Horses are highly social herd animals with strong individual bonding needs. Social isolation or inappropriate grouping causes significant psychological and physical welfare consequences.
Horse social deprivation is one of the most widespread yet normalised welfare problems in the equine sector. Many horses are kept in adjacent stables with visual but no physical or social contact - an arrangement that provides some stimulation but does not meet the full social bond requirement. The strongest welfare need is for physical social contact, mutual grooming, and the ability to form stable pair bonds. When horses must be kept at lower stocking density, a bonded companion - even a pony, donkey, or goat - provides significant welfare benefit over complete isolation. Field management should prioritise stable social groupings rather than frequent changes that disrupt established bonds.