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Around the world, there is growing concern about how much the equine industry prioritizes the health and well-being of domestic horses. [1]

Stakeholders within the industry, including horse owners, professionals, regulators and the public, recognize the need for sustainable and ethical practices in horse care, reflecting a broader societal shift towards accountability in equine welfare. [2]

While modern horse management intends to provide the best possible quality of life, there are common practices that have been called into question by health and welfare experts. Notably, practices including increased isolation due to housing in private stables and feeding small, grain-based meals with minimal turnout are currently under scrutiny.

Many of these practices are influenced by our human values and definition of comfort. By familiarizing themselves with the horse’s evolutionary adaptations and the impact of different management practices, horse owners and caretakers can make informed choices to promote overall well-being and welfare in their equine companions.

Basic Equine Welfare Needs

All animals have basic requirements that are essential for ensuring their overall welfare. These are referred to as their basic needs. [3]

Understanding the basic needs of any given animal is the first step in effectively assessing welfare. Examining how a horse lives and functions in their natural environment is necessary to define their basic needs. [4]

All species, including humans, have the same basic needs: [4]

  • Eating/drinking
  • Sleeping
  • Movement
  • Appropriate social opportunities
  • Suitable living environment

Maximizing equine welfare involves consistently meeting these species-specific needs. [5] In defining the basic needs of horses, equine behaviorist Lauren Fraser coined the phrase The 3 Fs, which refers to: [6]

  • Friends
  • Freedom
  • Forage

The 3 Fs are now widely accepted as the basic needs of a horse, and are supported by the findings of multiple studies. [6][7]

Welfare and Equine Behavior

Horse owners often report what they refer to as “undesirable behavior,” but in many cases these behaviors may point to a welfare issue. [7]

For example, up to 82% of horses in the UK present some kind of behavioral issue reported by owners, either during ridden work or related to stabling and handling. [8]

Research shows that the key management areas contributing to many common behavior issues seen in horses are related to some deficiency in one or a combination of the Fs. [9].

By making management decisions that aim to fulfill the 3 Fs, owners and caretakers can maximize welfare, prevent undesirable behavior, and improve the horse-human relationship.

Friends

Horses are a social prey animal. In the wild, they live in relatively stable bands consisting of three to twelve or more members and make their own choices regarding their social groups, relationships, and interactions. [10] They rely on communication with other horses for survival.

This codependence between horses is not only an important protection against predators. Horses also communicate to help each other identify food, water, shelter, and suitable environmental conditions. Additionally, they need social interactions and reproduction to ensure the continuation of their species. [11]

Wild bands of horses usually consist of a stallion, his harem of mares, and their offspring. “Bachelor” bands consisting solely of stallions may also form. Long periods of social isolation are rarely observed in the wild. [12]

Lead Stallions and Mares

There are many misconceptions about the natural life of a herd, such as having a lead stallion or mare. This was once considered true, but recent scientific observations have since disproved it. [13][14]

Social stability through group cohesion between horses is needed to decrease vulnerability to predators. Rather than establishing a ‘leader,’ horses rely on unity, avoiding collision with one another, communication, and group flight. [15]

Undomesticated horses sometimes stay together in the same group for years at a time, with low reports of aggression in observations of horses under natural conditions. [16] This suggests that competition to establish a leader is not a significant factor and aggression is not typical behaviour in these natural groups.

Social Opportunities in Domestication

In domestication, horses are often housed individually with limited social opportunities. This is a common practice in many horse facilities and has become standard for various reasons, including: [17]

  • Mitigating the risk of injury to horses
  • Owner discomfort introducing new horses to established groups
  • Difficulty feeding horses housed in groups
  • Handler safety concerns

Consequently, equine social interaction choices are often limited, reducing the ability to see, touch, smell and hear other horses for significant portions of the day. This can negatively impact their mental and physical health. [18]

In some cases, horses are nearly completely isolated from other horses or kept in stalls for most of the day. This is common for high-value horses like racehorses and breeding studs, usually due to concerns about the risk of injury or the belief that stallions should not be turned out with other horses. There are high rates of reported behavior issues in studies of these management conditions. [19][20]

Frequent changes in social companions are common in the equine industry, even in leisure settings. Unlike natural conditions where horses freely form affiliative relationships or change bands, suggesting they have social preferences,  domestic horses often lack choice in their social partners. [21] These frequent changes can increase aggression within a herd. [21]

Effects on Welfare

Behaviors associated with limited social opportunities include: [21][22][23][24][25][26][27]

  • Increased vigilance
  • Oral and motor stereotypies (e.g. cribbing, box walking, weaving etc.)
  • Depressive states
  • Poor social skills
  • Difficulty to handle/train
  • Altered time budgets (e.g. time spent sleeping, moving, foraging, etc.)

In addition, horses with limited social opportunities have elevated cortisol levels, which can indicate higher stress levels. Sustained periods of high cortisol can increase anxiety and are associated with: [28]

  • High blood pressure
  • Immune system dysfunction
  • Impaired learning and memory
  • Increased aggression
  • Inhibition of reproduction