How much sense does stabling make?
If you’re just starting your natural horse care journey, be warned. You’ll become obsessed by the habits and lifestyle of your horse’s wild cousins – and start asking yourself some questions.
For instance, how would you like to be locked up for 12 or more hours a day with nothing to do – just staring at a blank wall?
Consider the startling difference between the impressive facts of wild horse movement and how the domestic horse spends its time. In the wild horses spend 18-20 hours a day grazing. They move 20-30 miles a day.
Pity any domestic horse spending 12+ hours in a stall. Yet so many horses do stare at a blank wall for hours each day. It’s tragic for an animal so intelligent.
So many are denied the exercise needed for proper hoof construction.
And so many sit on empty stomachs from lack of grazing. With a relatively small stomach, horses aren’t built for set meals alone.
What’s sad is that horses are paying this price for human convenience. So this begs the question… Can natural horse care be convenient for the horse owner? Case studies prove it can.
You’ll save time, money and even land adjusting to natural stabling and nutrition methods. What’s best for your horse really is best for you as well.
Don’t forget the dental bills, and ulcers. Horses that are kept in stalls are most likely fed from a trough or raised feed bucket. When a horse grazes in the pasture they are constantly reaching out with their neck and chewing with their molars this causes a more correct alignment of the jaw and gives a more even wear pattern on their teeth. IE less need to have the teeth floated. Horses produce stomach acid 24/7 but they only produce saliva when they chew, their saliva has a neutralizing effect on the acid. Horses that are not allowed to graze free range get a concentrated amount of stomach acid built up, this can cause ulcers and also the strong acid going through the digestive system destroys beneficial bacteria and gut flora.
My horse is almost never stabled. She is a Welsh section B so occasionally needs to be kept in for a night to keep the weight off, but she never really spends more than a night every month or so. I don’t like the idea of stabled horses. If the weather is awful and your horses field has little shelter that’s when you can/should stable. Otherwise horses seem MUCH happier with some space and a constant supply of food!
I agree with what Binbons said and my horse is the same but in the field if he wants he can be stabled it is in my horses hands and he very rarely goes into the stable.
i have a gorgeous QH that barely knows what a stall is. she spends her time in a pasture and we found out about the mustang roll a few years ago and immediately got her going on it and she is doing well. i ride her in a side pull, bosel, or just a neck rein, when i can. i do show her and of course have to use a bit. but i use the lightest bits i can find. it breaks my heart when i see people yanking hard on their horses and the horses did nothing wrong. i am so glad this whole natural horse thing is spreading.
i barely stable my horse. i only stable him the night befour a event im in. 😆
Hi Al,
I agree that it is best to work with horse naturally. however, in SA we have something called African Horse Sickness and this kills. the best way to fight this is by bringing our horses in at night and having the stable midge proofed.
hi, my horse is 11, boerperd mare.
i just got her begining of this year and shes never been shoed. ive been keeping her as natural as possible. she only grazes and has only been in a stable for no more then a night, although she does bother me when she loses wieght like this winter when she got realy realy, realy thin. i dont say that shes a good doer but she always seems to have a good diet. i heard that open grazers almost always keep good muscles in thier necks coz of the way the feed, but my girl has poor musles in every part of her body and her condition is shabby,. please can anybody help? ive heard of AHS and ive ridden wonderful horses only to find out that three months later they passed away due to it. Precious has also never have been vaccinated and im worried, it wil be my first time buying vaccinations im in vereeninging area so if anybody can inform me which ones the best to use pls let me know asap.
God Bless and have a good day. 😉
Hi Crystal, also have boerperde/plaas perde & suffered loss with AHS, this year a new vacine – DCA !! ye, Onderstepoort has not yet given the go ahead & seems like one has to inject every 6 months, so far seems more successful. AHS strains no 4 & 8 this year-2013. Ask around at vets able to be a bit more venturous. Good luck, we all need it! Lets make war against these midgets any way we can.
It would be a a perfect world if we could treat our horses as wild horses yet still ride them as domesticated. I house my horses at night for several reasons. In a box stall at night they get fresh water, hay, and supplements. I can check on their condition, see any injuries, watch to see that their intake and output is consistant. They each have thier own stall so they get a break from the pecking order. They become acustomed to being in an enclosure and learn to relax apart from thier buddies. We are concerned about bears and wolves that may prey on them in the dark. I feel that they are safer in their stalls at night in case there is a chance that they may challenge a fence and keep them from accidently wandering on the road in the dark. During the day they have pasture to romp and play, eat, and drink, and be free.
i’m in high school right now. i don’t need a “break” from my friends, horses become friends with others in the herd. also horses see much better in the dark then us about as much as they see in daylight.
your a very good horse keeper, trust me they thank you!
