15/01/2024
Stabling 🐴
Everyday I treat horses in stables and it got me thinking about are they actually happy in their stable? Obviously we all know horses should be out in the field and its natural. So are stables good for horses? When we look at horses for what they are then the answer is No. Stables are made to suit humans not horses. Horses were around before domestication and will probably be around after as well, feral horses thrive without us.
The debate will always rage on but the fact of the matter is stables suit are convenience not the horses. Horses are highly social creatures, they are herd animals and research shows they do not do well alone. They like to forage and be free and be in control what is coming around the corner. Think about it, they are sensitive animals and not being able to see out in the open for predators could be pretty scary. On the flip side of this some horses have been conditioned to almost benefit from stabling around our lives and some owners would say they prefer the stable. Isolation and confinement suppress natural instincts to forage, make friends and be free, which the research shows they also make horses susceptible to more ailments and issues.
There are plenty of positives and negatives for both and that is up to owners to decide. As a physiotherapist movement and freedom to express natural behaviour is key to a healthy life and to prevent many unwanted musculoskeletal conditions. This is somewhat the elephant in the room for many horses, the turn out and stabling.
Please feel free to debate this as it can be a touchy subject and remember there is always a sensible answer for both opinions! Remember it is a privilege to own a horse and not a right which people tend to forget
Be Nice! 💙
