Hello Readers,
I'm just wondering. Which do you prefer?
Stalls
Stalls keep horses warmer, prevent them from getting hurt from the rough and tumble way of the pasture, and makes sure they get all the hay they need, but is an unnatural living style for the horse. They do not get to socialize and gallop with the herd, which can depress a horse and cause vices such as weaving and windsucking, and in rare cases cause colic.
Pasture
Pasture is the normal way of living for a horse. They get to socialize, go where they please, roll in the mud, and play with the other horses. On average horses are happier in the field. They get to graze also, but they get hay when there is not enough grass. However, horses can lose lots of weight in the winter, since it is cold out and he might not get his fair share of hay. They can get more easily injured, since they can get scraped by a tree branch or bruised by a horse kicking him or bitten. Horses play rough.
What do you think?
Comment with your answers!
How about pasture living, but with a human babysitter keeping an eye on them, making sure they get enough food and don't get bullied by other horses?
ReplyDeleteAt Garrod Farms (the ranch I ride at) the horses have fairly large stalls. They have huge windows and mini paddocks in the back of their stalls. They get a lot of socializing in their stalls :)
ReplyDeleteBoth are great choices but if you have a horse that loves to eat...the pasture might not be the best idea... (pasture muzzle!) ;]
That's true. Garrods provides lots of room for many of the horses. I used to ride as and intermediate in western at Garrod. At my ranch we have plain box stalls, large box stalls, box stalls with small paddocks, box stalls with large paddocks, pipe pens, pipe pens with a small paddock and 5 pastures. I like the large paddocks with box stalls, just like you.
ReplyDelete