@miniaturegalforlife Am so sorry to hear that. I would be checking for gastric ulcers, as that could be one possible cause. There is a good herbal mix you can give daily to help with his digestive tract containing slippery elm, licorice root, marshmallow root, chamomile. I would also be giving him as much turnout time as possible, company if possible & ample forage. You could also try to distract him with toys or treat balls. Works with some, but didn't work for Cruze unfortunately.
It's good to know. I've been looking at your videos because I am doing some research on horses and horse facilities - I'm doing my Master's thesis in architecture and it was useful to me. So, thanks for posting the videos.
@myflatlove Windsucking is an interesting topic. There seems to be lots of different beliefs & opinions out there. I did a heap of research & talked to a lot of people who had experience with windsuckers after Cruze came to the sanctuary because I knew nothing. I also watched him a lot & took a lot of notes. Even with all of that I still feel there is so much I can learn to help him & others in the future. All the best with your Masters & research & hope the video helped in some way :)
@myflatlove Ample food & turnout is enough to stop some, but it doesn't always work. It's much harder to stop them when it's become habitual. Since Cruze was rescued he's always had 24hr access to hay and grass, and he gets 2 to 3 hard feeds per day. He's also got company, as some horses will windsuck if they're bored or alone. Each horse and each case is different. Some will stop after a dental if their teeth are bad, some will stop if put in a new environment, others will never stop.
Thanks for this information. i have never known what windsucking was but have certainly heard the terms many times before. About 15 years ago a dr in WA discovered that gastric ulcers in humans is caused by a bacteria and it is now cured in humans with antibiotics. I wonder if it could be a similar cause in horses? I wonder if horses that have always lived in large paddocks windsuck?
@wraeki Gastric ulcers often go hand in hand with windsucking, but not sure if the pain of ulcers causes the windsucking, or if the windsucking causes the ulcers. There is a chemical treatment which Cruze had, & he's also on a daily herbal blend to aid his entire digestive tract. Not 100% sure, but it seems any kind of trauma, stress, anxiety or boredom can cause certain horses to start, whether in a large paddock or not. Think we still have a lot to learn about why they start & how to help.
My horse is also a windsucker, although he windsucks differently. As far as I'm aware at the moment the way he does is a lot better for his health as he doesn't do any damage to his teeth. [Vet says they're are healthy and good for a horse of his age17]
My horse, he's a cob btw, puts pressure on his chin on any surface he can and sucks like that. He's done it as long as I've owned him which is almost 4 years and with his previous owner.
@RockyWolves That's really interesting. I think I saw a horse windsucking like that once in a video. I've also heard, but never seen, that some horses will literally suck on thin air if they have to. At least, as you said, it is not damaging his teeth. Would be interesting to see if there are others out there that have adapted your boy's "not so damaging" way of windsucking.
my horse just started windsucking how do i stop it?!?!? my mum thinks by putting a potatoe bag on the one wooden pole that she will stop ...
no effence but my mum is a f*cking fruit loop for thinking tht! and she thinks that its so they wil ware down the horses teeth and then they will stop :|
And EVERYTIME i tell her or saying something slighlty related to her being wrong she goes off her nut at me saying ive worked at studs so im the village idiot and all tht ...
@cheeseninjahz It depends what's caused your horse to start. If it's a medical reason i.e. gastric ulcers, then you can treat it with an ulcer guard &/or a herbal blend that aids the digestive tract. If it's boredom or stress, then it may not be a quick fix. There are things you can try ie electric fencing, collars, deterants you can paint on posts. The longer the horse sucks, the harder it often is to stop. Could also be dietary, which is causing gut irritation. I'd eliminate 1 cause at a time.
@AussieDogProducts Hi there. I love your products and use your dog discs and horse balls here at the sanctuary. In fact I am sure there is a mysterious hole somewhere that contains about 10 discs that have mysteriously vanished over the years! Unfortunately Cruze shows absolutely no interest whatsoever in boredom breakers or toys, even if they rattle. I've even tried covering the handle in molasses and that doesn't even work. Thanks for the idea though :)
The wind passing his teeth might give him a cold sensation he likes maby an ice block could distract him?
Your prob right about a treasure chest of dog discs as my dog will hide some toys and bring them out months later if she gets bored of one or loses one.
