Bitless & Natural Equestrian Centre

12/04/2025

31/03/2025

𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬? 𝐀 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐓𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐫’𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐠𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

I’ve spend the last couple of days reading this book and highly advise people to as well and make your own mind up but here is my thoughts

For over a century, equestrian sports have been a part of the Olympic Games, showcasing the unique partnership between horse and rider. However, Julie Taylor’s book, The Case for Dropping Equestrian from the Olympic Games, challenges this long-standing tradition, arguing that the sport raises serious ethical concerns particularly regarding equine welfare.

I’m not against competition. In fact, I think sports, at their best, bring out human excellence and inspire us to push past our limits. But when it comes to equestrian in the Olympics, I believe Taylor makes a compelling case that we need to take a step back until the world can truly figure out what’s going on behind the scenes in the equine industry.

I’ve looked into Taylor’s argument in-depth, addressing the core issues of equine welfare, accessibility, fairness, and the role of tradition. If we want the Olympics to reflect the best of humanity, we must also consider how our decisions impact the animals we involve in competition.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬?

One of the most powerful aspects of Taylor’s book is her unflinching examination of how horses are treated in high-level equestrian sports. It’s easy to be mesmerized by the elegance of dressage or the excitement of show jumping, but behind the scenes, the pressure to perform can lead to serious ethical compromises.

Horses used for Olympic-level competition endure intense training, long-distance travel, and often brutal discipline to ensure peak performance. While many riders and trainers genuinely care for their horses, the industry as a whole can be unforgiving. A horse that doesn’t perform well can quickly become expendable sold, retired, or even euthanized if it is deemed no longer profitable.

A particularly disturbing moment in recent Olympic history brought this issue to global attention. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, modern pentathlon athlete Annika Schleu was seen in tears as her assigned horse, Saint Boy, refused to jump. Under immense pressure, she repeatedly struck the horse with her whip while her coach, Kim Raisner, encouraged her to “really hit him.” The shocking footage sparked international outrage, raising urgent questions about the ethical treatment of horses in Olympic competition.

Taylor argues that this wasn’t just an isolated incident,it was a symptom of a larger problem. Horses are not inanimate equipment; they are living beings with their own needs, fears, and limits. And yet, the Olympic system often treats them as disposable assets rather than sentient partners in sport.

Until we have stronger regulations in place to protect these animals, Taylor suggests, the best course of action may be to remove equestrian from the Games altogether.

𝐀 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦

Another significant argument in Taylor’s book is that equestrian sports are among the least accessible disciplines in the Olympics. Unlike track and field, swimming, or gymnastics sports that require primarily human ability and dedication equestrian sports demand an enormous financial investment.

The costs involved in training and maintaining a competitive horse are staggering. A top-level horse can cost anywhere from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Then there’s the expense of training, stabling, veterinary care, transportation, and competition fees.

Because of this, the sport is overwhelmingly dominated by athletes from wealthy backgrounds. It’s nearly impossible for someone without significant financial backing to break into the upper levels of equestrian competition.

Taylor argues that this exclusivity contradicts the Olympic spirit. The Games are supposed to be about bringing together athletes from all walks of life, showcasing talent regardless of nationality or socioeconomic status. Yet, equestrian events remain largely inaccessible to athletes from developing nations or less privileged backgrounds.

So, if equestrian is a sport only a small, wealthy fraction of the world can afford to compete in, should it really be part of the Olympics?

𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

One of the most unique aspects of equestrian sports is that the performance isn’t solely based on human ability it’s a combination of both the rider’s skill and the horse’s capabilities. Taylor raises an important question: Can a sport be considered fair when so much depends on an animal, rather than just the athlete?

Unlike sports where all competitors rely on their own bodies, equestrian events are influenced by factors outside of the rider’s control, such as:

The quality of the horse (some are naturally more athletic or better trained).

The financial resources to acquire and maintain a top-tier horse.

The unpredictable nature of animals, who may refuse to perform regardless of training.

This is particularly evident in disciplines like show jumping and dressage, where a well-trained, well-bred horse can make all the difference. Taylor points out that in many cases, riders at the Olympic level are competing not just with their skill, but with the financial and genetic advantage of the horses they ride.

In contrast, most Olympic sports level the playing field by requiring athletes to rely purely on their own strength, agility, and training. Taylor argues that this fundamental difference raises valid concerns about whether equestrian belongs in the same category as other Olympic sports.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗜𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵?

One of the strongest counterarguments to Taylor’s position is that equestrian sports have a long history in the Olympics. Since their official inclusion in 1912, they have become deeply embedded in the culture of the Games. Many equestrian enthusiasts argue that removing these events would be an unnecessary loss of tradition.

