Horse Welfare Guide: Key Care Tips for Healthier, Happier Horses

Horse Welfare Guide: Key Care Tips for Healthier, Happier Horses

Horse welfare is about much more than simply providing feed, water and shelter. A horse can be physically “looked after” but still have unmet needs if they are isolated, confined, under-stimulated, overfed, underfed, uncomfortable, in pain, or unable to express natural behaviours. Good welfare means looking at the whole horse: body, mind, environment, diet, movement, health care and daily management.

A useful way to think about horse welfare is the “friends, forage and freedom” model. A 2026 study titled “Friends, forage, freedom: A cluster analysis investigating horse management styles and welfare in the UK and Ireland*” looked at 1,501 recreational horse owner survey responses and found that horses managed with more turnout, better forage access and more social interaction were less likely to be reported with gastrointestinal issues, lameness issues, handling problems and antisocial behaviours. The researchers identified a more “horse-centred” management group where horses commonly had 24-hour turnout, access to forage and interaction with two or more horses; this group had better reported welfare outcomes than more restrictive management styles. 

1. Friends: Horses Need Social Contact

Horses are herd animals. While not every horse can safely be paddocked in a large group, welfare improves when owners consider how much social contact their horse has each day. This may include shared turnout, paddock mates over a fence, safe pairings, or stable designs that allow horses to see and touch each other.

Long periods of isolation can contribute to stress, frustration and unwanted behaviours. Owners should watch for signs such as aggression, withdrawal, fence walking, weaving, cribbing, excessive calling, or difficulty settling. These behaviours are not just “bad habits”; they can be signs that a horse’s environment is not meeting their needs. Research reviews on horse welfare indicators include behaviours such as apathy, aggression and stereotypic behaviours as important signs to consider when assessing welfare.

2. Forage: The Foundation of Health and Welfare

Forage should be the foundation of most horses’ diets. Horses evolved to trickle-feed over long periods, so long gaps without forage can affect both gut health and behaviour. Hay, pasture, chaff and soaked fibre feeds can all help support digestive function, chewing time and mental satisfaction.

For welfare, owners should consider not only what the horse is fed, but how it is fed. Does the horse have enough forage to last through the day and night? Is the hay suitable for their weight, workload and metabolic needs? Is the horse eating too quickly and then standing for hours with nothing to do? Slow feeders, hay nets, multiple hay stations and paddock feeding systems can help extend eating time.

Body condition also matters. A horse that is too thin may not be receiving enough energy, protein, dental care or parasite control. A horse that is overweight may be at increased risk of laminitis, metabolic issues and joint strain. Welfare is not just preventing starvation; it is also preventing obesity and diet-related disease.

3. Freedom: Movement Matters

Movement is central to horse welfare. Horses are designed to walk, graze, browse, rest, interact and move throughout the day. Restricting movement for long periods may contribute to stiffness, boredom, stress and reduced physical condition.

This does not mean every horse must live in a huge paddock 24/7. Some horses need restricted grazing due to laminitis risk, injury recovery or weight control. But even then, owners can look for ways to increase safe movement: track systems, sacrifice paddocks, hand walking, controlled turnout, companion turnout, enrichment, or splitting feed and hay into different locations.

The 2026 “Friends, forage, freedom” study is useful because it does not look at welfare as one single factor. It shows that the overall management system matters. Horses with more opportunity for movement, forage and social interaction had better owner-reported welfare outcomes than horses managed in more restrictive ways.

4. Water, Salt and Hydration

Clean water must always be available. Horses may drink less in cold weather, during changes in routine, when water is dirty, or when they are moved to a new property. In winter, adding soaked feeds such as Speedi-Beet, T&R Lupin Fibre Cubes or MaxiSoy can help increase water intake through the feed. Salt or electrolytes may also encourage drinking and replace losses after work or sweating.

Buckets and troughs should be checked daily. Water that looks clean at a glance may still contain old feed, algae, manure, insects or an unpleasant taste. For fussy drinkers, offering slightly warmer water, using a familiar bucket when travelling, or adding a suitable drink supplement may help.

5. Shelter, Shade and Weather Protection

Good welfare means protection from heat, cold, wind, rain and insects. Horses in Western Australia may need shade and fly protection in summer, dry standing areas in winter, and rugs only when appropriate for the individual horse. Rugging should be based on the horse’s coat, age, body condition, health, shelter access and weather conditions, rather than habit alone.

Over-rugging can cause overheating, skin issues and discomfort. Under-rugging a vulnerable horse may lead to weight loss and stress. The key is to check the horse, not just the forecast.

6. Hoof, Dental and Veterinary Care

Routine care is a major part of welfare. Hooves should be trimmed or shod regularly according to the horse’s needs, workload and growth rate. Long toes, underrun heels, thrush, cracks or poor balance can contribute to pain and lameness.

Dental care is just as important. Sharp points, hooks, missing teeth or pain can affect chewing, weight, behaviour and performance. Horses should also have a parasite control plan, vaccination program and prompt veterinary care when something changes.

Poor or changing body condition, wounds, dehydration, limb abnormalities, discharges and parasites are all welfare warning signs noted in animal welfare guidance for equids.

7. Pain, Behaviour and Training

Behaviour is communication. A horse that bites, kicks, refuses to go forward, pins its ears, becomes girthy, resists bridling, rushes, naps, bucks or becomes difficult to handle may be expressing pain, fear, confusion or discomfort.

Training should never rely on fear, punishment or escalating pressure without understanding why the horse is reacting. The RSPCA notes that welfare-focused training should enhance communication and mutual understanding, rather than simply aiming for obedience, and warns that training based on fear, stress or discomfort can compromise welfare. 

Owners should also check tack fit regularly. Saddles, bits, nosebands, girths, rugs and boots can all cause pain if poorly fitted or used incorrectly. WA horse welfare guidance notes that tack and equipment should not cause abrasions, swelling or injury, and behavioural changes should prompt investigation into possible pain or discomfort. 

8. Enrichment and Mental Wellbeing

A horse’s mind needs care too. Enrichment can include turnout, social contact, varied forage, browsing branches from safe plants, slow feeders, scratching posts, poles, groundwork, relaxed walks, and changes in scenery. Boredom and frustration can build when horses are confined, isolated or fed in short bursts.

A welfare-focused owner asks: “What does my horse do for the other 23 hours of the day?” A horse ridden for one hour may still spend most of its life in its paddock, yard or stable. That environment matters.

9. Owner Knowledge and Honest Assessment

Good welfare requires regular observation and honest self-checking. Is your horse bright, mobile and comfortable? Are they eating and drinking normally? Are they maintaining an appropriate body condition? Do they have friends, forage and freedom? Are they showing behaviour changes? Are they sound? Are their feet, teeth, skin, gut and workload being managed?

Horse welfare is not about perfection. It is about continually improving the way we manage horses so their physical and mental needs are met as well as possible.

At Oakford Stockfeeds, we understand that every horse and property is different. Whether you are managing a paddock horse, performance horse, older horse, laminitic pony, good doer, poor doer or fussy feeder, small management changes can make a big welfare difference. From forage and fibre feeds to salt, electrolytes, hoof support, gut support, rugs, fly protection and everyday nutrition, the goal is always the same: healthier, happier horses living better lives.

*Watson, W., J.R.D. MacKay, and C. Dwyer. 2026. Friends, forage, freedom: A cluster analysis investigating horse management styles and welfare in the UK and Ireland. Animal Welfare 35:e15.