Bored in field?

[strawberrymoon]

Do you think horses get bored in fields when they are just flat grass fields rather than more interesting terrain?

I've just moved my two from their 2 acre winter field, into their summer field. It's basically 3.5 acres of flat grass, with one big tree in the corner and hedges across two of the boundaries. They have a field shelter and their water trough obviously, but otherwise it's a pretty boring. I ride twice a week but one of the two horses is a companion who is not really ridden unless my kids are off on school holidays - I do lunge him in the week though to keep his weight down.

I keep seeing these track paradises with sand pits and little streams and trees all over the track and logs to step over and I'm worried my field is incredibly boring. Am I over thinking this or do I need to provide more excitement/variety in their field?

I can't seem to get past the idea that it must be terribly boring being stuck with the same other "person" all the time, with only occasional arena work to break it up. Or do horses not really get bored and are quite happy in their field?

 

[Burnttoast]

Well they are neophobes by nature so constant new experiences aren't something they're evolved to enjoy. I'm not sure about terrain per se but I think electric-fenced squares do have the potential to be boring particularly if there's insufficient forage. The need to chew for most of the day is a strong one and horses that have ad lib forage I suspect can put up with a good deal else that we might not think of as ideal. Ditto companionship as long as they get on. I have read that track systems can be made too complicated, and that many horses don't like a lot of choice (tho the same could be said of us in the end).

I have a pony who has one friend with whom he's lived (retired) in the same 4 acre field for the last 7 years (a simple track in summer, fields in winter, access to hedges/trees and a yard). He has never seemed bored to me, but to people used to more stressed horses with that bug-eyed look that are unable to keep still he may seem very disengaged. When he wants to do something, he does it, so my feeling is that if he's not grazing, grooming his mate, having a canter around or foraging in a hedge he's happy to be standing chilling.

One way to look at it would be to consider whether field-kept horses develop stereotypies. I can't think of any examples from my own experience of a field-kept horse with forage and a companion that has done so.

 

[SEL]

I think mine get bored - they all pester me if they haven't been included in an activity and if OH goes out to fix something he gets an audience.

Since moving to the summer field they can talk to the donkeys next door and my younger cob was happily chewing boy donkeys ears yesterday! Younger cob also likes playing with field taps it turns out.....

I only have 3 so perhaps a bigger herd and a larger area to roam would make a difference. I try and do something with my retiree most days for some enrichment.

 

[Lois Lame]

I agree with you, strawberrymoon. I think horses living in small, flat fields would love to live in a field that was as big as possible and with as interesting a terrain as possible. It is also so very good for their well-being both mentally and physically. And of course, living in a herd in such a place would be what many horse-owners would want for their horse.

 

[Lois Lame]

I have a pony who has one friend with whom he's lived (retired) in the same 4 acre field for the last 7 years (a simple track in summer, fields in winter, access to hedges/trees and a yard). He has never seemed bored to me, but to people used to more stressed horses with that bug-eyed look that are unable to keep still he may seem very disengaged. When he wants to do something, he does it, so my feeling is that if he's not grazing, grooming his mate, having a canter around or foraging in a hedge he's happy to be standing chilling.

This makes me wonder what the OP is really asking. Is strawberrymoon looking at a horse who is merely 'chilling'?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

My 2 are out in boring square fields but seem to be thriving!! One is retired, he is absolutely loving it, the other is ridden and can be funny about turn out but he is also relaxed. They are fed twice a day, have hay and obviously water. They are rugged accordingly and poo picked twice a day.

 

[stangs]

One way to look at it would be to consider whether field-kept horses develop stereotypies. I can't think of any examples from my own experience of a field-kept horse with forage and a companion that has done so.

Tbf a lot of stereotypies come from not being able to express natural behaviour - e.g., cribbing from not having access to forage, weaving from not being able to move grazing - so I don't know if not developing stereotypies is the best diagnostic for boredom in a field where horses can express that behaviour.

For me, it would be more about gate-hogging, being desperate for human interaction or getting out of the field, but even these behaviours are likely to be caused by things other than boredom.

 

[cauda equina]

I think feeling bored is a human thing and for horses absence of stress is far more important than a lack of novelty or stimulation

 

[stangs]

My boy's in a boring square field (has access to hedgerow and a piece of fencing they all use as a scratchpost). I don't think he's bored (he's an retired older boy who was made to do a lot that he didn't want to in his previous home, so he's quite happy being left alone with his herd), but I am always thinking about how I can enrich his lifestyle.

Changing the physical environment isn't an option for me, because it's a livery yard. The only physical enrichment he really gets is figuring out where everything is when they move to their winter field.