I agree wholeheartedly with Brenda.Our horses will break into their barn when heavy rain begins to fall if we do not let them in!In our area we have periods of cold rain in the Fall anmd Winter.The horses love their barn during the wet weather.I really enjoy this group of horse people to communicate items of interest with.
you could leave the doors open so they can chosse where to be throughout the night.
I have the best of worlds too. We have 3 acres and a very palatial field shelter with bedding and our 2 horses come and go as they please. They are fed twice a day and have available forage all the time. They are also rugged. If I am a little late getting to them in the am or pm it’s not the end of the world. I had a gate put on the shelter so if someone needs box rest (thrush / poisoned foot etc) it’s available. My horses love the fact they can go in and out at will. My youngster has an pm nap in there and the old boy goes in to get out of the rain/sun/wind. They are very happy and it means I don’t have a firecracker to ride when we go out!! 😀 As soon as we start putting fences round horses they lose their ability to ‘live naturally’. It’s up to us to make it as near as damn it as we can tho’.
For those that have the opportunity to let their horses graze are very fortunate. However, I have to board my horse. The owner of the stables is very knowledgeable and really cares about the horses that board there. As a matter of fact, when I wasn’t seeing my horse on a regular basis she would get upset with me or any of the other owners. She also puts the horses out two to three days a week all day. I just recently bought my second horse and she is getting plenty of exercise by my riding instructor. Unfortunately, she hurt her leg and was not able to ride her for almost two months. I am glad to say that I got on her for the first time last week.
I know I,m gonna sound like the bad guy here but my racer is in training most of the year so she is stabled and since she is I simply do what I have to do and work her 2hrs in the morning and 3 hrs in the evening(rain,snow or sunshine) every other day,and I am happy to say shes in peak condition and health. and once again thnx to everyone for postin such great tips and advice Dave
Hi All I am loving this site thank you for everyones comments as I find most of them so so helpful. My hubby and I purchased a small 7 acre plot with a little old home and a wonderful steel 4 stable block and lots of paddocks with post and rail fencing and a lovely big round yard. We are not horse riders and we have never owned horses until about 15 months ago when we rescued our first two beautiful girls. A gorgeous Welsh / shetland pony 7yrs called Tinkabell – Tinks for short and her awesome little 6 week foal who we called Milly the Filly aka Mill Mill (who is now 15mths old). Wow what a learning curve apparently we started with the hardest little ponies to have. Thats ok because it can only get easier then right 🙂 We have learnt so so much with the help of our Vets / Farrier / Google and other horsie friends. We have now just rescued another Beautiful Palomino 15 Hand Mare she was abandon for over 8 months when she came to us she was extremely emaciated and very unwell – with the loving care of our vet Keith we have helped her get back on her feet so to speak and she now has a forever home with us and is here to enjoy her retirement as she is about 30 years old. We named her Gracie May Hope as she is Amazing – Amazing Grace how she managed to hold on till someone could save her as she was in such a poor state. After a couple of weeks of 4 hourly warm feeds as she has very little teeth she is looking terrific and feeling much better we are now in our 6th week and out to 2 feeds daily unless it is rainy or very cold and I will slip in a warm lunch. We are so honored to have them come join us and they have free rain of 5 acres so they can weave in and out through the paddocks they so desire and also we free rain them in regards to the stables so they can graze when desired. Although the Shetland /Welsh we do have to provide restricted grazing throughout the summer months so they have a small yard with a huge open stable filled with shavings and rice hulls (2 to 3 feet thick) – (thicker for our older mare as she needs it soft as she was so emaciated) and also a massive sand pit as the mum had foundered so this help her. They seem really happy and our little Milly is growing up gracefully and is truly amazing. We have always provided her and all our horsed with stimulation such as toys / Mirrors (all girls need a mirror) 🙂 lol and lots of things they would investigate if in the wild. We get massive cardboard boxes in for our filly which she loves to play in and this has also been a great help in teaching her to float which she does without any hic ups she is truly an amazing little girl and loves to be involved in everything we do. She loves all our machinery cars bikes and the ride on is like her best friend. She loves to play chase in the paddock with our teenage son (it’s a game only him and her share) when she sees him she encourages him to play as she always wins of course a she wears him out. We are so incredibly grateful to be able to have the space and the time to assist by providing a forever home to this majestic animals that have come into our care and they have taught us so so much and brought so much to our lives. I also am extremely thankful to all that put up there little messages on these type of sight as it is wonderful to pick up little ideas along the way that assist us in providing a better quality of Life for the wonderful horses that come in to care at Milly’s Manor (our home). So Thank you so much everyone as you little notes have been truly helpful. Enjoy your horses as we do as we are all so blessed to have them. Thank you again Kindly Regards Danielle x o
never stable any of mine they live out all year round n love it if they have to go into a stable they freak out
This has taught me soo much Thank You!!
