Living Requirements for Horses

 It is my belief that a horse should live their lives they way God put them on this earth to, not in a stall.  We as horse owners tend to want to "save the grass", or think our horses cannot survive in inclement weather.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  And we wonder why our horses have a higher rate of colic, respiratory issues or behavioral issues...there should be no surprise at all.  Here is a good article in support of understanding the true needs of the horse as to their being in their natural born environment.

Living Requirements for Horses

By Cheryl McNamee Sutor, MHG

In today's world, a very large percentage of conventional boarding environments are based more and more on the needs of the horse owners than on the needs of the horse. These sacrifices, which are generally done to make horse keeping more "convenient", are creating health problems and reducing the equine's lifespan and natural healing abilities.

Most horse owners do not realize that the horse is very much different from ourselves. We need to start taking the horse's natural lifestyle into account and stop "humanizing" them. For example: Many horse owners believe that their horse is most comfortable in a stall deeply bedded with shavings or straw. However, this is not true (explained below). The horse does not find comfort in many of the things that we conventionally provide it.

This article is intended to help you, as a horse owner or student, to understand the proper natural environment in which horses are born to live in. After all, the horse's environment plays the key role in it's overall health and lifespan, and we all want the very best for our much-loved horses. 

When a horse is kept in a stall or otherwise confined, even for brief periods, the heart becomes over-stressed which results in heart and circulatory problems. In addition, due to this lack of circulation, the horse begins to lose bone density, develop conformation flaws and the hooves begin to deform. 24-7 freedom of movement is absolutely necessary to maintain the health of your horse.

In addition to stalling being a health risk to your horse, I also believe it to be a moraly incorrect arrangement. Many of us love our horses to pieces, yet, we don't realize how much our horses being kept in 12x12 box stalls is comparable to a human inmate in an 8x8 prison cell. The horse stands in the stall day-in and day-out with no real reason to live. It usually cannot socialize through the stall walls and is unable to have enough movement to maintain optimal health, both physically and mentally.

The bedding also plays a large role in the horse's overall health. When a horse is traditionally bedded on wood shavings, those shavings wick away moisture from the horse's feet, drying them out. Both shavings and straw retain ammonia from the horse's urine, which futher break down and destroy the hoof structure. Not to mention the decreased air-flow in a stalled environment causing many types of respiratory problems in horses. Also, in the wild, a horse who sleeps on soft footing does not survive because it is too difficult to stand and run quick enough when a predator approaches. This fear is not only present in wild horses, but just as much in our domesticated horses too. They become mentally and physically imbalanced when kept in stalls.

Bad habits and behaviors may also develop due to boredom, lack of herd environment, and lack of exercise. Horses that are stall-kept are often found chewing wood, cribbing, pacing, pawing, weaving, head shaking, etc. How often do you see wild horses or free-roaming horses exhibiting these behaviors? Walk into a conventional boarding facility and a very large percentage of the horses will have some degree of these behaviors.

The answer? Try finding an arrangement as close to 24-7 grass pasture and freedom of movement with a shelter or barn that you possibly can. Allow the horse access to free-choice salt and mineral blocks that are designed for horses. When you allow the horse to make it's own choices, whether it wants to stand outside or inside at any given moment, you will find that most horses will even stand outside in the rain and snow when given the choice. Your horse's system will begin to work as it is intended by nature, and he will live healthier, happier and longer because of it. Unless stall rest is prescribed by a qualified veterinarian, allow your horse the freedom of movement he needs and deserves for optimal health.

However, if you live in an area that is known to have free roaming predators, be sure to take the proper measures to keep them out of your horse's pasture. A strong, tall wire-mesh style of fencing will keep most predators and animals out of your pastures.