Horse board: pasture vs. stable

by Marissa L. Smithwick

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For centuries horse and man have existed in a partnership which has provided mutual benefits. The horse has aided man's advancement toward civilization as a diligent worker, reliable transportation method, brave soldier, and trusted friend. In return, man has protected the horse from predators and disease, and provided food and shelter to ensure the continued health and well being of his equine companion. As well meaning as man's intentions may be, not all of the trappings of modern equine husbandry are beneficial to this proud animal. Originally a wild and free denizen of the plains, the horse can suffer psychological and medical disorders if its life is spent locked away in the confinement of a typical 12' x 12' barn stall.

One of the most important medical conditions that can afflict a stabled horse is laminitis. Also known as founder, laminitis is the "inflammation of a lamina, especially in the hoof of a horse" (Webster's 671). The laminae are finger-like grooves where sensitive living tissue connects the dead hoof in a horse's foot (Encyclopedia 171) to the coffin bone (Rooney 114). An enzyme normally produced by the body in small amounts allows slow and even movement of the laminae to allow for growth. With laminitis, however, the enzyme is over-produced and causes large sections of the laminae to weaken and separate. Pressures from body weight and tendon strength allow the coffin bone, the single terminating digit (Encyclopedia 170), to rotate within the hoof pocket (Rooney 131). This rotation causes severe tissue trauma which results in painful lameness. In extreme cases the coffin bone protrudes through the sole of the hoof. It is understandable that the best treatment in the more serious cases is euthanasia (Oglesby).

There are several types of laminitis and many factors can contribute to the onset of this affliction. Most causes of laminitis can be either directly linked to or worsened by stabling practices, which generally interfere with a horse's biological balance. In their natural environment, equine species are nomadic grazing animals (Rooney 134). Herds travel several miles a day in search of food, water and shelter, resting sporadically during the day. This constant movement and slow assimilation of varied forage aids the horse's poor digestive system while a stop at a watering hole is typically a leisurely opportunity to satisfy the animal's five-gallon thirst. Similarly, pastured horses can roam and graze freely within their fence boundaries, and their non-working hours are more relaxed and natural.

In contrast, a stabled horse is confined to a small stall where mobility is arrested and exercise is often limited to one to two hours of turnout time each day (included in respectable stables' practices). Feed is administered in large rations one to three times per day with supplemental grain given before workouts. Equestrians wanting to do the best for their animals, and stable management wanting to appear conscientious, will often make the mistake of feeding high quality alfalfa hay. Not only is alfalfa more expensive, but the equine digestive tract cannot tolerate the high protein content (Rooney 134), especially in early-season alfalfa hay. Thus the equine gut is glutted with overly rich feed that ferments and produces toxins in the digestive tract, a trigger for laminitis.

Water is often delivered via an automatic waterer with a two-quart bowl. These modern conveniences teach a horse to "sip" water, causing it to suffer poor condition due to dehydration, as it can never drink its fill. After strenuous workouts, horses may gorge themselves on cold water while still overheated, another trigger for laminitis (Denning 76).

Stall-bound horses can suffer lameness from causes other than laminitis. The circulation in a horse's hoof relies in large part on continuous movement to pump blood through the hoof members (Rooney 117). By continually standing still in a confined space, the horse can develop circulatory problems and sore, sensitive feet which can lead to bruising during workouts or trail rides on unaccustomed terrain (Denning 77). Working muscles weakened by inactivity or stressed by infrequent concentrated activities can lead to a variety of musculoskeletal complaints as well. Also, injuries can result as the horse moves between standing and lying down. Bruises and abrasions can occur as the horse bumps or rubs against stall walls and accoutrements or even as he kicks himself in his maneuvering.

Some equestrians, eager to pursue the more attractive benefits of horse ownership, can be impatient to let their injured horse heal. Busy or lazy owners may neglect their responsibilities to provide required treatments or preventative measures necessary to maintain the health of their horse. The stabled horse often is treated like other mechanical equipment in the garage or boathouse: it is ignored until the owner has a whim to play with the toy, then it is given a quick cleaning, gassed up, taken out for a spin, and put away dirty until the next time. While a motorcycle or Jet Ski might be able to bear this treatment, our equine companions need more regular exercise and attention to be healthy.

