Dun Roamin Farm LLC

06/04/2025

Early morning meditation🧘‍♀️or naps, whichever you prefer.

05/28/2025

🐮 Well look what the wind blew in…

04/23/2025

We have seen some of the most emotionally unstable horses become the calmest and most well-minded. What did we do? Maximize freedom, friends, and forage. There was not magic supplement or training method, it was purely stripping them back to their intended basic needs.

We still have one stall available! Contact us today if you want your horse to have a home where your they thrive by being able to be a horse.

Turnout is one of the most polarizing topics in modern horse keeping. So, let’s skip the debate. We’ve gathered some results from veterinary science, peer-reviewed journals, and international welfare assessments. These are real numbers, from real studies, so you can make strategic decisions rooted in evidence, not tradition.

-A 25% reduction in soft tissue injuries was found in adult horses turned out for at least 12 hours daily, compared to those kept in stalls greater than 12 hours daily. (Reilly & Bryk-Lucy, 2021)

-Comparing turnout duration, a study found that horses with only 2 hours of turnout exhibited significantly higher energy levels, anxiety, and behaviors such as rearing, bucking, and fence running, whereas horses receiving over 12 hours of turnout were more likely to walk, graze, and remain calm. (Hockenhull & Creighton, 2010)

-Foals receiving inconsistent turnout (9 to 23 hours per day) had 4.6 times more musculoskeletal injuries than those with 24/7 access to turnout. Furthermore, for every extra acre of turnout, there was a 24% reduction in injury risk. (Brown-Douglas et al., 2022)

-A study on 2-year-old horses found that those kept in individual stalls required more time to get used to training activities and showed more unwanted behaviors, like resistance or agitation, than horses kept on pasture. The stalled horses needed an average of 26 minutes of training time, while the pastured horses needed only 19 minutes, to complete the same task. Additionally, the stalled horses were more likely to show unwanted behaviors during training (8 instances on average compared to just 2 for pastured horses). (Rivera et al., 2002)

-Stall-kept livestock experience a higher incidence of hoof-related issues, including uneven hoof growth and lameness, while those with access to turnout demonstrated healthier, more balanced hoof development. (Black, R.A. et al., 2017)

-A European welfare study using the AWIN protocol assessed 315 horses in group-housing turnout systems. Only 2.3% of these horses exhibited signs of lameness, compared to lameness rates as high as 33% in stalled horses across various studies. (AWIN Welfare Assessment, 2023)

-Within just one day of moving from group turnout to individual stalling, equine cortisol levels spike, and their white blood cell count shows significant changes, including a 25% increase in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) and a decrease in infection-fighting cells like monocytes and T cells. Additionally, behaviors indicative of stress, such as oral manipulation, neighing, pawing, and apathy, became evident in most horses within a week. (Schmucker et al., 2022)

-Horses with regular turnout showed higher heart rate variability, indicating improved balance in their autonomic nervous system and greater stress resilience. (Rietmann et al., 2004)

-Welsh ponies who received daily pasture turnout in a herd exhibited fewer stress-related behaviors, were significantly calmer, less fearful, less reactive, more interactive with humans, and more adaptable in learning tasks compared to ponies housed in impoverished environments (stalls with limited turnout). Even three months after the study, ponies in the enriched group retained these positive behaviors and demonstrated higher curiosity and superior learning performance. (Lansade et al., 2014)

Can you find a single peer-reviewed study that shows horses kept stabled 24/7 are sounder, healthier, or happier than those with regular turnout? Even the most finely tuned, performance-focused horses are still horses. Just like any other, they require room to roam, stretch their legs, and engage in natural behaviors such as grazing and socializing.

It’s important to recognize that no horse truly dislikes turnout. If a horse resists going outside, it’s due to improper conditioning, previous negative experiences, or being overwhelmed by a sudden change in environment: what’s known as "flooding." Horses who’ve been confined for extended periods or who’ve never had proper exposure to outdoor spaces may react with anxiety or reluctance. These reactions stem from fear, not from an inherent dislike of turnout. With patience and gradual exposure, every horse can be reconditioned to embrace the outdoors. After all, instincts tell them to roam, graze, and move, it's in their nature.

Of course, there are times when limiting a horse's movement is necessary, such as during health issues or transportation. In these instances, it’s crucial to understand the physiological and psychological changes that occur so we can minimize stress and discomfort.

Turnout is a biological necessity. To support our horses’ overall health and well-being, we must prioritize their freedom to move. After all, a healthy, happy horse is one that has the opportunity to be just that: a horse.

