Crib biting and wind sucking research needs volunteers

Researchers at the University of Liverpool are looking for volunteers to take part in a postal questionnaire on crib biting and wind sucking behaviour.

The questionnaire should only take 15 minutes to complete and will focus on your horse’s behaviour, health and daily routine.

It is hoped that their confidential survey — which focuses on horse health and management — will ultimately provide owners with information on how this behaviour can be reduced and prevented in the future.

The University of Liverpool have provided the following definitions of the behaviour they are looking for:

Crib biting — the horse will seize a fixed object with his/her front teeth and pull back on it, tensing the neck muscles. A characteristic grunt will typically be heard and it is common for the horse to perform this behaviour in association with feeding. However, it can occur at any time.

Wind sucking — this behaviour is similar to crib-biting but the horse does not grasp onto a fixed object. The horse will adopt the same posture and tension of the neck muscles as a crib-biter and will draw air into his/her mouth.

If you would like to take part in the survey please email your name, address and telephone number to cribbing@liv.ac.uk.

Call Ebony Escalona MRCVS from the University of Liverpool on 07961 809633, or see http://www.liv.ac.uk/equine/studiesandtrials/cribbing.htm for more information.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now