Is It Better to Keep Horses In Stalls or In Pastures?

Each person has their own opinion as to whether it is better to keep horses in stalls or if it is better to have them turned out as much as possible on horse property.  Each has it's advantages and disadvantages.  Let's go through each one separately.

Keeping horses turned out is more natural to them.  If you think about it, horses have lived outdoors throughout history.  Besides, the wild horses can be found roaming free over the land without concerns for man-made shelter and they fare quite well.

Horses that are turned out most of the time tend to be healthier.  Horses need to move around in order for their digestive system to work properly.  Being stalled, they are unable to do this, which predisposes them to colic.  For horses, colic can be fatal.

Pastured horses can get rain rot, as opposed to those that are stalled.  Rain rot is a common bacterial skin infection seen in horses that are kept in warm, wet and humid conditions.  It takes some special care to treat this condition, but those that are kept in the barn do not normally get it.

Stall kept horses tend to pick up vices out of boredom.  (Imagine yourself being stuck in a 12'x12' room for hours on end, day in and day out, where all you do is sleep and eat, and watch what goes on around you.)  These bad habits could be cribbing, wind sucking, weaving, stall walking, or even biting and kicking the walls.  These can affect the horse's health or the horse can possibly injure itself.  

Some horse owners prefer keeping their horses in stalls because the horses can hurt themselves if the footing is not good.  Yes, that is true, but a horse that lives outdoors, tends to adjust to different types of footing.  This teaches the horse how to move in the various footing, taking care where needed on trails or even in competitions.

A horse that lives in the barn most of the time is more susceptible to breathing problems such as heaves.  Heaves is the horse version of asthma.  They breath in the dirt and odors in the air, poisoning their airways.  Living outdoors in the fresh air, rarely does a horse get heaves.  This is why a horse with heaves fares better living outdoors.

Horses living outdoors in wet conditions consistently, will have issues with their hooves, while the horses in the stalls will manage to have better feet.  

Horses are social animals and prefer living in a herd situation.  If they are kept in the stalls, they do not get much time to socialize with the others.  Plus, outdoors, they do get to exercise and play, where that is not possible living in a stall.

It is up to the individual as to whether or not to keep their horses turned out or in the barn in stalls.  It all depends on each individuals' situation.  When setting up a horse property, it is best to keep all these points in mind.