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Do horses NEED to be pastured???

9K views 70 replies 35 participants last post by  jaydee 
#1 ·
So, I'm buying a horse that I've worked with for a while now and she's an awesome horse. Everything I look for in a horse and just amazing. i've developed a great relationship with her and stuff. The deal I have with the guy is that I buy the horse and he'll keep it at his barn and feed it for me in exchange I muck out the stalls. Which is a great deal! But....he doesn't pasture his horses. He doesn't have pasture land but he does have good sized paddocks for each horse and he feeds his horses well and they look well nourished and fine. This horse has never been pastured in the 5 years that they've had it and the horse is 8. So is not pastuing bad? I'm just wondering and maybe a little concerned...
 
#3 ·
If I were you, I wouldn't be thrilled with the option, but I prefer my horse to be out on pasture. However a great many people in parts of the country just don't have access to space like that. As long as the horse has hay all day, and you are exercising enough - then it's ok.

I think you need some kind of plan though (in writing). What if you have a massive disagreement with the man, can you move your horse?
 
#5 ·
Oh, I'm definitley going to have paper work with the sale and a bill of sale and everything. I'm not too worried about that. I know the guy pretty well and he's a nice guy, but I'll definitley have there be paper work involved and he's fine with that.

Well, the paddocks are big enough to move aroung pretty freely in...I'd say their about 50 feet across and maybe 60 feet long...thats a guesstimate but I'm sure it's close. And she has a horse on each side of her and the paddocks are adjoining so she has contact with other horses all the time.

She gets exercised everyday by me and she does have constant hay.

I honestly can't tell that her not being pastured effects her at all. I don't see any side effects with it. Although she does get really excited whenever she sees anyone coming with a halter or saddle, which I don't think is a bad thing haha. A horse that loves to work is great!
 
#7 ·
Honestly? You asked for opinions, please remember that.

I think pasture is a must. For our horses anyways, I find stalls and small pens more of an issue.

Horses in my experience enjoy running and playing, as well as interaction with other horses. Even if its herd evilness, it, in my opinion is healthier for them.

I do understand that stall and paddock is often used, I would not.

I also don't care for herds under 3 head so.... Possibly my opinion won't apply unless you can board with other pasture mates and risk the results of that.
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#8 · (Edited)
My 3 live in a corral that is about 80 x 110, although irregularly shaped. I'm pretty sure Mia has never lived anywhere BUT a corral. Many horses in southern Arizona live in less space.

More space would be nice. However, I don't expect to ever have pasture land for them...

A previous mare (Lilly) with Mia, getting her teeth done while Mia watches:

 
#9 ·
Driving around my new neighborhood, I see horses in horiffically small paddocks, and I sure hope they get some time out.....It freaks me out just a little, but they seem healthy, and it seems like most horses are kept this way around here.

That being said, I miss the PA pastures, big and full of GRASS. ;)

I think its probably not "ideal" for a horse to live in a tiny paddock, but as long as you do as other posters said, and make sure she is well fed and given exercise, its doable.
 
#10 ·
Do horses NEED pasture? No.

If they did, they would not survive in areas that have snow in winter or areas similar to deserts. As long as they get the necessary forage with hay and nutritional requirements, they do just fine without pasture.

Our horses get hay all year long even though we live in an area that would have great pastures. We just don't have enough land to make pastures. We try to let them out when we can to mow the grass along the driveway but its not enough for them to live on.

Many facilities are the same way. They just don't have enough land for pastures. They make do with just paddocks. I know some places that don't turn out the stallions that are there. The only time they come out of the stall is to have the stall cleaned or to be worked. Is it best for the horse? No, but they won't die because of it.

There are disadvantages to having a horse turned out in a pasture. If the pasture is too large, you could have a hard time catching the horse. If the horse is never checked on or brought in, it could sustain a life threatening injury and no one would know.
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#11 ·
Do horses NEED pasture? No.

If they did, they would not survive in areas that have snow in winter or areas similar to deserts.
Sorry, but I can't make any sense out of that.

Let's not fool ourselves or rationalize keeping horses in less than ideal conditions. Unless they have special needs, horses should be pastured in a pasture large enough for them to run full-out. It is no secret the incidence of hoof and lung issues is far higher in horses living in confined areas than those living in large pastures.

I realize many people are unable to provide the best of environments, but let's be honest and admit that anything less than ideal is exactly that, and we try to do the best we can in whatever circumstances we are in.

I have found it rather ironic over the years that many of the same people that bemoan the confinement of animals in zoos to small areas rationalize confining their own horses to stalls or small paddocks...
 
