Horse husbandry should be tailored to the individual needs of each horse.
The primal instincts of horses still determine the character of these flight animals, which once lived in steppe landscapes and possessed – and still possess today – the reflex to seek safety from predators.
Domestication hasn’t changed this behavior. Therefore, how people keep horses is crucial. It involves far more than just a stable and food, and, as the subtitle suggests, this care varies depending on the animal and its individual character. It’s essential to meet the needs of each horse.
It should go without saying, but it’s worth repeating: exercise is essential for horses. Wild horses are on their feet for up to sixteen hours a day. While grazing, they are constantly moving, which is important for their digestive and muscles systems. This amount of time cannot be achieved through training alone, which is why pastures for exercise, horse walkers, or treadmills are often and readily used by sport horses.
The rest of the time, the horses spend resting. This resting should be divided into several phases, each lasting approximately twenty minutes. They can doze while standing in their box or in the pasture, but for a restful sleep, horses also lie down. For this, they need a familiar environment, sufficient space, and a soft, dry, and clean surface. Rubber mats, for example, can provide additional comfort in the stalls.
Horses are constantly chewing, as mentioned earlier, while grazing. For this reason, they should always have access to food to avoid digestive problems. Access to water via troughs and hay nets or similar in their boxes is therefore essential. Herd animals need social contact, and horses are no exception. Group life and interaction with other horses are important for their well-being. These contacts are maintained through sight, hearing, and smell. Foals and young horses must grow up in such a herd and should not be kept alone. If horses are kept individually, opportunities for interaction with neighboring boxes and horses are important.
The famous “horse lung” is very sensitive, which is why a clean stable and clean air help prevent respiratory illnesses. Too much dust or exhaust fumes can potentially lead to problems. Therefore, clean bedding is important. There is no single standard for how to keep horses. Stables, stalls, etc., are just as varied as the animals themselves and must be tailored to each other to ensure optimal animal welfare.
Based on an article published by bm-agrotech.ch and also published in “De Lëtzebuerger Bauer”. Translated from Luxembourgish by AI and adjusted by Paul Krier.