#horsebehaviour

As it is common to stable #horses more often during the winter, it is important to recognise early stages of stress and prevent the development of more significant behaviours.

For October’s equine column, Kayna Prescott of Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors - APBC discusses identifying and reducing equine stress during box-rest and winter stabling:

Inside or outside? Straw or shavings? How does your horse prefer to sleep?

Unlike us horses don't have 1 long sleep each day, instead they have several short periods of sleep which together total about 3-5 hours each day. One type of sleep is spent standing whilst drowsing, the classic position with a resting hind leg. They also need to have a period of time each day lying flat out to achieve REM sleep. As a prey species they have to stay safe and lying flat out is a very vulnerable position. A horse needs to feel safe in their environment to fully lay down and achieve adequate sleep.

This photo shows horses in various natural sleep postures. The group is stable and feel safe with a friend watching over them whilst sleeping at pasture. If they are not in a stable social group or are alone they may not feel safe to sleep like this.

Studies have shown that when stabled horses lay down more in a larger stable. When given the choice horses have chosen a straw bed and on a straw bed they will achieve longer bouts of lying flat out.

How have you made your horses life more interesting? Enrichment is a crucial and often overlooked part of horse ownership. One of the best ways to enrich your horses life is to create choice, hay nets at different levels, small holed, large holed and free access. This can replicate natural grazing and browsing behaviours and encourages movement in a stable or paddock.

There are numerous food orientated horse toys or puzzles that are available to buy, ensure they are introduced slowly so they don't cause high levels of frustration.

Itching posts or soft pillows for eye rubs can help horses that haven't got other horses to mutually groom with or suitable trees for scratching on.

Adding clicker training to your horses life, with free choice as to if they decide to engage is a great enrichment activity, creating choice, empowerment and increasing confidence.

The ideas for enrichment are endless and they don't have to cost a fortune. I would love to hear any of your ideas

Some of the photos show enrichment activities from Terri Hill Livery yard