Wondering if you've ever tried hanging stall toys on the posts. Dog balls with holes on them stuffed with carrots, peppermints (which helps with stomach pain) or other yummies makes them work to get the treat and keeps them distracted for hours, and the longer you can keep them distracted the more likely the possibility you can break the mind pattern. Figure it's like a bored 2-year-old. Keep him busy and he won't have the time to do it. He's a handsome boy.
@dunblobbon Have done, with no success at all unfortunately :( I initially tried distracting him by putting him in a paddock with knee high grass. When he was rescued he had no feed, so figured this might be enough. That worked for about the first 3 days I had him. Then tried all sorts of toys: horse balls, treat balls, boredom breakers and none of them worked. He is not the slightest bit interested in treats or toys and unfortunately lush grass or company makes no difference either.
This was very informative, Kathy. I love the dog in the background; he doesn't seem to understand the seriousness of wind sucking and instead is searching for someone to through the frisbee!
@Reeny29 Thanks! Yes Bonnie is a character alright. She was surrendered because she has no off switch and will literally collapse before stopping. If it's not the frisbee, it will be a stick, piece of firewood, whatever is in sight. Got her on Bach Flower Remedy to calm her down and also doing lots of work with her to try and teach her that there needs to be time to rest as well :)
Watch out Burnie, this one's rampaging!
Rabicon1 4 days ago
I get sad watching him! 8(
kungfufona 1 month ago
All seriousness, just feed that horse a shit ton of beer, and keep it up each time it's inclined to windsuck.
fateephat 1 month ago
Can you help me? I just realized my horse is a winduskcer. Should he have 24hour turnout?
miniaturegalforlife 2 months ago
@miniaturegalforlife Am so sorry to hear that. I would be checking for gastric ulcers, as that could be one possible cause. There is a good herbal mix you can give daily to help with his digestive tract containing slippery elm, licorice root, marshmallow root, chamomile. I would also be giving him as much turnout time as possible, company if possible & ample forage. You could also try to distract him with toys or treat balls. Works with some, but didn't work for Cruze unfortunately.
kathymunslow 2 months ago
It's good to know. I've been looking at your videos because I am doing some research on horses and horse facilities - I'm doing my Master's thesis in architecture and it was useful to me. So, thanks for posting the videos.
myflatlove 4 months ago
@myflatlove Windsucking is an interesting topic. There seems to be lots of different beliefs & opinions out there. I did a heap of research & talked to a lot of people who had experience with windsuckers after Cruze came to the sanctuary because I knew nothing. I also watched him a lot & took a lot of notes. Even with all of that I still feel there is so much I can learn to help him & others in the future. All the best with your Masters & research & hope the video helped in some way :)
kathymunslow 4 months ago
He has to graze on food all the time and that should do it. Horses are natural grazes. Let him eat all the time and he will behave.
myflatlove 4 months ago
@myflatlove Ample food & turnout is enough to stop some, but it doesn't always work. It's much harder to stop them when it's become habitual. Since Cruze was rescued he's always had 24hr access to hay and grass, and he gets 2 to 3 hard feeds per day. He's also got company, as some horses will windsuck if they're bored or alone. Each horse and each case is different. Some will stop after a dental if their teeth are bad, some will stop if put in a new environment, others will never stop.
kathymunslow 4 months ago
Thanks for this information. i have never known what windsucking was but have certainly heard the terms many times before. About 15 years ago a dr in WA discovered that gastric ulcers in humans is caused by a bacteria and it is now cured in humans with antibiotics. I wonder if it could be a similar cause in horses? I wonder if horses that have always lived in large paddocks windsuck?
wraeki 5 months ago
@wraeki Gastric ulcers often go hand in hand with windsucking, but not sure if the pain of ulcers causes the windsucking, or if the windsucking causes the ulcers. There is a chemical treatment which Cruze had, & he's also on a daily herbal blend to aid his entire digestive tract. Not 100% sure, but it seems any kind of trauma, stress, anxiety or boredom can cause certain horses to start, whether in a large paddock or not. Think we still have a lot to learn about why they start & how to help.
kathymunslow 4 months ago
My horse is also a windsucker, although he windsucks differently. As far as I'm aware at the moment the way he does is a lot better for his health as he doesn't do any damage to his teeth. [Vet says they're are healthy and good for a horse of his age17]
My horse, he's a cob btw, puts pressure on his chin on any surface he can and sucks like that. He's done it as long as I've owned him which is almost 4 years and with his previous owner.
