Access to field shelter is an essential welfare provision for horses kept at pasture, providing protection from rain, wind, and summer heat and flies.
Field shelter welfare provision requires both adequate physical structure and appropriate management of its use. A well-designed shelter provides protection from rain, prevailing wind, and summer sun, but welfare is only achieved if all horses in the group can access it. Dominance hierarchies in horse groups mean that simple provision of a single-entry shelter may benefit only dominant individuals while subordinate horses are excluded. Multiple access points or multiple shelters in groups of more than three to four horses ensure all individuals benefit from shelter provision. In summer, fly control through rugs, masks, and shelter from direct sun substantially reduces the welfare burden of insect harassment.