Skip to content

Making Horse Lifestyles More Horse Friendly

Despite the greatest of intentions of horse aficionados that adopt modern day horse care methods, these often fall short of offering what our noble wee beasties really need and would prefer for their horse lifestyles.

Many horse owners regard the way that they keep their equine charges as the best way. Sadly, despite the greatest of intentions of horse aficionados that adopt modern day horse care methods, these often fall short of offering what our noble wee beasties really need and would prefer for their horse lifestyles.

Horses suffer from similar maladies and health issues as us humans do, and they also experience emotional stress driven by the fact that they are by nature’s design, herd animals.

Horses are obviously driven by different desires and needs than humans. Where humankind has transposed its own requirements and ideas of what constitutes good horse care in order to harness the benefits that horses bring to their lives, a conflict between what is best for the horse has inevitably transpired.

Recent horse books published on the horse care topic reiterate the 1965 Roger Brambell’s report that was released in the United Kingdom on animal welfare, which stated that all animals deserve these five freedoms in their housing and care. Namely:

  • Freedom from hunger and thirst
  • Freedom from discomfort
  • Freedom from pain, injury and disease
  • Freedom to express normal behavior
  • Freedom from fear and distress

As a horse owner it’s not hard to figure out how you are currently managing these criteria. Yes, you feed and water your horse. You don’t overwork him or deliberately cause him pain. In new circumstances or training challenges you employ kind but effective methods to assuage any fear before moving forward. But does your horse truly get the opportunity to express normal behavior? Is he stressed by other horses or a lack of herd companionship?

Keeping domesticated animals always involves compromise in the environment in which they are kept, especially when the animal is as large as an Equus and as delicate in its constitution and as sensitive in its nature.

Here are some horse barn design and equine management ideas to help you increase horse-human interaction and minimize the key issues that can haunt your horse and cause unnecessary stress.

 

Freedom Of Movement

Horse barns that are designed with both a shelter option and the freedom for the horse to choose whether it wishes to be inside or outside are a great way to provide a choice to the horse that he would normally enjoy in the wild.

A horse barn that is built with stalls that have exterior Dutch doors that can be left open to provide 24/7 access to a secured paddock area offer the resident equine an important relief to boredom and lack of movement. The relatively inexpensive incorporation of an overhang that offers protection from the heat of the sun or chill of cold rain but still allows the animal the freedom to choose his preferred location is a good idea.

Paddocks can be individual in nature or be a group/herd access offering. Horses, in particular mares, do not consider a fence an obstacle to their needs for social interaction. Many performance horse owners seek to protect their equine partners from direct living and interaction with other herd members, so individual paddocks can provide a solution to social needs.

Remember a stressed horse is more likely to injure itself than one that is not stressed, so even as a competitive rider your equine partner is actually better protected by being allowed to express himself and spend time with other horses, than being isolated. Especially if he grew up in a herd environment. Horses are very adaptable, and it is one of the reasons they have become man’s stalwart companion, but adjustments can be costly in terms of stress and keeping a horse in as natural an environment as possible can reap great rewards to his overall happiness and thus health.

 

Large Pasture Options

The limitation of space to offer true free range grazing availability is obviously off the table in most horse ownership scenarios. But this doesn’t mean that the provision of large pastures where horses can live in a true herd and enjoy the dynamics of those relationships is a bad idea. In fact, it is a good idea in most instances.

The larger and more varietal the pasture that the equine has to graze the better off he will likely be from a nutritional standpoint too. A horse will always choose what he needs to eat and is capable of seeking out the vitamins and minerals he needs (which will seasonally change especially in reproductive age animals), given of course they are provided.

Regardless of the size of the turnout and grazing a horse may have access to enjoy, the quality of that forage is especially important. Rather than blindly feeding a horse a myriad of ‘balancing’ supplements in a daily feed ration, consider providing a variety of free choice supplies of vitamins/minerals in different containers (protected from sun and rain), distributed across the areas he has access to discover.

 

Interior Horse Barn Design Factors

Aside from safely fenced areas for horses to be turned out with or next to each other, also consider how they are stabled together.

While for young horses a herd arrangement may work, for adult horses some form of stall separation method is usually designed in order to provide safety and security for the horse and to make grooming and caring for the horse easier and safer for the human caregiver.

When stabling stallions, mares in foal or with foal at their sides, or for high traffic boarding barns where horses are constantly coming and going, stalls divided with a solid wall offer heightened security. Animals can easily become stressed by their equine neighbor’s behavior, and for mares in season or stallions who experience life with increased levels of sensitivity to outside stimuli, the solid wall can offer solace.

However, for many horse owners their charges will better enjoy the partition be partially solid with a grill or even open above 5’ high. The downside of any open stall wall, including the front wall of the stable, is that a horse can rear above it or even jump it. This does happen. A grill will mitigate the risk of this common cause for leg and stifle injuries (not all horses are good jumpers from a standstill!).

The grilled partition wall also allows for better passive airflow than a solid wall, and thus improves horse health within the structure, as well as offering a better view for the horse caregiver of the behavior of the horses in the stalls.

Horses like to be able to smell and see each other, so the grill system generally works well.

 

Increase Human Interaction for The Horse

V-shaped grills on the top half of interior stall doors offer an opportunity for horse-human interaction without the need to open the door (a good idea where children or neophyte horse folks may be present in the barn). This design is also an especially useful way to alleviate boredom in the horse and lessen the chances of him developing unwanted stable vices, while still affording an opportunity to engage in petting and touching the horse.

Another important activity that can increase the bond between horse and human is to take the time out of the day to hand graze the horse. Design a safely fenced area if you consider it necessary, especially if you live near a busy road or have children or pets on the property. Ensure the area is one where there are no harmful lawn applications or other chemicals sprayed for weed control etc. and allow the horse to forage the grass.

 

 

Allow Time for Transitions in Lifestyle

A horse that spends the majority of its life stabled and isolated will need much time to adjust to being turned out with other horses. A stall where the horse knows he is fed and can rest can also be a haven of safety and reduce stress. Meantime a horse that has grown up running in pastures alongside other herd members will need time to transition to a life where he spends time standing in a stall.

 

Take Home Message

Keen observation of your horse and his reactions to aspects of his modern lifestyle often reveal areas where improvements could be made to better nurture and manage his needs.

Also consider that while horses love to have horse friends, just like us, they prefer to choose their friends. So, keep an eye on which horses get along well and which ones don’t, and stabilize them accordingly.

The eye of the horse truly is the window into his soul and observing how he looks will give a clear indicator about how he feels at any given moment. Ensure your horse has plenty of time to socialize and move around, roll and play, bounce about, and be a horse.

Remember that if your horse is happy, he will have less issue adjusting to changes in his horse lifestyle or environment, such as going to a horse show. When you have established a good line of communication and a bond of trust with your horse, he will gladly allow you to guide him through his fears.

When you manage your horse’s stress effectively you also help manage your own. A win-win for horse and human interaction.

 

About Horizon Structures

Horizon Structures is now the industry’s leader in quality built horse barns, horse stables and run-in sheds. The high level of craftsmanship in our Amish built barns, horse stables, storage buildings, sheds and garages provide for a long lasting structure that comes with our Written Guarantee.

Latest Articles

Looking for something?

Search

Follow us on Social Media

We will be transferring you to our 'sister' company – Stoltzfus Structures.