But Taylor challenges this assumption by pointing out that tradition alone is not a good enough reason to continue a practice that may no longer align with modern Olympic values. The Games have evolved before sports like tug-of-war, polo, and baseball have been removed over time as the Olympics adapted to changing societal values and interests.

If equestrian sports no longer align with the principles of fairness, inclusivity, and ethical treatment of animals, Taylor suggests, then it’s time to question whether tradition should outweigh progress.

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗰

Equestrian sports have a rich history at the Olympics, dating back to their first inclusion in 1900 and becoming a permanent fixture by 1912 in Stockholm. In those early days, the sport wasn’t about wealth it was about military skill and horsemanship. Until 1952, only commissioned military officers could compete, and riders didn’t own the horses themselves. The mounts were often cavalry horses, showcasing the bond between rider and horse that had been forged through service. These events weren’t just competitions they were a test of a rider’s ability to work with any horse in demanding, real-world conditions. It wasn’t about privilege or access to elite resources; it was about raw skill, experience, and trust.

Even after civilians were allowed to compete, the sport retained its working-class roots for some time. Riders such as Britain’s Harry Llewellyn, who famously won gold in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics with Foxhunter, were celebrated for their horsemanship rather than the price tag of their horses. The courses were tough, designed to replicate the challenges faced in the field, and riders were admired for their grit and talent, not their ability to buy their way into competition.

But over the years, as the sport modernised, money began to take centre stage. Today, success in equestrian events often depends more on financial backing than sheer talent. Horses bred for top-level competition can cost millions, and sponsorship deals and access to world-class facilities dominate the sport. The Olympic dream, once about skill and determination, now feels out of reach for those without significant financial resources. Equestrian has drifted far from its humble beginnings, and until the sport addresses this imbalance, it’s worth questioning whether it still aligns with the Olympic spirit of fairness and equality.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁?

Taylor doesn’t argue that equestrian sports should be eliminated altogether. Instead, she believes that before they can remain part of the Olympics, the industry must undergo serious reform. Some key changes she suggests include:

1.𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 – 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

2.𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 – 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝.
3.𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 – 𝐈𝐟 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬.

4.𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 – 𝐀 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞.

Until these issues are addressed, Taylor argues and I agree that it might be best to remove equestrian from the Olympics. Not because the sport itself isn’t valuable, but because we owe it to the horses, the athletes, and the integrity of the Games to ensure that competition is fair, ethical, and truly representative of the Olympic spirit.

At the very least, the world needs to take a hard look at what’s happening in the equine industry before continuing to place these incredible animals on the global stage without full assurance that their welfare is the top priority.

Have a read of book and let me know your thoughts.

09/03/2025

Horse Welfare in UK is abysmal in many ways, we are failing horses big time

ARE WE FAILING OUR HORSES?

The RSPCA (England & Wales) has published a report on their research looking at the persistent equine welfare crisis affecting thousands of horses across England and Wales.

Key Findings:

Widespread Welfare Issues: Many horses suffer from obesity, lack of turnout, gastric ulcers, delayed euthanasia, limited social interaction, and rough handling.

The research identified four primary drivers:

• Knowledge Gaps: A significant number of horse keepers lack the necessary practical knowledge and experience to meet their horses' welfare needs.

• Supply-Demand Mismatch: Overpopulation of certain breeds, like Thoroughbreds, contrasts with a scarcity of leisure 'all-rounders', leading to welfare concerns.

• Inadequate Facilities: Limited access to proper turnout, grazing, and socialisation negatively affects horses' well-being.

• Lifetime Welfare Planning: Insufficient planning for horses' lifetime care results in premature or delayed euthanasia, abandonment, or poor end-of-life care.

Addressing this crisis requires effort from governments, local authorities and the equine community. Strengthening legislation, improving how laws are enforced, and promoting education on equine welfare are all crucial steps to ensure every horse has a good life.

It is time for everyone to step up! It's our responsibility to recognise and address these challenges. By improving our understanding of equine behaviour, welfare and training, we can all make a difference to the lives of horses.

The full RSPCA report is now online, and every horse owner should read it.

15/02/2025

Slow Bale Buddy review:
So after being initially sceptical of the net, I just wanted to let you know it's worked out great!

It seems very large when taken out of the box, but once we'd cut the netting off our bale it easily took up any remaining slack, and it was nice and easy to get on the bale in the first place. The closure system is brilliant, no greedy noses are able to fit in the net as it collapses down (or feet!) so it's really suitable for using just as a standalone net. Our ring feeder should turn up in a couple of weeks, so I'm happy to send another update then, but I'm already a fan and would recommend it to other people.

