Could a barn owner refuse a cribber?

Barn owners can refuse any type of horse they want - cribbers, weavers, kickers, biters, stallions, aggressive horses...

Yes just like you mentioned a cribber can cause a lot of money worth in fence repair, stall repair.

My pleasure horse is a cribber, there is no known cause for cribbing. His grandmother was a cribber, but his parents weren't. No other horse on the barn cribs. But horses can learn from each other, I've seen non cribbers be put with cribbers and they'll start cribbing. We noticed that my horse was a cribber when he was weaned. He had this habit of sucking on things, like buckets, wood, peoples shirt. We thought it was a baby thing and we'd assume that he'd get over it but then when he was in the pasture, there's only one wooden gate in the field, he started loosing weight and was hanging around the gate. My trainer figured out that he was a cribber. He's a devoted cribber, leave the collar off for a day or have it on loose and he'll crib like the world's going to end.

I have managed several different barns. When I am managing the barn for someone else, I have to go by the rules of the property owner. But when I had my own place, I did allow cribbers with some conditions. One of my own horses was a cribber too, and at one time I had 5 cribbers on the property. My rule basically was that cribbers were allowed so long as the cribbing was controlled by a cribbing collar or some other product. If the horse owner doesn't believe in cribbing collars, that's their right, but they are not going to let their horse crib at my farm!

We did have one horse who cribbed non-stop in his stall no matter how tight the collar or what we sprayed/painted on the wood to stop him. I really didn't want to kick the horse out because the owner was very nice, so we ended up putting hot wire on the top of the walls where he was cribbing. Sounds harsh but the cribbing stopped! He was fine outside with a collar on, and I tried to turn him out as much as possible. I agree that the best solution for a cribber would be 24/7 turnout on a large pasture, but I had 4 little dirt paddocks and that's just the way it was. I did have someone want to board with me who did not believe in cribbing collars and let her horse crib whenever she wanted, and I had to refuse to let her board with me. With 5 cribbers in the barn, if I'd let them crib unhindered I would have no barn or fences left! Not to mention that the owners of the non-cribbing horses would have pitched a fit.

My own cribber suffered from gastric ulcers which I treated with diet changes and Omeprazole. I could always tell when he needed more medication because his cribbing would get worse. I'd treat him more aggressively and the cribbing would stop, but he always needed to wear a cribbing collar (fairly loose). So, yes I do believe that many cribbers need to be treated for medical problems before you just put a tight collar around their throat. But I can't force a boarder to spend $1000/mo on ulcer meds when they don't even believe me about the ulcer link.

Of course they could. It's their barn, and cribbers are very destructive, especially if the owner doesn't manage them correctly. And, as you said, horses who are by or with cribbers tend to learn to crib themselves- If I were a barn owner, I would not allow a cribber unless the owners were diligently trying to prevent it- I.e Cribbing collar, wire muzzle (So he cannot latch on to things) on whenever he isn't being ridden. A poorly managed horse is everyone's problem, and seeing as it can teach other horses to crib, it also costs other owners money because a cribbing horse is worth less than one that doesn't- I know many people who will not even look at a cribber.

We have a very destructive cribber at our barn. This horse will crib on anything- I've seen him cribbing on his haynet at a show. He has a cribbing collar on, but that alone doesn't stop him, so he also has a muzzle. However, the weekend workers and sometimes the owner don't always bother to put that on. Luckily most of the fencing he's in is electric, but where it isn't it is chewed. The stall he is in has had to have metal put on all the wooden edges to deter him, but there's still alot of damage. Also, many horses stalled near him have learned to crib from him. It's a mess.

Yes, they can refuse cribbers. I work part time at a local lesson/boarding facility and the owner will NOT tolerate cribbers or wood chewers. And I don't blame him. Horses like that are a liability when you own a large working horse facility. They run a high risk of colic and some will chew your barn down. Plus, if they're being stalled frequently/semi-frequently, they've been known to teach other horses to do it.

<(O.o)> is just being realistic, don't ask questions on this site if you can't handle an honest answer. Not everyone being honest is 'negative'. To answer your question I don't blame the barn owner for not wanting a horse with a vice that will destroy her property if you don't know how to control it eg. 24/7 pasture and no stall. I doubt you know enough about cribbers to take one on as a first horse if you think that collar is a magic cure that can be left on whenever the horse isn't working-it can't. I don't blame the barn owner, we are not allowed cribbers at my stable either and we have to respect that it's their property at risk. I suggest you keep looking for a more suitable first horse, one that doesn't have vices that can cause serious health problems and that your barn will likely refuse to take.

This actually happened at my barn! In two different cases. In one case, the owner of the horse refused to pay for a new stall and for the damages (which just looked bad and were dangerous) and so she got booted. However, to another rider, she agreed to pay whatever she had owed for the damages, and she still rides there!

The owner may do whatever they want to! It's their barn. I don't think cribbing is a HUGE issue (there's way worse), but when the horse starts teaching other horses to crib.. I'd draw the line there.

yep. as has already been stated, barn owners/managers can refuse any horse for any reason. if the horse is a really destructive cribber, then yes, the horse could be turned away. also, since it seems that some horses learn to crib by watching another horse doing it, that would be another reason to refuse.

personally, as long as the cribbing was controlled with the use of a collar, i wouldn't refuse, but if other horses started to learn or if it was pulling down boards etc, i would probably ask them to find somewhere else to board.

Yes, a barn owner can refuse any one, for any reason.

Cribbing can, as you know, cause lots of damage to a property and some horses will even learn to crib by being around a severe cribber.

Each barn owner has his/her own rules about what is and is not allowed in the barn.

It is possible that some barn owners would not want a cribber at their barn for a number of reasons:

1- Other horses may pick-up the bad habit, like you said

2- They destroy the barn boards and posts... also like you said

3- Some barn owners may not want to be responsible if something happens to the cribber, example; colic

4- Many people find it very annoying.

I, myself wouldn't want a cribber near my horse, nor in my barn!

I hope I helped!

Yes, very possible that a owner could refuse a cribber. Mainly because of the damage the horse could cause, but there are cribbing collars, that I'm sure your aware of.