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Natural Boarding
Alexa Valdez
April 24, 2011
In today’s typical boarding facility, horses stay cozy in their stalls for the majority of the
day, wrapped up in their sleazies and blanket. The horses have a scheduled turn-out into a
paddock or field for a few hours each day. Some barns may have the luxury of being seasonally
heated or cooled. The horse owners, stable owners, and barn managers do their best to keep their
horses safe, healthy, and most importantly, happy. Every horse owner wants that but what they
do not realize is that this is actually harming their horse and fighting what is natural to them.
Most boarding facilities are run in mind of what is convenient to the owner of the horse, but not
in mind of what is healthy for the horse and what makes the horse happy. If horse owners can
change their mind set of comparing their needs to their horses’ needs, they could see that their
horses do not need the unnecessary pampering. If we domestic horses are provided an
environment that supports a natural way of living, then they can live longer, happier, and
healthier lives.
By blanketing a horse, one keeps them clean and gives them a short, flat coat. By keeping
a horse stalled, he is ready for a quick ride or a hefty work-out. These also keep him from all of
those “pasture mishaps” like nicks and scrapes, losing a shoe, getting covered in thick mud,
etcetera. Horses do nor need layers of blankets or a twelve by twelve stall; they are happy
bracing the winter winds in a wooly coat and layer of mud. While one may think that a horse is
lucky to have all those layers of blankets on them for winter, they are actually unnecessary. A
horse’s natural coat can provide exactly what a horse needs. For each hair on the horse’s coat,
there is a muscle that allows it to rise and lie flat, changing the thickness of your horse’s coat.
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When the hairs rise, they trap in the heat that escapes from your horse’s skin, creating a layer of
heat to insulate your horse (Edwards). When a horse is blanketed, the areas that are exposed are
still trying to stay warm. As those spots are warming, so are the areas under the blankets. If the
horse starts to sweat under the blanket, his chemical process can weaken and make him
vulnerable to colds and flues. By blanketing a horse, his hairs are forced to lie flat, which makes
him unable to self-regulate his body temperature (Edwards).
Constantly stalling horses can expose them to bacteria, viruses, and fungi, all biological
agents. It exposes them to dust and pollen, both physical irritants, and it exposes them to
chemical agents such as ammonia, ozone, and hydrogen sulphide. These elements can be very
harmful to a horse’s upper and lower respiratory system causing a continuous loss of the
respiratory function. One of the most common respiratory problems is the classic “stable allergy”
or equine asthma. It is technically referred to as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and
comes from sensitivity to fungal spores from hay and straw. During the past few decades, open
ventilation has been added to barns to reduce the dust and ammonias listed above, but recent
research has shown that horses stalled in these barns are still at risk of an infection
(“Respiratory”).
A common feeding schedule at a boarding facility is two flakes of hay for breakfast and
two flakes for dinner. Some barns add another flake or two for lunch. Of course, the horse is
always excited to get his meal and dig into it right away. Unfortunately, a horse should not be fed
a “meal” like humans eat. Their digestive system was designed to nibble here and there the
whole day. A horse’s stomach is constantly producing acid. As a horse chews, he creates saliva
that calms the acids in his stomach. A stalled horse’s hay does not always last him the whole day
without breaks. A horse that has access to more fresh resources also has a lower chance of
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developing ulcers. This is due to many reasons, but one in particular is a pasture-kept horse will
almost always have access to food. Whether it be grass, tree bark, or hay, a horse will always
need those constant snacks (Doctors Foster and Smith).
Horses that are left to live in a pasture will generally have better health, soundness,
strength, and happiness than those left in stalls. In the pasture, a horse’s respiratory system is
healthier. A horse eating at ground-level is able to inhale fewer allergens and is also able to clear
away any unwanted debris before they have a chance to create any damages. Also, with grasses
having very little dust, the amount of irritants and agents for respiratory disruptions are greatly
reduced. With many horses having respiratory problems today, remaining in the pasture with
access to fresh air and an easier form of eating can be a good way to help reduce stable allergies
(Loving).
A horse in the pasture has room to move! He has room run, sun bathe, roll, and play.
Horses need to exercise because they are big animals. They develop their muscles and their
balance in the pasture. When a horse is in his stall all day before a ride, he has energy building
up inside of him that comes out as rowdy and unproductive behavior. In the pasture, this
behavior is released. Movement in the pasture even from the small steps taken while grazing
circulates blood throughout a horse’s hoofs, legs, and body. All of this together creates a stronger
and healthier horse that is more productive to work with. When movement occurs, a horse
naturally wears down his hoofs. Through natural wear, blood circulation, and adapting to the
texture of the ground, a horse’s hoofs can become stronger. This can lead to horses not needing
their shoes and less expensive farrier visits.
