​Jemma Noble BSc (Hons), Nupafeed UK looks at why stabling can cause a horse stress and anxiety and has a clear guide to keeping your horse calm and content - all in the March issue of Carriage Driving.
Jemma Noble BSc (Hons), Nupafeed UK looks at why stabling can cause a horse stress and anxiety and has a clear guide to keeping your horse calm and content - all in the March issue of Carriage Driving.
Isolation and confinement are well documented stressors even for people. Undoubtedly this is the case for horses too, likely more so when you consider that they would naturally live in a herd, in open areas, with flight being their primary means of escaping threat.
Another factor is the restriction of their natural instinct to forage, which can become frustrating. Prolonged periods without food can also cause stress through hunger and puts horses at risk of gastric ulceration.
When we stable our horses, not only are we exposing them to known stressors, we are also taking away their control; they are not able to respond effectively. This in itself is likely to confound their perception of stress and lead to unwanted coping behaviours.
Jemma explains in the article, that the fundamental principles are to reduce the feeling of confinement, increase companionship, reduce boredom and increase foraging opportunity. Ensuring a good routine will also help the horse to predict and manage their experience of stress, giving them some sense of control over their environment. you can help your horse
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