Stable design significantly affects horse welfare, with traditional box stalls preventing social contact, limiting movement, and contributing to the development of stereotypic behaviours.
The traditional horse management model — individual box stalls with limited social contact and restricted forage — creates conditions that frustrate core equine behaviours. Social contact across a stable door is qualitatively different from the proximity, grooming, and movement sharing of herd life. Restricted forage creates long periods of gut inactivity that contribute to ulcers and stereotypy development. The growing popularity of track systems, open yards, and social stable designs reflects an evidence-based movement toward management that better meets horses' behavioural and social needs.