EWA Welfare Corner: The 5 Domains of Animal Welfare - Behavioural Interaction with environment and animals

Supporting Natural Horse Behaviour in Domestic Management

Horses have evolved as free-ranging, highly social animals, spending their days grazing, moving, resting, and interacting within structured social groups. Understanding these natural behaviours is essential for improving welfare in domesticated environments.

In the wild, horses typically travel significant distances daily while grazing and engaging in social interactions. Their lives revolve around freedom of movement, access to forage, and strong herd dynamics.

Domestic horse management should aim to replicate these conditions wherever possible. Key practices include maximising grazing time, providing opportunities for free movement, and facilitating safe social interaction between horses.

Allowing horses a degree of choice and control in their daily routine has been shown to support both mental wellbeing and behavioural health. Conversely, restrictive management systems can increase stress and reduce overall welfare.

When stabling horses, particularly overnight, it is critical to provide sufficient forage to maintain gut health and prevent boredom or anxiety-related behaviours.

Horses communicate through a complex system of body language, facial expressions, touch, vocalisation, and scent. Social interaction is therefore not optional but a fundamental need.

In natural settings, horses live in structured groups such as family bands, typically consisting of mares, offspring, and one or more stallions, or bachelor groups of young males. Domestic environments should aim to support appropriate socialisation between mares, geldings, and carefully managed stallions.

By aligning management practices more closely with natural behaviours, horse owners can significantly enhance the welfare, health, and happiness of their horses.