Horses that are stabled for any length of time quickly become bored with their surroundings and lack of freedom. As the renowned professional dancer Derek Hough says, “ Motion is emotion.” This is true for all beings and horses dance to their own tune when it comes to their individual abilities to handle the stress of being confined to a small space.
Horse with a protected view to the outside world from his stall
Special attention to help mitigate the risk of ulcers, bad behavior and bad habits developing in the horse that is confined to a stable for lengthy periods of time is a MUST.
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There is a laundry list of stressors that can contribute to a horse becoming mentally unstable when circumstances dictate a captive environment is necessary:
- Boredom
- New stable mate(s)
- New caregiver
- Different barn or stable
- Change in training routine
- Weaning
- Illness
- Noise
- Smell
- Transport
- Change in caregiving routine
- Irritation from pesky flies and biting bugs
- Inclement weather
Performance horses are often subjected to limited turnout simply because they are at showgrounds for much of their lives with breaks between of either stressful transport or intense training and competition. In other instances snow storms or bad weather may deny the usual turnout activity for the horse.
It is essential that special attention be given to the mental and physical needs of any equine that is confined to a stable for lengthy periods of time to help mitigate the risk of ulcers, bad behavior and bad habits developing in the horse.
Here are a few suggestions to help alleviate the stress factors that may otherwise negatively impact your equine partner:
The Comfort of Routine
Horses will anticipate a routine of daily events such as training, feeding, bathing, turnout times etc., and sticking to a schedule can help defray nervousness in the horse by providing a set program that it can expect every day.
Routine also comes in the form of the caregiver. Assignment of a particular groom or experienced caregiver for a horse can increase its comfort level and reduce stress.
Touch and Turnout
Most horses love human interaction and finding time to conduct a grooming, bathing and massage time for the horse can do wonders for its well-being. Establish a workable program that is split up during the day to minimize boredom for the horse and maximize the movement of the horse to and from the stall.
While at showgrounds turnout options may be limited or deemed not viable for worries over transmission of contagious disease. Handwalking a horse even without grazing can be beneficial for its mental health. Find a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle of the show activities and pick times when the grounds are quiet such as early morning or early evening.
The one type of touch a horse happily does without is that of pesky flies or biting bugs. The use of leg wraps, lightweight flysheets and a carefully placed commercial grade fan can help deter the annoyance that insects can cause. Fly repellent systems in horse barns can also be implemented to limit the fly population.
For horses in rehabilitation where their ability to walk may be compromised, consider adding a ‘lanai’ space to a Dutch door stall set up, that may be under cover of the overhang of the barn and sheltered from bad weather. This can give the opportunity for the horse to move minimally within a slightly larger space and enjoy fresh air and more views of what is going on around the farm.
During inclement weather such as snowstorms, even a few brief walks up and down an aisleway or a quick turnout in an indoor arena/longe session can make a huge difference in keeping the stalled horse sane.
Room With A View
The provision of Dutch doors and windows (that are kept clean!) in stalls will facilitate a view their equine occupants can enjoy all day long. This can greatly diminish boredom for the horse.
However, sometimes mental stimulation is not required. For example, at a busy showground stabling set up, it can be hard for the horse to rest. Remember that horses nap many times throughout the day. The best way to help your horse relax is to screen the front of the show stall with fabric or other covering to minimize both noise and visual stimulation.
It is also helpful to take a neighboring stall as a tack space so there is a side of its stall the horse can stand without being forced to be near a strange horse.
Hay Feeders/Toys
When you take away from a horse the opportunity to graze, it is important you substitute something for the missing chewing satisfaction factor, to minimize the risks for ulcers and gastric issues as well as limit the likelihood the horse will start to crib or wood chew.
The use of slow feeder haynets can help keep the horse entertained for longer when eating (as well as saving on hay wastage).
There are many horse toys on the market that can be hung in the stall to provide a distraction for the horse. There are even ‘pacifiers’ for horses!
Ensure that haynets are hung at an appropriate height to prevent hooves finding their way into the openings but not so high as to cause an unnatural head position for the horse to eat. Haynets are generally not recommended for foals for this reason. Similarly toys should be carefully placed to avoid injury.
Managing Noise & Smells
Noise can significantly increase stress levels in horses. Research has shown that certain pitches and types of sounds can aggravate even a calm horse while specially formulated music patterns can actually reduce stress.
Tannoy/PA systems and other distractions can be best managed with the use of ear plugs for the horse.
Mother Nature can also add her own barrage of noise to the horses’ environment as can annoying neighbors. During firework events, hurricanes or thunderstorms the use of a piped in calming music or use of ear plugs can all help alleviate the stress that such commotions can produce.
Certain smells, especially the scent of seasoning mares near stallions or smoke from forest fires that permeates the air, can be managed with the application of a small amount of Vicks on the muzzle of the horse. This trick is often used in international horse transport for stallions where they must travel in close proximity to mares.
A good passive ventilation system is a must for any confined horse, to ensure its respiratory health.
It’s All About Design
It hopefully comes as no shock to any horse owner that the better the horse barn is designed the better the chance a stabled horse will not suffer mental distress.
Windows, limited in/out access, insulated roofs to minimize noise, good barn management and stall layouts and sizes, all factor in to making the stabling space user-friendly for the horse.
Additions such as fly repellent systems, piped in music, toys and fans all offer solutions to keep a stabled horse mentally stable.
Always put the horse first when setting up your horse barn and show routines. Allow plenty of down time between show seasons and consult with your veterinarian for changes that may be needed in the horses’ nutrition for periods of less or more than normal activity.
Good horse care does take a diligent team. Efforts to minimize the stressors in a horse’s life are rewarded with good horse health and better performance.
About Horizon Structures: One horse or twenty, there's one thing all horse owners have in common...the need to provide safe and secure shelter for their equine partners. At Horizon Structures, we combine expert craftsmanship, top-of-the-line materials and smart "horse-friendly" design to create a full line of sheds and barns that any horse owner can feel confident is the right choice for their horses' stabling needs.
All wood. Amish Made. Most of our buildings are shipped 100% pre-built and ready for same-day use. Larger barns are a modular construction and can be ready for your horses in less than a week. All our barn packages include everything you need -
Horizon Structures also sells chicken coops, equine hay feeders, greenhouses, dog kennels, 1 and 2 car garages, storage sheds and outdoor living structures and playsets.
Headquartered in South-Central Pennsylvania, Horizon Structures, LLC is owned by Dave Zook. Dave was raised in the Amish tradition and grew up working in the family-owned shed business. He started Horizon Structures in 2001 in response to an ever-increasing customer demand for high quality, affordable horse barns.
For additional information about the company or their product line, please visit their website at https://www.horizonstructures.com
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