He does, however, get social enrichment both from his own herd (mixed with a variety of personalities so he interacts with them all differently) and the herd in the field next to his (e.g., when my boy's mares are in season, the geldings next door get interested, eliciting lots of herding and posturing behaviours from my boy, which I do think benefits him).

I also try to work on the other types of enrichment:
Sensory - I bring him different herbs to smell (normally he's uninterested, so not really enriching); I walk him through areas where other horses have pooed (he loves a good poo-sniff); and I take him to parts of the yard which he doesn't normally go to, which also tends to elicit a lot of sniffing.

Food-based - I scatter feed chunks of carrot for him to find or hide them in a towel (like you would for a dog) so he can use his brain trying to dig them out.

Cognitive - he doesn't tend to be hugely interested by novel objects, so I try do cognitive enrichment through the aforementioned towel puzzles, clicker training, and the next thing on the list will be scentwork.

I'm sure he would have been happier on the 30ac fields that I remember from my youth, with their streams and woodland and seemingly endless things for a horse to explore, but he also probably would have ended up with laminitis, so I make do with what I've got. Again, I don't think he's bored, but I want him to live the best life possible - him being out 24/7 in a herd is the bare minimum for me.

 

[Muddywellies]

My horse has a varied workload - out and about seeing the world, plus training and some competing. So her stable and field are her places to chill and relax. I don't see her bored, just happy and content.

 

[Burnttoast]

Tbf a lot of stereotypies come from not being able to express natural behaviour - e.g., cribbing from not having access to forage, weaving from not being able to move grazing - so I don't know if not developing stereotypies is the best diagnostic for boredom in a field where horses can express that behaviour.

For me, it would be more about gate-hogging, being desperate for human interaction or getting out of the field, but even these behaviours are likely to be caused by things other than boredom.

So if we see that field-kept horses can do the same things (apart from reproduction, usually) that feral/wild/extensively kept horses do in the same proportions (eating, sleeping, playing/grooming/interacting, resting) we might surmise there's no reason to look for or assume boredom (that would be my conclusion)? Obviously if there's insufficient resources to allow those behaviours that's another issue. The question is are horses genuinely interested in the scenery or puzzles/toys or getting at their food made more difficult, for example, or do we hope they are because sometimes we have to take away/restrict the resources that allow them to be horses?

 

[stangs]

So if we see that field-kept horses can do the same things (apart from reproduction, usually) that feral/wild/extensively kept horses do in the same proportions (eating, sleeping, playing/grooming/interacting, resting) we might surmise there's no reason to look for or assume boredom (that would be my conclusion)? Obviously if there's insufficient resources to allow those behaviours that's another issue. The question is are horses genuinely interested in the scenery or puzzles/toys or getting at their food made more difficult, for example, or do we hope they are because sometimes we have to take away/restrict the resources that allow them to be horses?

Good point.

I don’t know if there are any studies on preference to contrafreeload in horses, which would help answer the question about are horses genuinely interested in puzzles/difficult access to food.

But, in relation to young horses and especially males, who ”in the wild” would be getting overly confident as their brain develops, splitting from their herd, trying to develop new social networks, experiencing predators and novel objects for the first time without a safety net, if you’re seeing potentially boredom-suggesting behaviours, then surely you would assume boredom? Because domestic life with minimal stressors in a set herd may not be enough to satiate the confidence and curiosity the adolescent brain creates.

 

[Goldenstar]

Horses do and can get bored , horses vary just like people there’s nothing natural about living in a small fenced area.
Some cope better with boredom than others my horse Sky loves work loves going places loves loading up and heading to different places to do different things.
Give him a few days off he’s not happy .
I must tend to select horses for this character trait because all my horses have liked learning and school work once I got myself trained to be half competent.

 

[saalsk]

My 2 have 20+ acres to use - separated off at times for grass/weight issues, but in general all the fields have at least 2 sides that are hedge and tree (and fence, just that they have access to the browse) and a stream, along with normal water troughs. They love a varied diet of horse appropriate browse, as well as grass, shelter, shade, blackberries, raspberries and have their own designated areas for poop (make poo picking so much easier !) rolling, dozing and so on. They play together for a good few hours each day, and groom each other. I do something with them each day - aside from basic grooming, checks and foot care, even as simple as a walk down the track to the barn or the road with the rubbish bags. They don't seem bothered if they don't do anything more physical. And the younger one (10y now) has a space hopper. Obviously.

 

[Hackback]

My two's boredom level depends on availability of nice food. Winter paddock (with hay) = play fighting, attacking the field shelter, fencing etc. Summer paddock = heads down grazing or standing broadside to the sun snoozing.

