04/29/2025
At Hebert Sporthorses, we like the horses here to have as much turnout as the Louisiana weather will allow. Over the years of boarding and training, Iāve been shocked and surprised at how many people were unhappy with that. Here are a few of the things weāve heard:
- He wants to go in his stall.
- I donāt want him getting hurt.
- Iām paying for the stall, so heās going to be in it
as much as possible.
- You donāt leave your own personal horses out
24/7.
- Itās hot, I want him inside and in front of the fan.
Horses here are turned out in grass paddocks (some in larger fields) as much as possible. They come in in thunderstorms, hurricanes, freezing rain, etc (most of the time in the middle of the night, youāre welcome). When it comes to the heat, Iāve had to explain that many times it is cooler with more air flow outside, under shade, than it is in a metal roof barn with a fan blowing hot air. Many just donāt believe me. And you better believe that when it comes to my personal performance horses, they LOVE to live outside! Iāve had one minor injury with my Grand Prix horse and that was in a tiny dirt paddock in Wellington.
We want what is best for horses. After a lifetime of breeding, training, and caring for these creatures, we have come to know exactly what that is. Check out the study below if youāre still curious about what letting a horse be a horse can do for them.
Turnout is one of the most polarizing topics in modern horse keeping. So, letās skip the debate. Weāve gathered some results from veterinary science, peer-reviewed journals, and international welfare assessments. These are real numbers, from real studies, so you can make strategic decisions rooted in evidence, not tradition.
-A 25% reduction in soft tissue injuries was found in adult horses turned out for at least 12 hours daily, compared to those kept in stalls greater than 12 hours daily. (Reilly & Bryk-Lucy, 2021)
-Comparing turnout duration, a study found that horses with only 2 hours of turnout exhibited significantly higher energy levels, anxiety, and behaviors such as rearing, bucking, and fence running, whereas horses receiving over 12 hours of turnout were more likely to walk, graze, and remain calm. (Hockenhull & Creighton, 2010)
-Foals receiving inconsistent turnout (9 to 23 hours per day) had 4.6 times more musculoskeletal injuries than those with 24/7 access to turnout. Furthermore, for every extra acre of turnout, there was a 24% reduction in injury risk. (Brown-Douglas et al., 2022)
-A study on 2-year-old horses found that those kept in individual stalls required more time to get used to training activities and showed more unwanted behaviors, like resistance or agitation, than horses kept on pasture. The stalled horses needed an average of 26 minutes of training time, while the pastured horses needed only 19 minutes, to complete the same task. Additionally, the stalled horses were more likely to show unwanted behaviors during training (8 instances on average compared to just 2 for pastured horses). (Rivera et al., 2002)
-Stall-kept livestock experience a higher incidence of hoof-related issues, including uneven hoof growth and lameness, while those with access to turnout demonstrated healthier, more balanced hoof development. (Black, R.A. et al., 2017)
-A European welfare study using the AWIN protocol assessed 315 horses in group-housing turnout systems. Only 2.3% of these horses exhibited signs of lameness, compared to lameness rates as high as 33% in stalled horses across various studies. (AWIN Welfare Assessment, 2023)
-Within just one day of moving from group turnout to individual stalling, equine cortisol levels spike, and their white blood cell count shows significant changes, including a 25% increase in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and a decrease in infection-fighting cells like monocytes and T cells. Additionally, behaviors indicative of stress, such as oral manipulation, neighing, pawing, and apathy, became evident in most horses within a week. (Schmucker et al., 2022)
-Horses with regular turnout showed higher heart rate variability, indicating improved balance in their autonomic nervous system and greater stress resilience. (Rietmann et al., 2004)
-Welsh ponies who received daily pasture turnout in a herd exhibited fewer stress-related behaviors, were significantly calmer, less fearful, less reactive, more interactive with humans, and more adaptable in learning tasks compared to ponies housed in impoverished environments (stalls with limited turnout). Even three months after the study, ponies in the enriched group retained these positive behaviors and demonstrated higher curiosity and superior learning performance. (Lansade et al., 2014)
Can you find a single peer-reviewed study that shows horses kept stabled 24/7 are sounder, healthier, or happier than those with regular turnout? Even the most finely tuned, performance-focused horses are still horses. Just like any other, they require room to roam, stretch their legs, and engage in natural behaviors such as grazing and socializing.
Itās important to recognize that no horse truly dislikes turnout. If a horse resists going outside, itās due to improper conditioning, previous negative experiences, or being overwhelmed by a sudden change in environment: whatās known as "flooding." Horses whoāve been confined for extended periods or whoāve never had proper exposure to outdoor spaces may react with anxiety or reluctance. These reactions stem from fear, not from an inherent dislike of turnout. With patience and gradual exposure, every horse can be reconditioned to embrace the outdoors. After all, instincts tell them to roam, graze, and move, it's in their nature.
Of course, there are times when limiting a horse's movement is necessary, such as during health issues or transportation. In these instances, itās crucial to understand the physiological and psychological changes that occur so we can minimize stress and discomfort.
Turnout is a biological necessity. To support our horsesā overall health and well-being, we must prioritize their freedom to move. After all, a healthy, happy horse is one that has the opportunity to be just that: a horse.
