Lets talk about turnout for our horses! This topic is especially important for me, as I have experienced the detriments of a lack of turnout for all three of my horses, from a barn they were temporarily at. The negative mental and physical effects it had on them inspired me to research this topic more, and dedicate my two projects from my Equine Welfare and Ethics class on this. Since moving, my horses have had consistent turnout and they have noticeably improved physically, mentally, and in ease of training. While I completely understand that certain scenarios or locations make turnout difficult, I think this practice is vital to the health of our horses and should become a priority and a mandatory practice in our horses' care. My goal for this post is to give a general overview on current research, and write a couple main points on each sub-topic. In the future, I will deep dive into each sub-topic and the specific problems that can occur due to a lack of turnout.
Movement Patterns of Feral Horses
We will first look at the movement patterns of feral horses to see how much horses travel in the wild. A research study conducted on Australia’s feral horses used GPS to track and display average daily travel distances (Hampson et al., 2010). This research showed that these equines traveled between 8.1 to 28.3 km/d, dependent on the distance to available food and water (Hampson et al., 2010). This shows that horses spend most of their days walking and foraging for their food, as it is their natural instinct.
My own horses roam over five acres of land, and I have been able to observe them and their movement patterns. I have watched them walk many kilometers a day making use of wandering the entire property. Research and my own observations of my horses shows that when given a chance, horses want to walk and forage as much as possible.
Training
Some believe that when they turn their horses out, they will not have enough energy for training. Research has shown that turnout does not hinder training but instead improves behaviour and fitness whereas stalled horses display unwanted and dangerous behaviours such as bucking and leaping due to stress and unspent energy (Werhahn et al., 2012). Therefore, turnout horses had more effective training sessions with less unwanted behaviours compared to stalled horses (Werhahn et al., 2012).
Some horse owners do not want to turnout their horses as they argue the increased potential for injury. Lesimple (2020) found that horses afforded regular turnout times grew accustomed to turnout and did not display dangerous behaviours. Horses often injure themselves in fields due to unspent energy and anticipation of being out in an open space. If given some sort of routine, even a few hours a couple times a week reduces the potentially dangerous behaviours drastically.
This is relatable in my own case as I own a young five year old Arabian. When he was only offered sporadic turnout, he would injure himself and display very dangerous behaviours. Since being regularly turned out, he is much calmer and does not run around hurting himself anymore!
Heart Rates
An increased heart rate has been proven to indicate higher levels of stress (Lesimple et al, 2020). According to Lesimple et al. (2020), heart rate analysis showed turnout horses had lower heart rates compared to stalled horses. Stalled horses’ heart rates lowered when allowed outside for free exercise (Lesimple et al, 2020). This research shows that horses afforded turnout have lowered rates of stress.
Fitness Levels
Lower heart rates in exercise are also indicative of improved fitness (Graham-Tiers & Bowen, 2013). Graham-Tiers and Bowen (2013) show heart rate measurements of turnout horses had better recovery times after exercise and lower heart rates at the trot and gallop than horses that only had controlled exercised and were stalled with no turnout (Graham-Tiers & Bowen, 2013).
Stereotypies From Stalling
Stereotypies, which are unwanted habitual behaviours, are indicative of poor welfare and stress in domesticated horses as they have never been documented in feral horses (Lesimple, et al., 2019). I want to quickly note that stereotypies may still exist in horses in good welfare, due to the habit of it from a time when they were in a poor welfare situation. One survey study performed in Canada showed that horses turned out for twelve hours a day reduced chances of a stereotypy by 50% than horses who did not receive freedom to roam (Christie et al, 2006).
Colic
A UK study measured water intake, faecal and urine output, and transcutaneous ultrasonography of intestinal movement in stalled and pasture horses (Williams et al, 2015). The study found a decreased output of urine and faeces in stalled horses compared to horses turned out (Williams et al, 2015). A lack of output increases the risk of colic, an emergency condition due to faecal impaction, which can be fatal (Williams et al., 2015).
Bone and Tissue Injury
Graham-Tiers & Bowen’s study in the United States showed bone mineral content to be higher in turned out horses compared to stalled horses, helping keep bones stronger (2013). Ultrasound and MRIs have also confirmed that horses in the USA have less soft-tissue injuries when given free movement in a paddock compared to horses that were stalled (Reilly & Bryk-Lucy, 2021).
When my 18 year old Quarter Horse was unable to be turned out she became grumpier and a lot stiffer while doing specific movements for dressage and jumping. Since she has received consistent turnout, she has felt much better to ride and has had zero stiffness in any of her movements.