 

[tristars]

My horses like to be kept entertained,they need my input, they love attention, interaction and to show how clever they are

They can then go out roll till plastered and. graze contentedly, settle to relax and refrain from from trying to kill each other or themselves and no doubt play back their work mentally


Energy and intelligence need outlets to avoid frustration

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

All Faran cares about is his tummy and sleeping and annoying the other geldings over the fences so I think his field life suits him he does have a track but it’s just a grass one

 

[MuddyMonster]

I think it depends upon the horse to some extent.

Mine had a few months break with a companion, which due to circumstances meant he couldnt leave the field. He became bored and did develop undesirable behaviours he hasn't shown since - despite having plenty of forage, shelter, hedgerows etc.

Mine didn't do well on a track system either but coped better in a field than a track.

He's perfectly happy turned out when in work.

I think the boredom was more around the overall circumstances than it necessarily being a flat field, if that makes sense. He's a real 'do-er' and is used to being exercised 6 days a week and going out and about, seeing and doing things.

 

[Spirit7]

Mine have, woodland, grassy bits, earthworks , logs, loads of other animals passing, walkers, sandy bits , ponds (v large hole) different views off different fields, enough to eat and they still want to come in for half of every 24 hours - so no I don’t think they get more bored with less to do. I think companionship is the most important stimulus for a herd animal plus food and water obviously

 

[saddlesore]

I would think that they can. I’m lucky that my boy lives in a huge field with a herd and the terrain is very varied. I can’t imagine that a square would be especially stimulating.

 

[millitiger]

My guys are much happier now they have a summer track, compared to when they had a regular, rectangular field.

More relaxed, more steps, more browsing, more playtime.

 

[strawberrymoon]

Thank you all so much — you’ve given me a lot to think about!

@Burnttoast I really appreciated your perspective. I hadn’t considered that too much choice or novelty could actually be more stressful than helpful.

Mine do wait by the gate in the mornings, but I’m fairly sure it’s just because they’re expecting their balancer! They’re not there all day, and they don’t seem particularly bored, so I’m starting to wonder if I’m just anthropomorphising a bit.

@stangs I loved your ideas around enrichment. I do occasionally bring herbs, but now I’m thinking about trying out a few more options. I recently saw a photo of someone who’d created a little herb garden with a grill over the top to stop it being instantly devoured — I might try something similar!

As a relatively novice rider, I’m not yet confident enough to take mine out to very new and exciting places, and I think that might be feeding into my worry (and guilt!) that their lives aren’t exciting enough. We mainly go around the block and across the common near their field... Obviously with time I'm hoping my confidence (and skills) improve so we can venture further.

The more I read through your replies, the more I wonder whether it's mainly down to the herd. They do see other horses — on hacks, when someone passes by, or across the road where there are ponies in the opposite field (which they love to stare at!). But there’s no real interaction.

I’ve tried toys — treat balls, field enrichment bits — but honestly, my two just don’t seem interested.

@Spirit7 , your setup honestly sounds like a dream! Was it naturally like that, or have you created some of the enrichment elements yourself?

I keep wondering whether adding another pony might help… it’s always tempting, right? But I’m also aware that I might be trying to solve a problem that doesn’t really exist. I mean, if two can get tired of each other, three might too — and where does that end? I don’t have the space to keep adding, and realistically, I know I’ll never be able to replicate a completely natural lifestyle for them.

 

[Spirit7]

Thank you all so much — you’ve given me a lot to think about!

@Burnttoast I really appreciated your perspective. I hadn’t considered that too much choice or novelty could actually be more stressful than helpful.

Mine do wait by the gate in the mornings, but I’m fairly sure it’s just because they’re expecting their balancer! They’re not there all day, and they don’t seem particularly bored, so I’m starting to wonder if I’m just anthropomorphising a bit.

@stangs I loved your ideas around enrichment. I do occasionally bring herbs, but now I’m thinking about trying out a few more options. I recently saw a photo of someone who’d created a little herb garden with a grill over the top to stop it being instantly devoured — I might try something similar!

As a relatively novice rider, I’m not yet confident enough to take mine out to very new and exciting places, and I think that might be feeding into my worry (and guilt!) that their lives aren’t exciting enough. We mainly go around the block and across the common near their field... Obviously with time I'm hoping my confidence (and skills) improve so we can venture further.

The more I read through your replies, the more I wonder whether it's mainly down to the herd. They do see other horses — on hacks, when someone passes by, or across the road where there are ponies in the opposite field (which they love to stare at!). But there’s no real interaction.