#12 ·
They don't need pasture to survive. Much like, if you locked a human in a 10x10 foot room they'd survive too, given they have food and water. In a lot of places of the world people do keep their horses stabled all or most of the time. Many of those horses are fine, and many owners make a huge effort to make sure their horse is exercised and comfortable.

However, I wouldn't keep my horse anywhere that she wouldn't be turned out in a reasonably sized area at least around 8 hours a day. It'd be great if there was grass there, but if she just had hay to keep her occupied all day I'd be okay with that. To me, the minimum size turn out would be 1 acre, which is about 200x200 feet. Short term I'd be fine smaller, but long term that is the only option I'd do. If that wasn't available where I lived I'd send her somewhere under full care with turn out until I could organise something. Right now my horse is sharing a 10 acre paddock with 3 other horses. She seems pretty happy, and often they all gallop across it full pelt, bucking, sliding to stops etc. It makes me really happy knowing she has the space to run and be a horse. When she came to me from the sales, she would have come from a racehorse trainer where she would have been stabled almost all the time. She'd had a poor appetite, lay down multiple times around feeding etc. Now, returning to a more "natural" lifestyle and diet she has improved mentally and physically.

I can't tell you what's right for you, but that boarding situation wouldn't be right for me.
 
#14 ·
We have green pastureland as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately, it's dairy country, turning the horses out on grass that has been cultivated for milk cows would be an absolute no-no.

The horses are kept on much smaller, "starvation" paddocks which, apart from ensuring they are free of droppings and undesirable weeds, we do nothing with. We supplement with hay when necessary.

Whilst there is enough space for them to canter about to a degree, the paddocks aren't a sufficient size to allow them to really stretch out for a good gallop.

We got around this situation by utilizing the long "cow tracks" between the pastures and added a circuit around the outside of the buildings. I have had to put "Please keep gate closed - free range horses" signs around the place, just to remind folks that the horses could be just about anywhere!

The place now resembles an improvised Paradise Paddock design. The horses keep moving and that's so important when you remember that in the wild they would cover 20 miles or more a day just looking for food and water.

I would like to think that we all do the best we can for our horses given our individual circumstances. We will be moving early next year, as soon as the farm is split up and sold by the owners. I am already worrying more about what facilities will be available for the horses, wherever we may end up, rather than securing a roof over our own heads - my priorities are so askew, I know :wink:.
 
#16 ·
Horse should be fine. But do get papers on everything and make sure too that you have it spelled out just how much work you are to do for this arrangement.

Not much fun to be doing 200 dollars worth of work when it would only take 5 to pay for your board in other words.
 
#18 ·
I do not believe in stalling a horse.
My horses do not have episodes of colic, heaves, coughing, or any hoof issues.
Granted I have more than enough land to keep them on pasture.
If you must keep them in a small enclosure they must be excersized everyday.
Keeping them in a paddock is better than a stall.
If the horse is healthy sound and in good condition it sounds like an acceptable place to keep a horse. Shalom
 
#19 ·
I would want my horse to have a pasture. Even if its not huge, at least something. Then again think of the police horses in NY city. They are in good health and don't get to graze in fields every day. Maybe if you are serious about riding plenty during the week or at least letting you're horse get out and run around and roll in the arena. Personally, for me, pasture time is a must.
 
#21 ·
I have 3 horses and 3 exceptionally large paddocks (large enough to never run out of grass). I stall my horses every night, I don't want them to have to deal with the elements or potential threats like the coyotes in the neighborhood, or the teenagers.
Before I got my mare she was on pasture 24/7 - she was MORBIDLY obese, with no grain or hay supplemented, she had large fat rolls and dangerously close to founder. She is seriously allergic to bugs, when I got her she had rubbed her face, neck, mane and belly completely bald and scabbed, raw and oozing.
If I were to force her to stay outside all day every day she would be miserable. After a few hours outside foraging around and playing a bit, she's at her gate nickering and pawing, desperately ready to come in. I ride her and exercise her, and soak her in fly spray and keep a fly sheet on her. But she is not happy outside. Putting a horse like this on pasture would be a death sentence.

My Belgian has a docked tail and can't keep the bugs off him. After several hours in his field he's very ready to come in. I'm not going to ignore my horse who's desperately trying to get my attention just because I have some ideal in my mind that horses should live outside.
This blanket statement that horses need to live on pasture is silly. I have 3 horses who would beg to differ.
My third horse has the indoor/outdoor stall, I leave his door open all day and let him choose. When I get home, all his waste is in his stall and so is he. He doesn't go out, despite the grass.

My horses get free choice hay (except my fat mare, she's on a strict diet) and the feed they need and of course free choice water. They are exercised regularly and groomed and cared for. They have their feet done (all have exceptional feet). They have the vet requirements met. They are good, happy horses. Pasture is not the end all be all for horses- in fact for some it's detrimental.
 
