electrifying and stunning your mount just to stop him from cribbing and wind sucking. Most horse owners would prefer to have their equine pals muzzled up than have their neck muscles severed.

One must consider the fact that no single method or product can completely stop and control cribbing in horses. However, there is a recent study that claims cribbing is the animal’s natural way to relieve stress-related digestive problems.
In 1999, a couple (Richard and Susi Peace) had noticed that cribbers kept on limestone soils were less likely to suck wind compared to those that were kept on clay soils. They theorized that probably cribbing is due to horse’s indigestion. So the couple gave their cribber six Rennie’s antacid tablets after his feed. They’ve found out that their horse cribbing decreased by 200%.

The couple was amazed by the result, so they went to De Montfort University in Leicester, United Kingdom and presented their theory. The researchers carried out the experiment to 100 cribbers and the findings were substantially significant.
This prompted the creation of antacid supplement for horses called Settlelex. Settlelex is an antacid drug that contains acid-neutralizing components. It gently soothes the digestive system of the animal, thus help reduces the horse’s urge to crib or wind suck.

Whether you opt for the safer but equally effective cribbing muzzle or the scientifically proven horse’s antacid, cribbing is not just an animal habit to be taken lightly. In fact, it is life threatening as a cribber can suck not just the wind but also particles that could scar or damage internal tissues and organs as well as cause E. coli.