There are good points to both.

In the old days, horses worked every day, or at least 6 out of 7.  The amount of work they recieved exercised their bodies, probably, more than they needed.  As long as they had a large enough stall to lay down in at night, all was well.  Actually they lived or died.

Now they are not working horses, but pleasure horses.  If they get an hours worth of forced exercise every day, they are lucky.

Let’s look at some of the reasons why we Stall –

1. Hopefully you’ll always know where your horse is if you leave him in the stall.  I’ve had a few who were great at opening doors and letting everyone out.
2. They stay much cleaner in the stall.  Maybe.
3. They don’t get sun bleached if they are in the stall.
4. They don’t usually get hurt when they’re in the stall.  There are exceptions to that rule.
5. You know exactly how much they have eaten or drank if they are stalled.
6. You don’t have to wander around in the fog or dark looking for them.
7. You can catch them easier.
8. You don’t have to worry about who they will get a long with.
9. They’re happier to see you coming.  “Jail break!”

Not to stall –

Well you don’t have stalls to clean in the morning.

I guess the reason I’m for not stalling is because of something a vet told me 44 years ago.  Which to me makes sense.  Horses are a grazing animal.  Every part of the horses body, mind, and how it functions, depend on constant movement.

It’s especially important for the older horse.  To keep an old horse going they need an hour of forced exercise a day to keep arthritis at bay.  An old horse won’t do more than they have to.  Looking around these days, neither will our human teenagers.  I think I recently heard that some government agency is advocating forced exercising our children.

Since the horse is a grazing animal,  they were not intended to have one or two large meals a day, but they were created to eat small amounts over extended periods of time.  The head and neck (sinus’ included) were meant to be down grazing.

When we pull them from their natural environment, we cause changes to the natural order of things.

1. We cause tendons and ligaments to lose the constant motion that keeps them fit.
2. They are standing and stomping on unnatural footing which causes hoof and bone stress.  Not to mention if stalls aren’t kept clean, we have thrush problems.
3. The air they breathe is cleaner outside, no ammonia from urine, or dust particles from bedding to cause irritation to air passages.
4. Movement keeps arthritis at bay.
5. Many horses stress at being closed in.  Gee, I wonder why more horses have ulcers?
6. Some horses do not eat or drink as much if they are in a stall.
7. They like to be out and hear the sounds of nature around them.  Not idle chatter or loud radios.
8. They like to be in a herd.  It’s the way they were intended to live.  Not in solitary confinement.
9. Attitudes improve when they’re allowed to be horses.  They run when they feel like it and get their bucks out without catapulting us into orbit.

Yes they do need trees or a lean-to to get out of the sun or rain, but it should be their choice.  Some times they just like to lay in the grass and work on their tan.

They’re living breathing animals, not cars that need to be garage kept.  Although in Florida people don’t keep their vehicles in garages.  Washing machines on the porch, but not cars in the garage.

Against their wishes I do bring them in when we are having a severe storm, or a bitter cold rain.  It’s just for a short while and they do forgive me when they are turned back out.  I don’t think they really care, but it makes me feel much better.

Not everyone can keep their horses at home and turned-out.  Some struggle to even keep them at a good boarding facility.  We do the best we can for our horses, if you have to keep them in, do right by them.  Feed smaller amounts more often.  Keep hay in front of them so they can “graze” all day.  Make sure stalls are kept clean, and dust free.  Mostly make sure they get enough exercise time, whether it be turned out or ridden.

A body in motion stays in motion.

I’m watching too much TV. 🙂