The well-being of horses is strongly influenced by their housing conditions and management practices. In addition to the daily grooming practices, factors such as suitable temperature and bedding comfort affect the welfare of horses. Freedom of movement, the opportunity for social interactions, and the fulfillment of natural behavioral needs, also contribute to welfare, and depend largely on the management practices and stable conditions.
Keeping horses involves a lot of activities that are directed towards them. These activities can be grooming, exercise, leading, or other procedures. Thus, horses experience more handling and human-initiated activities, than production animals, for example. It has also been researched by Dyson et al. (2018) and Mellor (2020), that these actions can cause discomfort or pain in horses more often than many handlers or grooms are aware of. This on the other hand affects the welfare of the horses.
Housing Conditions
Sleep and Rest
Research on horse sleep is still a young field, but according to initial studies, sleep significantly affects the welfare and health of horses. Many factors, such as a calm environment, daily events, exercise, and feeding influence a horse’s sleep and the amount of sleep it gets in a day. It has also been studied, that the amount and softness of the bedding in the lying are affects equine sleep. Especially rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is essential for horses, is possible only when the horse is lying down. According to recent studies, horses can experience REM sleep only when lying on their sides or if their neck and head are completely relaxed.
For horses to obtain the necessary amount of REM sleep essential for brain and body function, they need to be lying down for at least 30 minutes per day. However, horses tend to avoid lying down if they don’t feel safe, if there isn’t enough space around them, or if the bedding isn’t suitable. Horses may postpone lying down and obtaining REM sleep for several months, leading to REM sleep deprivation. In severe cases, sleep deprivation can cause horses to collapse or stumble.
Horses prefer thick and dry bedding, and especially straw as bedding material. According to recent studies, the adequate size of horse stalls should be approximately 12 m² to ensure the well-being and fulfillment of natural behavioral needs. Horses also sleep less time in small stalls (1.5x the horse’s withers height ²) than in large stalls (2.5x the horse’s withers height²).
Temperature and Thermoregulation
Horses are warm-blooded animals, and their body temperature remains constant despite external factors. Their thermoregulation occurs endothermically, meaning within the body. Heat is continuously generated in a horse’s body through digestion and metabolic activity. Eating is the most important way for horses to produce heat. Natural thermoregulation is also influenced by a horse’s age, housing conditions, coat thickness, and body condition. The growth and shedding of a horse’s coat are regulated by the brightness of the environment, not so much by temperature.
The thermoneutral zone refers to the temperature range in which a horse can maintain its body temperature steadily by utilizing natural regulatory mechanisms. The extent of the thermoneutral zone is individual. It is also influenced by the weather conditions in which the horse lives and what it is accustomed to. According to studies, the thermoneutral zone can vary between +10 ºC and -16 ºC. Rainy and windy weather in particular makes thermoregulation challenging for horses. In a study conducted in Norway, where horses could decide on their own blanketing, they wanted blankets in cold and damp weather, as well as when the outdoor temperature dropped below -10 ºC. On the other hand, in temperatures above +20 ºC, all horses preferred to be without blankets. Older horses often favor the use of blankets.
Using blankets in warm weather can impede a horse’s natural thermoregulation, preventing the horse from cooling itself efficiently. There is a risk of the horse’s body overheating. Using blankets immediately after heavy exercise also slows down recovery from training. Clipping is known to interfere with a horse’s natural thermoregulation, and thus, a clipped horse usually needs a blanket. Clipping is believed to be uncomfortable for the horse, even if its behavior does not strongly indicate so.
A proper shelter serves as the most versatile aid in horses’ thermoregulation. According to research, a shelter with at least three walls and a roof provides protection that horses can use in both cold and warm weather. The usage rate increases if the shelter has at least two entrances. It is important that the shelter is large enough, positioned so that horses can see their herd from there, and that the shelter and its surroundings are tidy and dry.
Summary
Stable practices and horse housing conditions have a significant impact on equine welfare. The sleep and rest of horses can be monitored and measured, for example, using video cameras or accelerometers, providing valuable information about sleep, and resting behavior. Especially bedding quality and sufficient space affect horses’ willingness to lie down. The lying position is crucial for obtaining REM sleep. In Finland and other Nordic countries, weather conditions can be highly variable and challenging. Therefore, attention should be paid to the thermoregulation of horses. Horses that spend a lot of time outdoors should have suitable shelters. When using blankets, consideration should be given to whether the horse needs a blanket or if its natural thermoregulatory ability is sufficient. Generally, the need for blankets can be assessed by trying to gauge how warm the horse’s skin is. If the horse feels very warm to the touch under the blanket, the use of the blanket should be reduced. On the other hand, if the horse feels cold to the touch under the blanket, additional blanketing is needed.
References
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