Cribbiting

/ˈkrɪbˌbaɪtɪŋ/ noun, verb

Definition

The behavior of a horse that bites or gnaws at wood, especially its crib or manger, often due to stress or nutritional deficiency.

Etymology

From 'cribbiter' plus '-ing' suffix, or from 'crib' plus 'biting.' Describes the specific vice of horses chewing or biting cribs.

Kelly Says

Veterinarians still debate whether cribbiting is purely a stress behavior or if it indicates nutritional imbalance—some horses seem to crib compulsively while others never develop the habit even under stress.

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