I’ve tried toys — treat balls, field enrichment bits — but honestly, my two just don’t seem interested.

@Spirit7 , your setup honestly sounds like a dream! Was it naturally like that, or have you created some of the enrichment elements yourself?

I keep wondering whether adding another pony might help… it’s always tempting, right? But I’m also aware that I might be trying to solve a problem that doesn’t really exist. I mean, if two can get tired of each other, three might too — and where does that end? I don’t have the space to keep adding, and realistically, I know I’ll never be able to replicate a completely natural lifestyle for them.

Thanks! All we have done is open up less dense woodland where the hole is allowed them to use it, it’s improved the ground massively.

 

[bonnysmum]

This is a question that worries me a lot after moving my mare from herd turnout to a paddock (for many reasons mostly related to managing her various conditions). Honestly though after trying to "enrich" her life with walks out etc., and after several near death experiences as a result, I have concluded that at this time of her life she just wants familiarity and comfort.

 

[frankieduck]

I’ve come to realise horses are quite boring animals left to their own devices. My retired one has lived in herds, pairs, trios… lives out on 30 acres of mixed terrain, smaller electric fences paddocks, had trees, hedges, shelters… etc. All they ever seem to do is eat, mooch around a bit, eat, snooze, repeat!

I often wonder if he is bored but have come to the conclusion I’m anthropomorphising and my idea of boredom is actually just him feeling safe, secure and relaxed. I don’t think horses crave excitement, I think their happy state is a sense of routine and knowing what to expect.

I do think horses kept on postage stamp individual paddocks lack the stimulation they need to be happy unless they’re in some sort of work, which is why I move my retired ones off traditional livery yards to a more natural set up as best as I can provide. But as long as they have ample space, a friend and access to forage at all times, they’re happy.

 

[teddy_]

I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently.

I’ve moved my mare from sharing 11 acres with two ponies to a livery yard with individual paddocks of > 1 acre. You get two paddocks, one for summer and one for winter.

The yard is lovely and the horses seem settled and calm.

I just drove past her paddock, and she looks calm, picking away at the grass.

Echoing posters above, I think this set up is only really fair on horses in regular work. I wouldn’t accept this management style for a retired or turned away horse. I’m giving mine a few days to settle (and have her shoe which she lost put back on). Then, I’ll endeavour to get a piece of work into her every day - so she does have the headspace to see her ‘postage stamp’ as chill time.

It’s not ideal, but I think we all learn that finding a livery yard that offers every thing we want is not always possible.

I would rather this approach than say larger fields with restricted winter turn out.

 

[bonnysmum]

I think this set up is only really fair on horses in regular work. I wouldn’t accept this management style for a retired or turned away horse.

This surely depends on the horse(s) and whether they benefit from/enjoy "regular work".

 

[teddy_]

This surely depends on the horse(s) and whether they benefit from/enjoy "regular work".

Well, yes, that goes without saying.

I have a five year old warmblood, so she absolutely will benefit from this. However, I think even a decent hack most days would suffice if you have maybe an older animal that’s slowing down somewhat?

I don’t know! I’m just musing. Maybe I’m also trying to make myself feel better about having to change my horses management so drastically .

 

[stangs]

This surely depends on the horse(s) and whether they benefit from/enjoy "regular work".

It's true that, if a horse finds something (e.g., work) distressing - as opposed to triggering eustress - they can't find that same thing enriching. But them not enjoying regular work doesn't change the fact being stuck on individual postage stamp turnout limits the expression of natural behaviours and generally doesn't provide much mental stimulation.

In your position, because your mare is reacting so strongly to being taken for walks (presumably as a result of separation anxiety, given that she was on herd turnout before), I would be looking at how you can incorporate enrichment in the field, particularly in ways where she can choose whether she wants to engage with the novel item/activity. But that's just my two cents.

 

[bonnysmum]

It's true that, if a horse finds something (e.g., work) distressing - as opposed to triggering eustress - they can't find that same thing enriching. But them not enjoying regular work doesn't change the fact being stuck on individual postage stamp turnout limits the expression of natural behaviours and generally doesn't provide much mental stimulation.

In your position, because your mare is reacting so strongly to being taken for walks (presumably as a result of separation anxiety, given that she was on herd turnout before), I would be looking at how you can incorporate enrichment in the field, particularly in ways where she can choose whether she wants to engage with the novel item/activity. But that's just my two cents.

No, not as a result of separation anxiety (or at least not "new" separation anxiety), she's always been the same . We are soon getting a companion for her, as was always the plan.