Horses evolved as wide-ranging social grazing animals. Extended periods in individual stables is one of the most significant welfare challenges in equine management, linked to a range of physical and psychological problems.
Horses confined in stables cannot perform normal locomotion, social interaction, or continuous grazing. Gastric acid continues to be produced even when the stomach is empty, causing ulcer development without continuous forage access. Stall vices including crib-biting, weaving, and box-walking are frustration behaviours that, once established, are difficult to resolve even when management improves. Horses in individual stables with no visual contact with other horses show elevated stress hormones. Daily turnout with equine companionship is among the most impactful single welfare improvements available in horse management.