Obesity
Stalled horses have more obesity problems due to the lack of exercise (Laat, et al., 2016). An increase in obesity can cause Equine Metabolic Syndrome, substantially high blood insulin, which causes pain and potentially death (Laat, et al., 2016).
If horses are unable to turnout onto pasture with grass, a dynamic feeding system in a paddock has proven to be successful (Laat et al, 2016). This system consists of separating food at a distance to promote movement in horses (Laat et al, 2016).
Turnout Difficulties
Unfortunately, Canadian land is expensive and limits large turnout areas for horses on most farms (Rivera et al., 2002). Stalling is often easier in terms of management and use of space at larger barns and is the primary practice. Yet, I encourage horse owners to look at all of this current research showing the ample benefits of turnout and to come up with some sort of system that works for you and your horse to give them regular turnout. We cannot all afford to move to property for our horses, but we should provide and prioritize some freedom of roaming wherever they live. I encourage barn owners and managers to base their management and properties around providing turnout for all horses. Even offering turnout a few hours a couple days a week will guarantee you a happier horse and improve their welfare.
Reference List:
Christie, J.L., Hewson, C.J., Riley, C.B., McNivan, M.A., Dohoo, I.R. and Bate, L.A. (2006). Management Factors Affecting Stereotypies and Body Condition Score Nonracing Horses in Prince Edward Island. Canadian Veterinary Journal. [Online] 47 (2): 136–143. Available from: https://discovered.ed.ac.uk/permalink/44UOE_INST/1viuo5v/cdi_webofscience_primary_000235638700003 [Assessed 16/02/24]
Graham-Tiers, P.M. and Bowen, K.L. (2013). Improved Ability to Maintain Fitness in Horses During Large Pasture Turnout. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. [Online]. 33 (8), 581–585. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2012.09.001 [Assessed 18/03/2024]
Hampson, B.A., De Laat, M.A., Mills, P.C. and Politt, C.C. (2010). Distances Travelled by Feral Horses in ‘Outback’ Australia. Equine Veterinary Journal. [Online]. 42 (s38), 582–586. doi:10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00203.x [Assessed: 17/03/2024]
Laat, M.A., Hamspon, B.A., Sillence, M.N. and Pollitt, C.C. (2016). Sustained, Low-Intensity Exercise Achieved by a Dynamic Feeding System Decreases Body Fat in Ponies. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. [Online]. 30 (5): 1732–1738. doi:10.1111/jvim.14577 [Assessed 18/03/2024]
Lesimple, C., Reverchon-Billot, L., Galloux, P., Stomp, M., Boichot, L., Coste, C., Henry, S. and Hausberger, M. (2020). Free Movement: A Key for Welfare Improvement in Sport Horses? Applied Animal Behaviour Science [Online] 225, 104972. doi: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.104972 [Assessed 08/03/2024]
Lesimple, C., Gautier, E., Benhajali, H., Rochais, C., Lunel, C., Bensaid, S., Khalloufi, A., Henry, S. and Hausberger, M. (2019). Stall Architecture Influences Horses’ Behaviour and the Prevalence and Type of Stereotypies. Applied Animal Behaviour Science [Online] 219, 104833. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104833 [Assessed 08/03/2024]
Reilly, A.C. and Bryk-Lucy, J.A. (2021). 143 Incidence of Soft Tissue Injury and House of Daily Paddock Turnout in Non-Elite Performance Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. [Online]. 100, 103606. doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103606 [Assessed 03/20/2024]
Rivera, E., Benjamin, S., Nielsen, B., Shelle, J., and Zanella, A.J. (2002). Behavioural and Physiological Responses of Horses to Initial Training: The Comparison Between Pastured Versus Stalled Horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. [Online]. 78 (2), 235–252. doi:10.1016/S0168-1591(02)00091-6 [Assessed 18/03/2024]
Werhahn, H., Hessel, E.F. and Von den Wagne, H. (2012). Competition Horses Housed in Single Stalls (II): Effects of Free Exercise on the Behaviour in the Stable, the Behaviour During Training, and the Degree of Stress. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science [Online] 32 (1): 22–31. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2011.06.009 [Assessed 28/02/2024]
Williams, S., Horner, J., Orton, E., Green, McMullen, S., Mobasheri, A. and Freeman, S.L. (2015). Water Intake, Faecal Output and Intestinal Motility in Horses Moved from Pasture to a Stabled Management Regime with Controlled Exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal [Online]. 47 (1): 96–100. doi: 10.1111/evj.12238 [Assessed 20/03/2024]
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