As days grow shorter and the holidays take up more of a horse owner's time, making sure that horses get at least a minimum amount of exercise remains important.
Horses that have pasture space in which to browse, run and play will most likely do well, but horses that are stabled most of the time, need that daily workout to maintain good health and body condition.
Physical activity is crucial to a horse's well-being. Horses have 216 individual bones held together by ligaments and surrounded by muscles. Because the horse is such an athletic animal, keeping those bones, ligaments and muscles toned and in good working order through exercise builds stamina, endurance and resistance to disease.
A wild horse will travel 30 miles in a 24 hour period as it grazes, drinks, and sleeps standing on its feet.Daily exercise facilitates bone strength and development, improves the functioning of the heart, increases tendon and ligament strength and aids motility of the digestive tract, as well as increasing secretions in the lungs. At low levels, exercise improves the immune system and essentially keeps the horse's body in good working order.
Young horses are especially at risk if they are stabled most of the time. Orthopedic disease and malformations of the limbs, bones, joints and feet because of a lack of exercise lead to lameness and other problems that affect the soundness of the horse.
In addition, the horse's mental state is affected and behavioral problems related to pent-up energy and associated with confinement develop. When you do try to ride or exercise the horse, it may respond by bucking or kicking. Cribbing, stall walking, weaving, wind sucking and other vices or stereotypies may become part of the horse's personality due to confinement and lack of exercise