Advantages of raising herds of horses outdoors

Many equestrian centres prefer to keep horses in their stalls for part of the day to make management easier. However, there are a number of advantages to raising herds of horses outdoors. Here’s an overview of the benefits and challenges of this raising method.

It suits the nature of horses

The first benefit of raising herds of horses outdoors is undoubtedly that it suits their nature. Horses are social animals, and raising them in groups (also known as “herds”) allows them to express their natural behaviour through play, grooming each other and learning by imitation and socialization within the herd. This greatly reduces their stress levels, which helps to prevent behavioural problems such as stereotypies (e.g., weaving), aggression and displays of anxiety.

It requires less maintenance

The second benefit is that it results in significant savings by reducing the costs of purchasing bedding and paying labour to clean the stalls. The use of machinery to maintain the paddocks also saves a great deal of time and energy.

It maximizes physical activity

The third benefit of outdoor horse raising is that, in addition to the psychological, social and economic benefits already mentioned, it has a number of benefits for their physical health. For example, with sufficient outdoor space, exercise can help horses maintain regular bowel movements, reducing the risk of certain types of colic. It also helps to prevent swelling by stimulating blood flow to the limbs and contributes to the normal development of foals by promoting healthy bone and muscle growth.

Some challenges

Although the benefits often outweigh the risks associated with this type of management, there are challenges to raising a herd of horses outdoors.

Adapting the way that horses are managed and applying the right measures is the key to successful outdoor horse raising.