A happy horse: what do we, as owners, need to take care of?

Horse welfare is very important to many horse owners and fortunately also to more and more institutions. We at HELTIE horse believe that a happy horse is extremely important! It is therefore our goal to bring horses closer to nature, with optimal health and well-being for all horses. But as a horse owner, what should we actually pay attention to and take care of?

Good and proper nutrition

Many horse owners depend on their boarding stables when it comes to feeding their horse. But as horse owners, we have the responsibility for our horse's health and therefore also their nutrition. Horses should have access to sufficient high-quality forage. Our preference always goes to unpackaged hay as packaged hay has several health disadvantages. Additionally, we prefer to see horses have unlimited access to forage, but no more than 3 hours without.

Nowadays, forage/grass does not provide enough minerals and vitamins, so supplementing with a balancer/vitamin pellet is really necessary. We are not against concentrate feed, but most horses in the Netherlands do not need large quantities of concentrate feed. And the scoop that most horses receive is not sufficient to provide vitamins and minerals. Therefore, always critically assess your horse's diet! And if your horse has a condition or becomes ill? Then you need to provide appropriate treatments and support with medication and/or supplements.

Plenty of exercise

Horses are made to walk, hours a day. The so-called bite-by-bite principle. Standing in a stall 23/7 is no longer acceptable. Horses should have sufficient exercise where they can do their own thing and make choices between resting, eating, moving, or social interaction. Horses should ideally receive at least 6 hours of free exercise in a spacious paddock or pasture per day, but our preference is for many more hours. We deliberately keep training separate from free exercise, as training does not allow a horse to make its own choices.

A clean and dry resting place

In the winter, this can be difficult to achieve for horses that are outside 24/7, but all horses should have a clean and dry place to lie down. A stall should be adequately bedded, and horses living outside should have a dry and clean place. Horses do not sleep lying down for long periods, but they need a spot to lie down fully to enter the REM sleep. Therefore, the space should be large enough; for most horses, a 3x3m stall is too small.

Plenty of interaction with conspecifics

Horses are highly social animals that naturally live in stable herds. Horses should be able to play and cuddle with each other. The presence of another horse provides calmness, relaxation, and security. Therefore, horses should preferably be kept in a (stable) herd to allow for this social contact. Occasionally, minor injuries or light wounds should be accepted as a horse owner. Stallions should also be offered social contact. Many stallions can stand together with geldings or with a fence separating them so they can at least nuzzle.

Stress-free training

Unfortunately, many horses experience stress during training. Some (healthy) stress cannot always be avoided, especially when horses are learning something new. However, it is up to us to prevent prolonged or excessive stress during training. Always consider your horse's physical and mental abilities during training. Do not overburden your horse, consider their age, and readjust goals if they are not achievable for your horse.

Also, always ensure proper equipment, keep bandages and warm leg protectors in the closet, and only use leg protectors if necessary, not just for a matching set. We are not against bitless bridles, but consider your horse's preferences! If your horse is very restless in the mouth, try a bitless bridle or a different bit. Do not focus solely on bitless bridles; some horses prefer a bit over pressure on the nose. And do not forget to have your saddle checked regularly!

Safety

Currently, safety is also an important aspect in animal husbandry. As horse owners, we must ensure a safe enclosure, no protruding parts, and no objects in the paddock that could harm the horse. Therefore, we need to provide a safe living environment.

In parts of the Netherlands, wolves are very active, and in the area where we are located as HELTIE horse (Meppel and Drents-Friese Woud), this is becoming a big problem. Sheep are frequently killed, but now also cows and the first horses have been attacked. Many horse owners choose to stall their horses during the dark hours. Unfortunately, this is not possible for all horse owners, and they can only improve their enclosures as best as possible. This causes stress for the owner, and it is also noticeable that horses are more restless and on edge.