Pros and Cons of Pasture Boarding vs. Stall Boarding for Your Horse

Hello blog world!

When boarding your horse, there are many decisions to make. One of those decisions is whether to stall board or field board your horse. What is the best environment for your horse to live in? Many people can be unsure at first for several reasons: recently acquired the horse, changing careers, occasional pleasure riding only, etc. Really, the answer is, that it depends. It is important to make sure that your horse is comfortable, happy and most of all, healthy. Stall boarding or field boarding can play a major role in this. Luckily, here at Southwind Farm in Damascus, MD, we offer both stall and field board for your horse. That means, the only hard part is trying to decide which one is best suited for your equine friend. 

Some people say that a mixture of stall and field board can be the best option. Others with high sport performance horses feel that stall board is the best option. Here another opinion, an article by Ed Dabney who is a natural horsemanship trainer:

"Stall versus Pasture Board"

I strongly feel horses are happier and healthier mentally, physically and emotionally if they are allowed to live the way God designed them - out in the open, not in a box. Horses are not like us. They don't like small cozy places. As prey animals, they like to be out in the open so they can move and see all around.

Horses who live out in a pasture 24/7 are usually healthier than stall boarded horses who live in a hot, musty barn full of urine and manure odors. Walk into most full boarding barns at 6:00 in the morning when the barn has been closed up all night and the ammonia smell from the night's urine will knock you down. I feel sorry for the horses having to stand in there and breathe that all night. No wonder they develop respiratory problems.

I understand that not everyone has the option of pasture or paddock boarding and must board their horse in a stall with little or no turn-out. I also understand that stall boarding is sometimes necessary for some stallions, horses recuperating from certain injuries or for upper level show or performance horses that need the protection of a stall to prevent injury or coat fading.In Wyoming my horses lived in the pasture and had a run in shed available to them but they never used it. They were happy to stand out in 15 below zero weather in a blizzard munching hay. They would grow a heavy winter coat and snow would pile up on their backs. As long as they had plenty of good quality hay their body would generate enough heat to keep them comfortable. (Note: if they were losing body heat the snow on their backs would melt.)Observing my own horses in Wyoming indicates to me they obviously prefer to live outdoors. Certainly we prefer to be indoors on a cold or rainy day cuddled up by the fire in a warm blanket drinking a cup of hot chocolate, however my opinion is, we should allow horses to live in the way they prefer rather than try to force our human characteristics on them. 

Article can be found at:  http://www.eddabney.com/articles/stallvspastureboard.htm