Horses have millions of years of instincts. Those instincts make horses thrive off of
socialization and the safety of the herd. Once a horse has settled into his herd, he has a sense of
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safety and his stress relaxes. He feels as though he has enough extra eyes to watch out for
predators, so he does not need to worry. With the herd come the rules of dominance. Every horse
knows the rules but only when they are allowed to move freely can they experience them. A
horse that is fully aware of dominance rankings in a herd can be easier to work with. Once he
knows how to identify the leader, and once the trainer can prove he is the leader, he gives the
trainer the same respect he gives the dominate horse of his herd.
It is common in today’s culture to believe that a stalled horse has more structure or
“class” than one who is allowed to live in the pasture twenty-four/seven. But this is more than a
horse in a field. The idea of natural living for horses has been studied and has become a passion
in life for many people. Lisa Ross-Williams is one who has established herself as a natural horse
care expert. She is the natural care consultant and host of the If Your Horse Could Talk online
webcast and author of Down-To-Earth Natural Horse Care: Keeping Your Horse as Best Suits
his Mind, Body, and Soul. She is also the former senior editor of the Equine Wellness Magazine
(Ross-Williams “Natural Living”) and currently the Associate Editor and a writer for Natural
Horse Magazine (Ross-Williams “Answers”). She spreads the word of equine nutrition,
dentistry, horsemanship, therapies, environments, hoof care, and more all in the natural form
(Williams and Ross-Williams).
Another expert in the field is Jaime Jackson. He is the key creator of the barefoot trim
and Paddock Paradise. He has studied the lives, environment, and hoofs of American Mustangs.
Drawing from his research, he was able to practice a new natural trimming technique on his own
horses and watch the benefits. He developed this style of trim so that domestic horses could have
sound and well shaped hoofs without shoes. As the creator of Paddock Paradise, Jackson’s goal
is to create replications of a mustang’s natural environment to stimulate a domestic horse both
physically and mentally. As seen in image 1, his program is based off of a track created around
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the perimeter of a field by an additional “inside fence”. The
track’s width would depend on the amount of horses it holds.
The idea was that the horses would have to continually move to
keep searching for grass. A horse’s needs are on opposite sides
of the track, and a variety of terrains would help engage and
circulate blood through a horse’s hoofs and legs (Edwards).
With these founders clearing the path for all who are
trying to start a natural lifestyle for their horse, it can be seen
that the switch is easy. Of course there is more to natural
environments than field of grass, “Give your horse as much room as possible and don’t be afraid
of uneven ground, hills and rocks, or fallen logs, shrubs and trees,” Ross-William advises. “It is
human nature to assume that what we find comfortable is also good for the horse, so we think we
should level their living area and remove rocks and other "dangers”. This means the horse has
nothing left to do but mindlessly wander between his feed and water areas. How could this be
physically or mentally stimulating?” (“Answers”). Having obstacles in the pasture keeps horses
engaged and teaches them to watch their footing. Having varied obstacles as well as elevations
and terrains also helps a trail horse balance and make him more sure-footed on the trail. This is
not limited to trail horses; it can benefit a horse from any genre of riding.
Hills. Rocks. Sand. Grass. Water. Gravel. All of these and more are good to have in a
pasture. Different leveled ground helps horses develop muscles and a stronger balance. Different
terrains can shape and condition hoofs so they are strong enough without shoes. Ross-Williams
explains, “As much variety of footing and terrain as possible is the most beneficial not only for
horse’s hooves, but also overall well-being. Horse’s hooves adapt to whatever environment they
are living in. If you expect to ride in hard, rocky ground without hoof boots, it’s best to have that
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type of terrain in your horse’s living area,” (Answers”).
“Ideally, we would all have at least 100 acres for our horses to roam,” proclaims RossWilliams. “This is rarely possible, but even a small property can offer a natural environment. A
natural living area should provide your horse with enough room for continuous movement except
during rest and sleep. Horses are built to move, and in the wild will cover a minimum of 10 to 15
miles a day” (“Answers”). As a way to help domestic horses keep up with this daily exercise,
fences can be placed inside the pasture, much like Jackson’s Paddock Paradise. These fences are
not to only restrict horses to a track, but to create a barrier between necessities so horses have to
travel “the long way” to reach them.
It is known that horses are not supposed to eat a meal and rest for a few hours before the
next one. Horses are supposed to continually eat. To encourage this and to not let the horses
finish off their hay all at once, the idea of a slow-feeder has emerged. A slow-feeder can be made
in any form. A slow-feeder is a vessel for hay. It does not have any
area of the hay fully exposed. Instead, a type of grill, shown in image
2, or net, shown in image 3, covers the hay so that the horses have to
pick through it to get to the hay. Slow-feeders keep hay from getting
stomped into the ground and make the hay last until dinner time.
