Cribbing occurs when a horse grabs a stationary object such as a stall door or railing with its nipping teeth (incisors), arches and tenses its neck and makes a grunting or groaning sound as it pulls air into its esophagus. Wind-sucking is similar but does not require the use of a stationary object.

Both cribbing and wind-sucking are stereotypical behaviors and are common in stalled, domestic horses. A stereotypical behavior is defined as a repetitive movement or behavior with no obvious function for the animal that is caused by frustration, stress or brain dysfunction.

Cribbing and wind sucking are generally not that harmful to a horse, although cribbing does cause excessive wear and damage to the front (incisor teeth), not to mention damage to facilities, fences and equipment.

Occasionally, a horse will crib as a response to abdominal pain (colic). A sudden onset of this behavior could be a sign of an underlying condition causing pain.

Horses that crib also tend to experience colic more than non-cribbers. This may not relate to cribbing itself, but to these environmental deficiencies that favors the development of both colic and cribbing. Recently, cribbing and wind-sucking have been associated with a particular condition causing colic, small intestinal entrapment in the epiploic foramen.