Horse Field Shelter and Turnout Welfare

Access to appropriate turnout and field shelter is fundamental to horse welfare. Restricting turnout or providing inadequate shelter causes measurable welfare harm to animals that evolved for outdoor life.

Key Facts

Horses evolved to roam 16-20 km daily over varied terrain — stabling severely restricts this
Horses fed hay in stables spend far less time chewing than horses grazing — linked to gastric ulcer development
Field shelters are required to allow horses to escape flies, rain, and extreme sun
Mud fever (pastern dermatitis) can be managed with appropriate field management
Horses turned out in groups develop social bonds that reduce stress and promote normal behaviour

Welfare Considerations

Horses kept in stables for most of their time are deprived of the movement, social interaction, and continuous foraging that define healthy equine life. Stable confinement is associated with gastric ulcers (from reduced continuous buffering by saliva and feed), stereotypic behaviours, and musculoskeletal problems from insufficient exercise. Horses without field shelter experience weather stress and fly irritation that causes distress. The welfare benefits of adequate daily turnout — ideally 12+ hours — on suitable pasture with companions and shelter are substantial and well-evidenced. Maximising turnout is one of the most impactful single welfare interventions available to horse owners.

What You Can Do

Maximise daily turnout time — ideally 12+ hours in appropriate conditions
Provide at minimum a three-sided field shelter that all horses can access simultaneously
Ensure horses have equine companionship during turnout whenever possible
Manage pasture to reduce mud fever risk in winter
Advocate for minimum turnout requirements in equine welfare codes of practice