They also help keep away boredom when horses return to it
throughout the day (“Slow Feeders”).
Ideally, horses of all size, breed, genders, and ages
would be in one pasture together. “Many people believe that if
horses are turned out together, they will hurt each other, but this
isn’t usually the case. Horses need company, and need to touch
and play with one another. Although they will play games of
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dominance to determine hierarchy within the herd, actual contact is minimal, at least by horse
standards. Often, when a domestic horse is termed "unsociable" by us, it is a result of a lack of
socialization skills with other equines,” explains Ross-Williams. But she also warns about overdominate horses: “If [the horses’ problems are] extreme and enough time has been given to the
horses to work things out for themselves [they should be held in separate pastures]. Occasionally
you will see a personality conflict between two horses and if it can’t be worked out, they should
be separated for their safety and emotional well-being” (“Answers”). It is the responsibility of
the horses’ owner to make sure the horses have companions to socialize with, but not one that
will jeopardize their safety.
Natural environments not only benefit the horses, but they also benefit the horse owner.
With the horses out of their stalls all day, that stall-filled-barn will not need as much
maintenance, resulting in saved time. Along with the stalls not getting dirtied, the use of shaving
and pellets will reduce, resulting in saved money. With sound hoofs not needing shoes, farrier
visits will be cheaper, resulting in saved money. With the freedom to move and access to fresh
resources, the trigger to some of horses’ health problems will be eliminated which creates less
frequent and less expensive vet appointments, resulting in saved time and money.
Creating a natural environment is important to a horse’s health. But the key is sticking to
its schedule: twenty-four/seven. By giving a horse a natural-based environment, one could see
this is what horses need to thrive in and will give them the strength to live their lives to the
fullest. While people may believe that those cold frosty nights are just too much for them to
handle and that our horses want their blankets and stalls, they do not. Horses have the ability to
adapt and take care of themselves. If horse care givers can get out of that mind-set, they could
see how strong and powerful these animals are.
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Annotated Works Cited
Doctors Foster and Smith. “Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome.” Doctors Foster and Smith. 8 Apr.
2011.
Doctors Foster and Smith are a pet supply retailer who publish informative articles
through both online and print catalogs. This article was written by the Doctors Foster and
Smith staff for an audience of horse owners and care givers. This article, Equine Gastric
Ulcer Syndrome, covers the causes, signs, and treatments for gastric ulcers in horses and
foals, as well as the equine stomach’s functions. The staff chose their diction carefully as
to not portray blaming/preference of one care method over the other, but to simply state
the facts. In my paper, I used this information to explain the function of the gut and its
production of acid.
Edwards, Jenny. Living outside year round, with no “clothes” on…. 2008. All-Natural-HorseCare. 6 Mar. 2011.
Edwards, Jenny. “Paddock Paradise”. Rev. of Paddock Paradise by Jaime Jackson 2008. AllNatural-Horse-Care. 5 Mar. 2011. Web.
Jenny Edwards is an equine natural living enthusiasts. She has worked as a trainer in a
multi-disciplinary barn, graphic designer, and has a ranch where she practices natural
horse care. She used her graphic design skills to create the website, all-natural-horsecare.com. This website has many articles that explain the benefits of natural horse care
and Jamie Jackson’s horse care methods in his book, Paddock Paradise, for horse owners.
I used Edward’s website to explain a horse’s hair muscles and the main idea of the
Paddock Paradise method.
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Loving, Nancy S. “Heaves in Horses: Help for your coughing, wheezing horse – understand and
manage recurrent airway obstructions.” Horse Illustrated Magazine. Dec. 2006. 6 Mar.
2011. Web.
Loving graduated from Colorado State University veterinary school in 1985 and currently
runs her own equine veterinary services. She has been a team vet for the United States
Equestrian Federation national endurance squad. She has written five books and
repeatedly writes for Horse Illustrated. In her article, “Heaves in Horses: Help for your
coughing, wheezing horse - understand and manage recurrent airway obstructions,” she
explains what technically happens when a horse has heaves, preventative care methods
for horses with heaves, and heaves medical therapy. Loving suggests a natural feeding
method (the horse be fed outside with the hay on the ground) to lower the intake of dusts
and allergens and also suggests the horse’s care provider do time consuming feeding
methods for the heaving horse’s overall health. Through her educated diction, Loving
directs this article towards an medical-field-familiar horse-care giver or owner. This
information was used in my paper to help describe respiratory problems that come from
stalling horses.
