-Note-Diurnal Pattern of Cribbing in Stabled Horses

Abstract

Diurnal pattern of cribbing in three horses, whose cribbing became habitual and persistent, were observed in stalls for 24 hours using video recorders. The frequency of cribbing varied in a day, with three major cribbing periods in early morning, evening and midnight. There was a strong association between the frequency of cribbing and feeding. Before and after the roughage meal delivery, the level of cribbing frequency was low, and around the concentrated meal delivery, the level of cribbing frequency became high. These results suggest that cribbing may be caused not only by boredom, but also by frustration in ingestive behavior related to the physical quality of the meal which horses are fed.