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Is 24/7 outdoor suitable for all horses?

Paddock Paradises, Active stable systems, Browsing Paddocks, Tracks and other methods are all the rage nowadays. And logically so, because more and more horse owners realize that spending a lot of time outdoors is beneficial for the health and mental well-being of horses. However, there are often sounds of "my horse doesn't want to be outside" or "my horse enjoys being in the stable". Is 24/7 outdoor living suitable for all horses? In this blog, we will give our perspective on this.

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6 May '22 • 4 min reading time

Yes, 24/7 outdoor living is suitable for all horses, as long as...

Horses are still very close to nature and in their genes, little to nothing has changed compared to the primal horse. We have bred horses to be suitable for sport or for a special color. However, little to nothing has changed in terms of the needs of the horse. A horse still needs to spend the vast majority of the day eating and searching for food. For this, the horse needs to cover many kilometers per day and take step by step. The horse also has an inherent need for social contact.

So yes, in principle, every horse is suitable to live outdoors 24/7. Of course, the living conditions must match the horse.

Make sure the living conditions are adequate

We notice that there is a group that is against 24/7 outdoor living and a group that is pro 24/7 outdoor living. It is often portrayed very black and white on social media. But there is a very large gray area. Putting a horse outside 24/7 in all weather conditions in the mud, at all costs, is also not desired. On the other hand, allowing a horse outside for a maximum of 2 hours a day is also not desired at all. Therefore, make sure the living conditions are adequate, because then 24/7 outdoor living is suitable for every horse.

What to consider with 24/7 outdoor living?

24/7 outdoor living in a small space, with too many horses? Not all horses will be happy with that. Some horses need more personal space than others. Just mud in the winter? Many horses develop leg problems (mud fever, lymph problems) or even worse. Simply putting your horse outside 24/7 is not an option and not exactly a cheaper option 😉. Pay attention to the following:

  • Space: ensure that there is enough space for each horse. Horses should have the choice to find a quiet place if they wish to.

  • Dry area: even in extremely wet winters, there should be a dry area to stand and lie down. A place where horses can walk normally and have the choice to keep their feet dry. For example, pave a section or ask a contractor which type of sand/drainage is most suitable.

  • Sufficient feeding areas: the more horses, the more feeding areas should be available. There should be no competition/stress due to a lack of feeding areas, which would prevent the lowest-ranking horse from eating peacefully. Therefore, distribute the feeding areas across the terrain so that all horses can eat peacefully and get enough hay.

  • Multiple watering stations: there should be multiple places to drink. Sometimes horses stand by the water trough, preventing lower-ranking horses from drinking calmly. For example, create a pond where horses can drink, which can also be the lowest point to collect excess rainwater.

  • Shelter: you would be surprised how much horses appreciate and seek shelter. Not only in winter to escape rain and wind, but also in summer to escape the sun or to have less trouble with flies and insects. Ensure that the shelter is large enough or that there are multiple sheltered areas distributed across the terrain. Also, provide multiple entrances, so there are multiple "escape routes".

  • Wide paths: Do you want to create tracks to encourage horses to walk more? Perfect, also provide "roundabouts" and widened areas where horses can lie down or pass each other. In any case, always ensure that the paths are wide enough so that horses can pass each other safely.

  • Secure fencing: Enclose your paddock/pasture/tracks with secure fencing and inspect it regularly. Nowadays, you also have to consider the wolf, possibly adjust your fencing accordingly.

  • Stable herd: a stable herd is the key to the success/failure of a 24/7 outdoor system. New horses need to be introduced calmly, place them next to the herd for a while instead of putting them directly in. One horse might be able to join after 2 days, another horse might need 6 weeks. Also, try to limit changes within the group as much as possible, because the more stable the herd, the better a 24/7 system will work.

Conclusion: all horses can be outdoors 24/7 if the conditions are right

A 24/7 outdoor system is often seen as a cheap and easy solution. But in reality, 24/7 is very time-consuming, requires more time, and is not necessarily cheaper if done correctly.

All horses can live outdoors 24/7, as long as the conditions are met. Of course, there are exceptions where it may be better for the health to choose to stable the horse at night, for example, old horses with special dietary needs. Sport horses can also live outdoors 24/7, as long as there is space and the herd is stable, this will not lead to additional injuries. It may be that your horse needs to get used to being outdoors 24/7 if it is not accustomed to it, old patterns need to be broken. Give it time and gradually introduce it if your horse struggles with the transition.

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