As with humans, horses need ample attention and socialization to mitigate stress-related diseases and to be psychologically sound. Keep in mind that horses are herd animals. Another unnatural condition of stable boarding is that horses are isolated and unable to engage in beneficial gregarious activities. Horses in a herd play together and constantly interact, they arrange themselves to block the sun and swat flies from each other, they engage in mutual grooming which has the added benefit of releasing calming endorphins, and their numbers serve as protection from enemies (International 22-23). Removed from the herd dynamic and without the opportunity for interaction with their fellows, horses can become antisocial and dangerous. They can also develop bad habits or vices in attempting to cope with the boredom and stress of solitude, some of which are not only annoying behaviors but can lead to health problems.

One such vice is cribbing, also called wind-sucking for the sound that is made (Veterinary 579). A cribbing horse braces its upper teeth on a sturdy post or rail while contracting neck muscles, thereby releasing endorphins into the bloodstream. These horses essentially become drug addicts, hooked on their own body chemicals, and pass their days in a glazed-eyed stupor. Though the chief medical complaint is damage to the teeth in the form of excessive wearing (rarely horses may file their teeth to the gum line), horse owners consider this to be one of the most annoying equine habits. It's so annoying, in fact, that they are willing to spend large amounts of money on an assortment of crib-stopping aids: from deterrent chemical applications, to collars and assorted appliances, even dubiously effective elective surgery (Veterinary 579).

Another bad habit, which is sometimes confused with cribbing, is wood chewing (Veterinary 578). This is a common manifestation of a bored horse and elicits a two-fold reward for the perpetrator. First, it provides the horse with an activity to pass the time in an otherwise stimulus-free environment. Second, this habit often incites desired attention from the owner. As neglected children will often act out to inspire punishment from their parents, feeling that negative attention is better than no attention, so the bored horse will resort to destructive behaviors to gain the owner's attention.

If a horse is too psychologically distressed by its situation and cannot reconcile the shortcomings of the environment, it is liable to develop neurotic behavior. One such example is weaving where the animal will rock side to side on the front feet (Veterinary 579), similar to the pacing or rocking of a psychologically disturbed human. Horses that exhibit this sort of behavior are in desperate need of equine interaction and stimulation. If the causes are unaddressed, a horse that weaves or exhibits other neuroses is a strong candidate to become violent and dangerous. Only the most expert trainers could re-socialize the animal then, and most horses in this predicament would not be given the chance.

Horses are simple creatures. They are happiest with the sun on their backs, the rolling grasses stretching ahead of them, a cool water hole nearby, and with the companionship and support of their herdmates. Take away those necessities without adequate compensation and the horse can have significant health or behavioral problems. Horses are not as tolerant of environmental stresses as humans and though some equestrians like to anthropomorphize their charges or dress them up like playthings they are still horses and require basic equine necessities (Encyclopedia 176). Some horse owners may justify locking up their horses by the convenience of having a cleaner, easier to catch mount in a handy stall. The selfish owner then compensates for this solitary confinement by over-feeding and over-working the animal, which does more harm than good in the form of stress and isolation related disorders.

For a horse to be in the best condition, both mentally and physically, all its physiological needs must be met, and not overcompensated. Domestic horses that are fortunate enough to be kept on pasture are able to live closer to the wild existence to which the species has adapted. With the added benefits of regular veterinary care and diligent guardianship, pastured horses can look forward to happier and healthier lives than those of their counterparts in the stable.

Works Cited
Denning, Dr. Charles H., Jr. First Aid for Horses: What to do until the veterinarian arrives. No. Hollywood, CA: Wilshire Book Company, 1969.
Encyclopedia of The Horse. New York: Crescent Books, 1989.
Hayes, Capt. M. Horace. Veterinary Notes For Horse Owners. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1987.
The International Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. New York: Howell Book House, MacMillan Publishing, USA, 1995.
Oglesby, Robert N., DVM. "Founder & Laminitis." Founder and Laminitis in Horses. April 1999. The Horseman's Advisor. 28 Jan. 2002 <http://www.horseadvice.com/advisor/>
Rooney, James A. The Lame Horse: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment. South Brunswick and New York: A. S. Barnes and Company, 1974.
Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster Inc., 1987.

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