Horse keeping: basics

In short: Horses are herd and flight animals with a high need for space, movement and social contact. Species-appropriate keeping differs greatly from keeping smaller pets.

In more detail: Keeping a horse in a stall alone, without contact to other horses and sufficient pasture time, is no longer considered appropriate today.

In detail

• Social contact: Horses are herd animals and should have visual or direct contact with other horses.
• Movement: Daily pasture time or turnout is important for joints, digestion and mental wellbeing.
• Feeding: Forage such as hay should form the basis; too much concentrated feed can cause colic.
• Hoof care: Regular visits to a farrier or hoof specialist are necessary regardless of whether the horse is shod.
• Costs: Stable rent, feed, vet care and hoof care add up to ongoing costs that are often underestimated.
• Housing style: The choice between stall, open stable or active stable significantly affects wellbeing and social behaviour.
• Vaccinations: Tetanus and influenza vaccinations are part of standard preventive care for horses (haustier-gesundheit-impfen-entwurmen-tierarzt).