Truly, there is little "natural" about keeping horses
in paddocks, and pastures, and certainly nothing natural
about keeping them stalled in barns.
How do we find a balance between the feral horse,
left on its own to live life as it chooses in a wilderness
setting,
and our desire to keep horses near us,
to ride them, and interact with them on a daily basis?
It is my belief that we can create and maintain an environment for our
horses (altho' admittedly limited by our imaginations, abilities and budgets) that is healthier than what is provided
for the typical domesticated horse.
In order to build a better home for our horses, we need to focus on
understanding their behavior, nutritional needs, emotional well being, take steps towards learning how to communicate
with them, as well as provide them with an environment that is safe yet also provides mental and physical stimulation and
interest.
On this journey of learning, it is important to be willing to set
aside ideas and methods that are not in alignment with the ultimate goal: Providing the horse with the best
environment possible, while taking into consideration limitations of time, money and other resources.
For some horse owners, the change may be as simple as providing 24/7
turnout for their horses, with free access to shelter. Others will go further, making simple changes to feeding
and hoof maintenance that will enhance a horse's quality of life, and make them less prone to various illnesses.
Finally, other owners may have the resources at hand to build a
true "horse haven" on their property, and enjoy seeing the positive results in their horses health and behavior that are due
to such an environment.
