Transitioning to outside living
Track systems and outside living are great for horses, as they have massive health benefits. When transitioning to a more natural way of life, make sure to give your horse plenty of time to adjust.
For a horse that’s not used to eat, eating in a group setting can be stressful in the beginning.
With more and more awareness about how important it is for horses to have the option to spend much of their free time moving, many owners are opting for a less traditional way of keeping horses. Track systems and open stables are becoming more popular, which is absolutely fantastic. Enabling horses to roam around and finding ways to increase movement has so many benefits, it honestly baffles me that not everyone is setting up track systems on their property. That said, just because living outside is more natural for the horse, it does not mean that it's easier.
In many ways, living outside is more challenging and can sometimes be stressful. This is why adjusting to this kind of lifestyle might take a while, especially with horses that have been used to living in stables for most of their lives. Throwing a 17-year-old dressage horse, who has lived a cosy life inside a stable with limited turnout time and no interaction with other horses, onto a track system might seem like you're doing him a massive favour, but for him it might be scary and stressful. I'm not saying a horse like that doesn't belong on a track system, but I am saying that you should keep in mind that the transition period might take a while and that the horse might need some help with it. I've seen many horses lose weight and become anxious when first introduced to a more natural lifestyle.
A well thought out track system is much easier for the horse to get used to.
Eating in a herd environment might be very stressful for a horse that's not used to it, especially if the herd includes horses that tend to be more competitive. Some horses will worry so much about being chased away from food, they will eat very little. Living outside obviously means the horse will be more exposed to harsh weather conditions. Horses are perfectly capable of growing a thick winter coat and surviving outside in the cold and snow, but the ones that aren't used to it might still have issues with it in the first year or two. Sleep is another thing that might become an issue during the transition period. A horse that was used to sleeping in a stable, where he was never disturbed during the night might be apprehensive about lying down in a more open space, with other horses and unfamiliar sounds around. Living somewhere where you're cold and scared to eat and sleep doesn't sound too pleasant, does it?
If you have the option, try to transition into outdoor living gradually. Perhaps the horse can spend his days outside with a herd, and his nights in the stable. Perhaps he needs a smaller, less competitive herd in the beginning. As he adjusts, you can gradually transition into keeping him outside during the nights or introducing him to a larger herd. The important thing here is to keep a very close eye on him. Take the time to observe how he spends his days. Is he anxious about eating from the hay station, because he is not sure if one of the other horses will chase him away? Is he pacing around, looking for a way to get back to a comfy stable? Is he getting enough sleep?
The reason why I think all of this is important, is because many people try a more natural lifestyle for their horses, and are then shocked when the horse seems worse off. So they give up and return the horse to a stabled life. But maybe the horse just needs more time. Or a more gradual introduction to a change in lifestyle. Maybe he needs extra food or a blanket during the first year. I'd say the majority of horses transition well and need very little extra attention. Then there are some, who will need more support in the first year, maybe two. And then, there are the very few, who can't seem to adjust to outside living. The important thing is to keep in mind that not every situation works for every horse. Finding what works for each individual is the key.
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