Views on Stable Types?

[hunter.]

I am conducting a projectto see wether stabling type has any effect on horse behaviour.

I am testing two yards, one with fully enclosed boxes with one small window, and one with half bars so the horses can see and interact with eachother.

do you think stable type has any effect on your horses behaviour?

 

[MagicMelon]

I definately think most horses would prefer to see and touch other horses (even if through bars). A "perfect" stable block IMO would be ones in a line with nothing in between them (just a wall) so they could groom each other if they wanted and each stable would have the usual door at the front, bright skylights and a door to the rear so they could look out that way too.

 

[Ashleigh_]

I think Ron's current stable yard is a near enough perfect set up, for him anyway.

They have 17 large stables round the outside of the indoor barn, all facing inwards. As well as 5 decent sized pony stalls running around the middle in a strip.

My boy settled in so well when we arrived and I reckon it's because he could see every single one of the horses/ponies when they were bought in so it made him feel part of a big group, and more secure. His stable has a nice wide door and is of good size, and to the side there is a bared window where I hang his saltlick etc. So even when he is eating his haynet in that corner he can still see out, making the front of his stable very 'open'. Towards the back is the indoor school in the other barn so he can hear what's going on in there too through top partition.

Pony stables down the middle allow them to groom over the walls which is nice, especially for the little ponies who wouldn't be able to see properly in a bigger stable.

It's light, airy and provides a nice cool shade in the summer sunshine, and in the winter the stables have proven quite cosy and of course, being indoor they are all sheltered from the rain and wind.

I think the set up works well and keeps all horses happy. They had a very nervous ex broodmare arrive the other day. After her first night I went to turn her out in the morning and she was like a different horse, totally relaxed.


Here's Ronnie at the door of his stable.

and another shot of across the yard (pre sweep might I add!)

 

[maestro]

Now mine would not thank you for bars between their stables, that is their space and their safe haven. They are in an american barn with windows to look out so they can see everybody and all the comings and goings but are happy in their own bedroom.

 

[PolarSkye]

Kal's been in pretty much every scenario:

Huge barn with low walls and wide aisles so plenty of opportunity for socializing over the walls - he liked this

Isolated facing fence with high walls and sliding door - he hated this and either ran round the box or stood by the door and shook

Traditional wooden on a small yard with no view of fields/friends - hated this too . . . very, very stressed

Smaller barn with higher walls and narrow aisles - he's tall so could at least get his nose over the dividing wall to socialize with neighbour and could see other horses in the barn, fields and part of the yard - he was ok with this but I wouldn't say he loved it

Lodden-style stable in field barn with partial view of yard/fields . . . he was ok with this but he did box walk . . . he's very sociable so he liked having people come past him, but I think he felt cut off from his friends (there were only four stables in the barn and none of them were fieldmates)

Large brick-built stable in courtyard . . . as he was out for the majority of the time (a good 17 hours and at night) I'm not sure this one counts - he spent most of his time asleep

Relative small traditional wooden stable on mini yard - on the end of a row of four with one stable facing him plus a field directly opposite and a view of his field to his right . . . he also has a window that faces the field . . . this is his favourite so far

P