Horses are cognitively complex animals whose welfare depends on mental stimulation as well as physical care, with enrichment reducing stereotypy and improving psychological wellbeing.
Stabling without adequate enrichment creates a significant behavioral deprivation for horses whose evolutionary history involves continuous movement and foraging engagement. Stereotypies that develop during inadequate housing represent neurological changes that persist after conditions improve - prevention is critical. Enrichment for horses is not an optional luxury but a welfare requirement for horses kept in restricted environments. Even simple interventions - slow-feed hay nets that extend eating time, different foraging arrangements daily - significantly improve behavioral diversity and reduce distress indicators.