I've included three pictures of when the bale was just put out, half way through the week and this morning.
https://bitless-equestrian.co.uk/product/slow-bale-buddy-round-or-square-bale-hay-feeder/

02/02/2025

The amazing Slow Bale Buddy is currently on sale, conserve your hay or haylage to last longer!

Slow Bale Buddy from the inventors of Big Bale Buddy Top quality net Slow Feeders for hay made with 100% knotless nylon Can be used in conjunction with the Big Bale Buddy or a Haybell or suspended …

01/02/2025

Your horse doesn’t owe you anything.

Let that sink in.

A great horseman once told me: "Riding a horse is an honor that the horse grants us."

Think about that for a second. They don’t owe us a ride, a jump, a perfect transition, or even their cooperation. They didn’t ask to be ridden. They didn’t agree to trot in circles or load into trailers or work through our training plans.

EVERY single thing we do with horses is our idea.

They have no say in their own lives...

• They don’t choose where they live.
• They don’t choose who they share their paddock with.
• They don’t decide when they eat, what they eat, or if they can graze.
• They don’t control how much time they spend in a stable.
•They don’t get to say, "Not today, I’m not feeling up to this."

And still, despite all of that, they try for us.

That’s why we MUST listen when they tell us no! When they resist, when they hesitate, when they don’t comply—it’s not disobedience. It’s communication. It’s our job to stop and ask, Why?

When you really think about it, it’s incredible that horses tolerate humans at all.

They try so hard to understand what we’re asking, even when our signals are confusing, even when our emotions cloud our cues, even when we don’t always listen to them in return. And still, they trust us. They trust us not to hurt them, not to push them too far, not to forget that they are living, breathing, feeling beings—not machines.

That trust is a privilege.

So the next time you feel frustration bubbling up because your horse won’t pick up the canter, won’t load into the trailer, won’t move away from the gate—pause. Take a breath.

Your horse isn’t here to serve you. They are not an object. They are a partner.

Ask yourself: Why am I asking them to do this?
And then: How can I make this better

And the fact that they choose to partner with us at all—despite having every reason not to—is something we should NEVER take for granted.

🩷 We don’t always deserve horses. But every day, we have a chance to be the kind of people they deserve.🩷

Appreciate them. Listen to them. Be better for them.

25/01/2025

When we had the Bitless riding school, we always asked people to stroke or scratch, rather than pat (hit) our horses and ponies 💖

Let's always consider what they truly understand and enjoy, according to their animal language and behaviors 💙

Picture credit: Maija Karala/Arador Publishing

24/01/2025

This is so important

Equines and losing their herd mates.
Most equines don’t process death in the same way we do, but its important to understand how they look at it.
Firstly its they way they understand it, they can watch it but it does not mean much, it’s the smell that tells them. So horses should be allowed to smell their departed friend, this is two part, firstly its for them to work out they have died, second part is they will be smelling for adrenalin and endorphins. Generally animals don’t fear death but they fear pain and the process of dying, which if most people are honest is the same for us, most people don’t fear death it’s the getting there, when its your time most people just hope its instant or they go in their sleep, animals are often the same.
You can put a horse down with another one watching and they will often finish their bucket of food before they go to investigate why their mate is laying down. Then they smell a lot around the dead one and if there is no adrenalin or endorphins then they died quickly and were not attacked, so nothing to worry about, even though they saw it the nose overrides all other senses, (hence why horses dislike the wind, stops them smelling in one direction)
So how do we help the horses, ponies etc accept the death of a herd member.
Time is the most important thing, giving them long enough to investigate.
The best thing is to put down the horse in an area that’s safe to let their heard mates into afterwards loose.
This is because some horses run “tests” to check they are dead, this will involve walking in arcs up to them, running away in short bursts (trying to get a flight response) grazing next to dead ones head, pawing with hooves, sometimes biting. If there is some blood they will often put on their nose or taste it, again checking for adrenalin or endorphins to ensure that they are safe and it was not a lion hiding in hedge that killed it. They will then walk away grazing and return about 3 times, after this they accept it and just walk away.
The time it takes varies on the position in herd of the one that’s dies, (one that has been pushed out of herd due to being ill the others will only take 20min to accept as they were expecting it, on other hand if it’s the leader of herd that unexpectedly died, accident etc, it takes far longer as no one is giving instructions so the upset is 2 fold this might take a hour and a half to accept whilst sniffing)
Also the breed is big factor, Shetland ponies for example only take a few minutes (they appear hard and uncaring often due to this) where a thoroughbred or Arab takes on average 45min to accept.
Leading a horse up to dead one tends to slow process down or sometimes they don’t understand at all as they will try to feed of body language of the one who’s leading them and we are not good at horse body language. If there is no choice due to are its still better then not showing them at all but its best done with long lead rope and keeping it as loose as possible to allow the horse to jump around as remember this is partly how they work it out.
The more horses in the herd the quicker they will figure out that’s one died but its nothing to worry about as they will look to each other.
Some special cases, donkeys are terrible at being so attached they one died they will pine to death, so they need another animal for company when their mate goes and we find they should have a least 12 hours with their deceased friend, this is why when we put down donkeys we recommend they we put it down one day and we will come back next day to collect, even trough this means 2 trips.
Mares when they lose their foals (or if foal pts ) again if we have put foal down and you are not going to foster mother then its best to do it and leave foal in stable for example where mother has free access, it can take her up to 48hr to realize her foal is dead and not just sleeping at which time she will bury it and its then safe to remove it without causing any upset.
All of this is why we allow at least a hour and a half for every horse we are putting down but are prepared to wait even longer if needed, 2 part it ensure the euthanasia is never rushed so we can ensure its instant and best as it can be but also the grieving process is vital to any other horse that are part of hear if they were attached. And the more time they have with their field mate who passed on the better.
If you have very closely bonded herd I’m always happy to discuss what’s the best way not only for the one who’s going but also for what’s best for their companions.
This photo shows a group of horses checking out their sadly deceased field mate, no stress just working it out and accepting it.