Anyone else have a horse that does this also?
RockyWolves 6 months ago
@RockyWolves That's really interesting. I think I saw a horse windsucking like that once in a video. I've also heard, but never seen, that some horses will literally suck on thin air if they have to. At least, as you said, it is not damaging his teeth. Would be interesting to see if there are others out there that have adapted your boy's "not so damaging" way of windsucking.
kathymunslow 6 months ago
my horse just started windsucking how do i stop it?!?!? my mum thinks by putting a potatoe bag on the one wooden pole that she will stop ...
no effence but my mum is a f*cking fruit loop for thinking tht! and she thinks that its so they wil ware down the horses teeth and then they will stop :|
And EVERYTIME i tell her or saying something slighlty related to her being wrong she goes off her nut at me saying ive worked at studs so im the village idiot and all tht ...
HOW DO I STOP THIS?!?!?
cheeseninjahz 8 months ago
@cheeseninjahz It depends what's caused your horse to start. If it's a medical reason i.e. gastric ulcers, then you can treat it with an ulcer guard &/or a herbal blend that aids the digestive tract. If it's boredom or stress, then it may not be a quick fix. There are things you can try ie electric fencing, collars, deterants you can paint on posts. The longer the horse sucks, the harder it often is to stop. Could also be dietary, which is causing gut irritation. I'd eliminate 1 cause at a time.
kathymunslow 8 months ago
Any chance you tried something that rattles?
AussieDogProducts 9 months ago
@AussieDogProducts Hi there. I love your products and use your dog discs and horse balls here at the sanctuary. In fact I am sure there is a mysterious hole somewhere that contains about 10 discs that have mysteriously vanished over the years! Unfortunately Cruze shows absolutely no interest whatsoever in boredom breakers or toys, even if they rattle. I've even tried covering the handle in molasses and that doesn't even work. Thanks for the idea though :)
kathymunslow 9 months ago
@kathymunslow
Shame as he is such a nice looking horse.
The wind passing his teeth might give him a cold sensation he likes maby an ice block could distract him?
Your prob right about a treasure chest of dog discs as my dog will hide some toys and bring them out months later if she gets bored of one or loses one.
Tim- AussieDog.
AussieDogProducts 9 months ago
Okay. I think what you have is an extremely smart horse that's now obsessive/compulsive. Do you train him for anything?
dunblobbon 9 months ago
Wondering if you've ever tried hanging stall toys on the posts. Dog balls with holes on them stuffed with carrots, peppermints (which helps with stomach pain) or other yummies makes them work to get the treat and keeps them distracted for hours, and the longer you can keep them distracted the more likely the possibility you can break the mind pattern. Figure it's like a bored 2-year-old. Keep him busy and he won't have the time to do it. He's a handsome boy.
dunblobbon 9 months ago
@dunblobbon Have done, with no success at all unfortunately :( I initially tried distracting him by putting him in a paddock with knee high grass. When he was rescued he had no feed, so figured this might be enough. That worked for about the first 3 days I had him. Then tried all sorts of toys: horse balls, treat balls, boredom breakers and none of them worked. He is not the slightest bit interested in treats or toys and unfortunately lush grass or company makes no difference either.
kathymunslow 9 months ago
Hey thanks for posting, it helped me understand a lot :)
bawden92 9 months ago
@bawden92 I am so glad you got something out of it. I was hoping that all of my trial and error of the past year might be of some use to someone :)
kathymunslow 9 months ago
This was very informative, Kathy. I love the dog in the background; he doesn't seem to understand the seriousness of wind sucking and instead is searching for someone to through the frisbee!
You do a wonderful job!
Reeny29 11 months ago
@Reeny29 Thanks! Yes Bonnie is a character alright. She was surrendered because she has no off switch and will literally collapse before stopping. If it's not the frisbee, it will be a stick, piece of firewood, whatever is in sight. Got her on Bach Flower Remedy to calm her down and also doing lots of work with her to try and teach her that there needs to be time to rest as well :)
kathymunslow 9 months ago