What should be prioritized when caring for stabled versus grass-kept horses?

When caring for stabled versus grass-kept horses, prioritizing exercise and turnout is essential due to the significant differences in their living conditions. Stabled horses are confined to a small area and may not have the opportunity to move around freely as grass-kept horses do, who have access to larger spaces and can graze.

Ensuring adequate exercise and turnout for stabled horses is crucial to prevent issues related to boredom, which can lead to behavioral problems or health issues such as colic or obesity. Therefore, planning for regular riding or lunging sessions and providing opportunities for turnout in paddocks or arenas becomes paramount to meet their physical and mental health needs.

For grass-kept horses, while they naturally receive exercise by roaming and grazing, it is still essential to monitor their activity levels, especially in different seasons or after changes in their diet. Thus, while all aspects like water access, bedding management, and feeding schedules are important in horse care, ensuring appropriate exercise and turnout should take precedence, particularly for those housed in stalls.