*edit*
I will add that the times I have said are different horse to horse and it's the time it takes them to normally understand the their friend has died and not just injured or sleeping.
Once they accept this they will then start to greve, like people some horses will take a few hour, some a few days and some a couple of weeks to get over a major change to their herd. But it's much better when they know what's happening to the other option my friend is missing and they will keep looking sometimes for months..

22/01/2025

Sadly very true 💔

Unfortunately there are so many horses having little interest in the world, I see them everyday here too... Horses not being curious about the training, about people, about the environment and sometimes even about food treats or other horses.
These are the horses we may define as "shut down", describing a miserable condition that can be caused by chronic pain, some medical conditions, the loss of a beloved companion or much more commonly simply by their being in a state of "learned helplessness".
The learned helplessness happens because of a training and handling being based mostly on punishment, where horses have learned that it's simply useless to try any behaviors in order to change something they don't like, because the response they get is always punishment. So they finally learn to feel simply helpless in any situation, with their best option being only the one to completely surrender and not try to communicate anymore.
Consequently horses being trained in this way end by looking robotic, simply doing everything that is asked of them without any question and being mentally closed to any environmental stimuli too. In short they are living a sort of real depression that is extremely common in many dead broke horses, high performing show horses, lesson ponies, horses that have changed homes a lot and so on...
And unfortunately the majority of people just don't even recognize the difference between this learned helplessness and a well trained horse, consequently they just go on perpetuating this state of chronic depression believing to be doing right, creating an endless vicious circle that unfortunately becomes just the sad normality of the equestrian world 💔

21/01/2025

Very interesting research, I hope people read and take notice 🙏

INDIVIDUAL STABLING FOUND TO ALTER IMMUNE RESPONSE

Research has found that horses moved from group housing to individual stabling showed changes in their white blood cell counts and plasma cortisol levels. These changes could mean they are at a higher risk of infectious disease.

Equine scientists at the University of Hohenheim in Germany studied 12 warmblood geldings aged 2-3 years old during several management changes, monitoring their behaviour and immune response.

The horses used were all living in a group, turned out at pasture. For the first part of the study the group was then split into two, each kept in a separate paddock so that the horses in one group could not see the others. After a trial period of eight days all the horses were returned to their original group, living together. They were then were left out at pasture for eight weeks.

For the second part of the study the horses were all moved into individual stables, where they could see and touch their neighbours through bars. During the first week of being stabled, the horses were given 30 minutes of turnout in an indoor area. From the second week onwards, the horses were lunged.

Throughout the study the research team collected blood samples from the horses to analyse their immune cell numbers and cortisol concentrations.

The results showed that moving the horses to individual stabling led to acute stress-induced immune changes. However, dividing the larger group into two smaller groups at pasture did not.

“The number of eosinophils, monocytes and T cells declined, whereas the number of neutrophils increased resulting in an increased N:L ratio. This pattern of change resembles the well-known picture of an immunomodulation induced by acute social stress."

The plasma cortisol concentrations didn’t change after dividing the group into the two smaller groups at pasture, but there was an increase in cortisol concentrations one day after stabling which then returned to the previous levels eight days later. However, the researchers reported that “Although cortisol concentrations returned to baseline level after 8 days, the alterations in most immune cell numbers persisted, pointing to a longer-lasting effect on the immune system of the horses."