04/14/2025

“The moon is shining bright,
The sun is now nowhere in sight.
The stars are twinkling with all their might,
While there’s darkness outside, left & right.
So let us now turn off the light,
and wish each other a very good night.”

Thanks for this beautiful picture of our beautiful place of wonder.

04/05/2025

Rare Stall Opening at Dun Roamin Farm!

Looking for a peaceful, horse-first place to land? We’ve got ONE stall available for the right horse + human combo.

Here’s what makes us different:
🌿 Forage-focused care & natural movement
🐴 Herd living for happy, well-adjusted horses
💚 Support with biomechanics + behavior
🌳 Acres of pasture and low-stress handling

Whether your horse needs a reset, long-term care, or just a quieter life—this might be their spot.

Contact us today: www.dunroaminfarm.net

12/16/2024

Good Monday morning! 🌞 Who can have a bad Monday when it starts with some adorable critters like this? 🐾✨

Psst. The day didn't start out great with a gate being left open and the entire herd of horses gallivanting through a pasture not meant for them. They had fun and here we are trying to find the little happy things! 🙃

11/01/2024

Through the years, I’ve learned that some parts of this journey never get easier. The losses don’t become routine, and the weight we carry as horse owners never lightens.

Being a horse girl means you approach life with an open heart, and aren’t afraid to work hard, to love deeply and to love often, to stand up for what you believe in. Certain experiences as a horse girl will touch your soul in a way that nothing else can. You face decisions and obstacles that others might never understand—dirt under your nails, unkempt hair, and aches in your body that you can’t explain. But in return, you’re given something remarkable —a heart horse.

Arrow, you are a heart horse. You touched so many lives and left an imprint on countless hearts, but there’s one soul you graced forever.

Watching you with her is what every horse girl dreams of. The bond, the determination, the grit, the lessons, and above all, the love. When I think of true success with a horse, I think of you and your girl. Not many of us can say we truly made it, but it’s safe to say you two did.

I hope every horse girl in this world has the chance to feel the power of a heart horse.

We will carry you with us every day, we’ll continue to love you, and we’ll miss the color you brought into our herd. Rest in peace, knowing that your girl will always have us by her side. Thank you for touching her soul and gifting her with the power of your love.

10/23/2024

Far too often, we ask horses to mold themselves to our world—chasing our goals, learning to grow on our terms, and keeping pace with our demands. But on days like today, I realize the greater lesson lies in how we can fit into their world. How can we learn to embrace stillness over hustle? How can we live by simply meeting our most basic needs, rather than chasing endlessly after the next achievement?

It’s not that we shouldn’t have goals or seek balance. But true balance isn’t just juggling ambition and peace—it’s learning to be okay exactly where we are. It’s accepting that resting in the present moment doesn’t make us lesser.

Today, we said goodbye to a beautiful soul. Herc, you embodied beauty, strength, and honesty. And it was you who taught us one of life’s greatest lessons: balance. Horses have nothing to prove, no egos to satisfy. Their truth is always there—it’s just up to us to listen. And because of you, Herc, we did listen. Because of you, we are better. Because of you, we’ll look deeper, live softer, and listen harder.

I know my story with you is only one of many. Everyone you touched may carry a slightly different experience, but the truth remains: you made us all better. You left us with lessons we didn’t know we needed—and we’ll carry them forever.

Gallop freely now, sweet boy.

10/11/2024

Tonight, Mother Nature put on quite the show.

10/10/2024

Get yourself some HayPlay Bags and the best grazing muzzle you could imagine.

Fall Forage Frenzy kicks off TOMORROW! 🍂🎉 Time to grab your slow-feed solutions (yes, your HayPlay Bag favorites are on sale too!) Keep your horse healthy, happy, and entertained all year long—use code FORAGE15 for 15% off EVERYTHING! 🛒🍁

Don't miss out, it’s time to hay in style! 😉

10/10/2024

It’s the peace when I’m with them, the quiet moments of just being, the unspoken understanding that builds over time. They have a way of grounding me, of reminding me what’s important. It is hard to put into words, but if you understand, then you know.
-M

08/08/2024

The art of horsemanship goes beyond just riding. Those who walk into the barn and check on all the horses, not just their own, or pick up a broom or pitchfork to put away something that isn't theirs, demonstrate an energy that shows they are there for not just the horses but also for leaving something better than they found it. This practice, when applied to interacting with your horse (or even people), builds a strong foundation and is a great skill. The concept of leaving it better than you found it can be quite profound if you think about it.