“Respiratory: The Equine Respiratory system and problem associated with stable kept horses.”
HorseIT.com. Absolute Horse. 6 Mar. 2011.
“Respiratory: The Equine Respiratory system and problem associated with stable kept
horses” explains the functions of the upper and lower respiratory tracts and the negative
effects that stabling has on them. HorseIT.com is a website that promotes the education
of horse health, wrote this article that promotes horses being pasture-kept for healthier
respiratory functions. This article is directed towards horse owners who stall their horses.
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I used this article to describe the different types of dusts and allergens and the open
ventilation system some barns have.
Ross-Williams, Lisa. “Re: I am a student looking for some answers.” E-mail to the natural care
consultant. 8 Apr. 2011.
Lisa Ross-Williams is the host and natural care consultant of the If Your Horse Could
Talk online webcast. She is the associate editor of Natural Horse Magazine and author of
Down-To-Earth Natural Horse Care: Keeping your horse as best suits his mind, body and
soul. After learning the benefits of natural horse care, she has earned her degree in
Environmental Plant Science and has completed the Basic Homeopathy Veterinary
course through the British Institute of Homeopathy. In an e-mailed interview I titled “I
am a student looking for some answers,” she answered many questions about the details
of natural environments. Ross-Williams feels very strongly about the benefits of natural
environments. For the interview, her audience was primarily myself, and secondarily
those who would be reading my paper. I used her interview for quotes in my paper about
details for a natural environment.
Ross-Williams, Lisa. “A Natural Way of Living.” Natural Horse Talk. 2000. If Your Horse
Could Talk, LLC. 23 Mar. 2011.
Lisa Ross-Williams is the host and natural care consultant of the If Your Horse Could
Talk online webcast. She is the associate editor of Natural Horse Magazine and author of
Down-To-Earth Natural Horse Care: Keeping your horse as best suits his mind, body and
soul. After learning the benefits of natural horse care, she earned her degree in
Environmental Plant Science and completed the Basic Homeopathy Veterinary course
through the British Institute of Homeopathy. In one of her articles, Natural Living for
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Horses, through a mix of narrating a story and writing informative paragraphs, RossWilliams explains all the components that go into making a productive natural
environment for horses. She explains all of the benefits of natural environments without
disrespecting those who stall their horse. Her intended audience are horse owners who are
interested in creating a stimulating environment for their horse. I used this article in
addition to Ross-Williams interview to explain the components of a natural environment.
“Slow Feeders.” theHORSE.com. 22 Feb. 2011. 24 Apr. 2011
TheHorse.com is accurately described as “[a] guide to equine health care.” It has multiple
blogs and articles on horse care and horse care products. This article explains the many
kinds of slow feeders and all of their benefits. I used this article to explain how slow
feeders can reduce a horse’s boredom.
Williams, Kenny and Lisa Ross-Williams. Home Page. 2010. If Your Horse Could Talk LLC &
Natural Horse Talk. 9 Apr. 2011.
Lisa Ross-Williams and Kenny Williams are the host and co-host, technical producer,
and natural care consultant of the If Your Horse Could Talk online webcast. RossWilliams is the associate editor of Natural Horse Magazine and author of Down-ToEarth Natural Horse Care: Keeping your horse as best suits his mind, body and soul.
After learning the benefits of natural horse care, she earned her degree in Environmental
Plant Science and completed the Basic Homeopathy Veterinary course through the
British Institute of Homeopathy. Williams is a natural hoof care provider and educator.
He has earned his Reiki 1-Equine Reiki in a course by Kathleen Prasad. Together, RossWilliams and Williams have created a central location for all of their accomplishments,
the Natural Horse Talk Webpage. On its home page it states the Natural Horse Talk
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mission statement, advertises Ross-Williams’ book, introduces their herd of horses, and
explains the webcast’s topics. I used this information in my paper while introducing
Ross-Williams and her creditability.
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Works Consulted
Camp, Joe. The Soul of a Horse: Life Lessons from the Herd. United States: Three Rivers Press,
2008.
Edwards, Jenny. “Movement- over varied terrain.” All-Natural-Horse-Care. 2008. 7 Mar. 2011.
Kentucky Equine. “Turning Your Horse Out to Pasture.” EquiNews. 21 Oct. 2008. USEF, FAEP,
WEVA, Equestrian Australia, and American Farrier’s Association. 6 Mar. 2011.
Natural Horse World. Cynthia Cooper. 2003. 8 Apr. 2011.
Ross-Williams, Lisa. “Natural: Ten Tips for Natural Winter Horse Care.” Trail Blazer Magazine.
Dec. 2010: 1.
“Stable Vices.” sportPOLO. 1996. 8 Apr. 2011.