The team also found that some of the horses started to perform stereotypical behaviours as soon as one week after stabling.

The team reported that the results “strongly indicate that social isolation is a chronic stressor with negative impact on welfare and health of horses and highlight the advantage of group housing systems in view of immunocompetence."

The researchers concluded that “relocation to individual stabling represented an intense stressor for the horses of the present study, leading to acute and lasting alterations in blood counts of various leukocyte types. In contrast, fission of the stable group did not result in behavioural, endocrine or immunological stress responses by the horses."

This sudden change from group turnout to individual stabling with training being introduced is a very common scenario for horses being started for the first time. This study gives us yet more evidence that stabling horses individually is stressful for them and detrimental to their physical and psychological wellbeing. The majority of the horses I see are stabled for the bulk of the day. I do wonder how much evidence is needed before horse owners, yard owners and professionals act on this information and change their management to increase turnout and group living...

The research is free to access and is a very interesting read: Schmucker S, Preisler V, Marr I, Krüger K, Stefanski V (2022) Single housing but not changes in group composition causes stress-related immunomodulations in horses. PLoS ONE 17(8): e0272445.

09/01/2025

KONIE ZIMĄ – CO TRZEBA WIEDZIEĆ:
1) konie lepiej znoszą zimno, niż gorąco
2) konie są przystosowane do znoszenia mrozów
3) zimowa sierść koni, jej natłuszczenie oraz warstwa tłuszczu podskórnego zapewniają koniom izolację. Zdrowa sierść nie przepuszcza wilgoci do skóry, a pozwala jej spływać.
4) Śnieg na koniu to dobry objaw. Nie topi się dlatego, że termoizolacja końska działa. Oczywiście będzie się topić w ciepły dzień, to też koniom nie szkodzi
5) konia nie ogrzewa gorąca herbata ani zaduch stajenny, tylko fermentacja włókna w jelicie grubym. Konie potrzebują siana. To ono zapewnia im ciepło zimą.
6) grzebanie w śniegu to naturalne zachowanie żywieniowe koni. Nie oznacza, że są głodzone tylko, że są końmi
7) konie w naturze rzadko piją częściej, niż raz dziennie. Opiekun wcale nie musi rozbijać lodu w poidle co godzinę. W zupełności wystarczy, jeśli zrobi to i uzupełni wodę raz lub dwa razy dziennie; konie same potrafią utrzymać 'przerębel' w lodzie
8) leżenie i tarzanie się w śniegu to zdrowy objawy. Koń, gdy czuje się bezpiecznie, śpi czasem na leżąco. Śnieg mu w tym nie przeszkadza, tak samo jak nie przeszkadza np sarnom
9) krążenie w nogach koni jest świetnie przystosowane do tego, by nie marzły zimą. Niedalecy przodkowie dzisiejszych koni tworzyli tzw 'megafaunę' epoki lodowcowej i do zimnego klimatu świetnie się przystosowali
10) konie nie muszą nosić zimą derek. Derki mogą być potrzebne koniom CHORYM, tak jak lekarstwa: w żadnym razie nie są wymaganym standardem zimowego utrzymania
11) wolnowybiegowy chów koni, gdzie są w grupie, na dużym wybiegu, z dostępem do schronienia (może to być wiata lub grupy drzew) i jedzenia, jest najzdrowszy dla koni
12) częściej spotyka się konie za grube, niż za chude. Dla grubych koni zima to okazja do spalenia nadmiaru kalorii. Otyłość prowadzi do ciężkich i śmiertelnych chorób, np ochwatu. Jest też związana z syndromem metabolicznym - EMS. Szczególnie podatne są kuce – dlatego najzdrowiej, by zima spędziły maksimum czasu na dworze
13) układ oddechowy konia bardzo źle znosi zapylenie i amoniak, obecne nawet w najczystszej stajni, dlatego zdrowo jest, by koń spędzał w niej jak najmniej czasu
14) koń wychodzący codziennie na wybieg chodzi po nim ostrożnie. Konie zamknięte w stajniach po kilka dni z rzędu, "szaleją" po wypuszczeniu. Przetrzymywanie w stajni jest źródłem kontuzji.
15) Konie mające swobodny dostęp do otwartej stajni lub wiaty, częściej korzystają z niej w upały, by chronić się od much, niż podczas mrozu :)
AUTORSTWO TEKSTU I ZDJĘCIA: JOANNA SMULSKA
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09/01/2025

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24/12/2024

The public must not condone this by paying to watch abuse