#23 · (Edited)
I don't think anyone can actually answer the question 'do horses NEED pasture'. Each horse's preferences will be different, as humans are, and since we can't ask a horse, only guess subjectively what their behaviour is trying to tell us, we will never no!

However, what we can see is the health implications of long term stabling, so whilst the horse may like it, it is not necessarily in their best interest. You also have to remember that if someone has always lived in a little house they are not going to be constantly depressed, like humans horses adjust to stabled life but that does not mean they wouldn't be happier in a large field, nor does it mean those in a field wouldn't be happier in a stable, they get used to what they are given!


Finally, one of the big issues I see is people often have horses that are bred for different climates or a different lifestyle, therefore a pasture full of grass will be 'detrimental' for a Icelandic pony but a pasture full of snow will be 'detrimental' to a thoroughbred. That is not to say the 'pasture' is to fault and they should be stabled, but we have failed to replicate their natural lifestyle- which is often the point of pastures! (obviously we cant change climate though!)


So in conclusion (necessary after the monologue I wrote!), your horse will be fine how he/she is, they appear healthy and have grown accustomed to their lifestyle, but that is not to say they would or wouldn't be better off in a pasture, you won't no till you try!
 
#25 ·
I'd be more concerned about the stall cleaning agreement. How many days, what days, what about sick days or vacations, things like that?
Sometimes if you figure out how much board is per day & compare it to how long cleaning takes you'll find you're working for a really crummy wage. Oh, & you'd be surprised how quick cleaning can turn into other chores too.
If you like the guy & the place you may want to be paid real money whenever you work. That seems to keep the peace better as many times one party or the other starts to feel they are getting the shaft.

Congratulations on getting your horse.
 
#27 ·
^^ Ever seen how skinny deer get after a long winter? Horses might survive the winter, with some losses - just as some deer survive, and others die. But most of us would like our horses to have a high probability of surviving winter.

Horses could survive in pockets of the Sonoran desert, but they sure would not thrive.
 
#29 ·
You misinterpreted my point bsms.

I'm not suggesting horses should be left to starve on their pasture in the winter, without any hay from their owners.

Just saying that they could survive on pasture alone in the winter, and they have.
 
#28 ·
In the UK the Household cavalry horses and Police Horses spend the bulk of their working lives in stalls. Same with racehorses, competition and hunting horses too in the season
The difference between these horses on a properly managed regime is that they get a lot of attention and a lot of exercise plus going to shows or hunting so they get a lot more stimulation and work than a horse that's maybe spending all but for an hour every day on a very small space - and that's when the bad habits start to crop up
I totally understand that its not possible for all owners to be able to have a large pasture for turnout but a horse needs exercise for healthy muscle, joint, blood circulation, lung function and feet so if you aren't able to provide that by way of a large enough area for it to move around freely then you have to provide it in other ways that take up more time and effort on the owners part
My own horses do have enough room to gallop around but they also spend time stabled. If I look outside at them now they are all standing under trees or grazing one small area.
 
#30 ·
"How did the wild herds of Nokota horses survive in the Badlands before the Medora park board started feeding them hay in the winter, if horses cannot survive on pasture alone in the snow?"

I suspect a wild horse herd, like a wild herd of deer, won't all survive the winter. Or they will survive, but be skin and bones. That was why usandpets wrote "they would not survive on just pasture because the grass stops growing in the winter". Some would survive, maybe most, but they would not survive the winter in the way most would want.

With water, a horse could survive here in the Sonoran desert, but it might be at a ratio of 2 sq miles per horse. I don't know how much pasture it would take in the Dakotas, but a winter of scrapping away snow & eating anything they could find would be hard on the horse, as it is for a feral horse.
 
#33 ·
A pasture doesn't guarantee good quality food, nor is there a guarantee that it's been picked up and won't infest your horse with parasites from the other horses. It's interesting to me that Clinton Anderson buys his forage from a hay business in Idaho that grows, processess and bags the hay according to the specs of the client.
Right now my pastures grew back a LOT of clover from last year's drought. I have bought at least 1/2 of next winter's hay (which I start feeding around Halloween) from a cutting that had gone to seed. This is how my original herd seeded their pastures bc the biggest one was a harvested corn field when we moved in in October, 1999, and the grass hay would shed seeds. They starting taking the very next year.
My 3 are between 5-6 on the Apgar scale and they are eating no hay right now, just on pasture.
It's great when it's good and it's nice and convenient to have pasture, but it is not at ALL necessary.
 
#36 ·
It's not just for board mucking out the stalls pays for, it's also paying for the her food. So the deal is that he will provide board and all the feed and I muck out the stalls for that, which I thought was pretty fair.
 
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