I have since many years trying to get people to get a more natural approach to horses, how we keep the and how we ride them.
I have read quite a few of the questions asked in this forum. Obviously lots of them come from inexperienced horse owners.
I keep horses since over 30 years and ride since early 1960’s so I have seen a lot of progress and change over the years.
Keep it as natural as you can, but never forget the comfort and intended use of your horse. 🙂
Stabling – run-in shed/heavy duty tent or similar is what I suggest. Indoor pens or spacious multiple horses stalls with access to a big paddock or field is also good.
Feeding – 95 % of horses just hack out a few times a week, here good grazing/hay is sufficient. Check for a good Vitamin/mineral supplement when needed like shedding season. According to work load/hard keeper/ old age etc extra feed such as sugar beet pulpe, alfalfa or even grain can be needed. If uncertain please ask for advice from an experienced owner you trust in your area.
Rugging – nothing wrong with that, when needed! My horses where only rugged as needed. This means for most of them – hardly ever. Cooling fleeces are almost a must,but they come off after a short while.
A highly bred horse in field without shelter and continuous cold rain and cold winds would probably run to you when he sees the rug, a nordic type horse/cob will just ignore the weather.
Shoeing, if your horse can do his job without steel shoes, but wearing boots, leave them OFF. A young horse please don’t start shoeing, use boots.
If your horse has been wearing steel shoes you must consider a transition time to bare hooves of one year as normal. During which time your horse might be a bit sore.
Horses with heavy workloads normally need steel shoes to protect their hooves.
Ground work training – well it is a very good way to start a horse, or for an experienced person to correct inappropriate training. If you don’t have the feeling for it and/or ability to read the horse’s signs, GET HELP. you might ruin so much in only one trial session. (It happened to me, a girl riding/doing groundwork/ lunging my OOTB horse having followed NHS clinics managed to get completely upset and un-rideable in 15 minutes. I had two days of work to get his mind back to normal)
Riding- is what we normally do as “work”…I usually call taking the horse for a walk, what else is 1 h hack with a few minutes of trot and canter to a horse?
Sport horses working can be kept in a group and being in full training, this has been shown by german elite dressage rider & trainer Klaus Balkenhol.
Breeding Stallions as well,outside of breeding season, shown by Swiss National Stud. Haras National Avanches, film on YouTube.
Bit versus bitless – it is the hands that make a difference. A Hackamore is bitless but a “severe” bridle…Australian as well so this is sort of dead end discussion.
Saddle versus bareback – if no saddle the whole weight is on the small surfaces under the rider’s pelvis, OK for a short hack. Sport and race horse cannot perform their task without a WELL fitting saddle.
Any comments, please do.
Love all the input. I have 2 rescue mares, 1 21yrs,smaller one 12 yrs. The 12 yr old was rescued from owners that left her unattended in a stall for days & days..she was totally underweight when I found her & cribbed constantly. They are both in 4 acre pasture w/open pole barn,stalls very primitive just a few board dividers & gates. Use the stalls only when the farrier is there or when feeding. Our “cribber” amazingly does not crib at all now, never had to use a horrible “collar” etc. She has adjusted just fine to coming & going as she pleases, & they are both right there waiting at feedtime…lol and a joy to be around.Let your “babes” run free…
I leave my horse at a barn with natural methods. My horse wears shoes only on the front. He needs that, the farrier keeps his feet trim and tidy, and my horse loves the attention. His gait is smoother when he has even feet.