What would you define as creulty to horses?

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jumparound

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Would you define creulty to horses as not having a horse turned out, its fully fit, but not turned out at all when there is lots of turnout. There is no reason for it not to be, would you classify this as creulty to horses?
 
if the horse is well fed/watered and gets the chance to stretch its legs at least 5 times a week (whether by being ridden, taken out inhand, horse walker etc.) then no.
 
Many horses live like this, from what you say, if it is fully fit then it is obviously getting exercised anyway. There could be many reasons for a horse not being turned out.
No, I wouldn't say that was cruelty.
 
I wouldn't like it but, if the horse is well cared for and gets out a little daily, then NO, it's not cruelty.
 
I think it is un kind, verging on cruel personally.
I like horses to live as naturally as possible and being cooped up all day except for exercise under controlled circumstances isnt nice.
Horses need to be in fields eating grass, playing, galloping and bucking if they want to.
Of course that is my opinion and I am not a sheep
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depends on the horse, for some it might possibly be cruel but Ive had ex-racehorses that hated being turned out in either the height of summer (flies and bugs) or in winter.
 
I went to a top show jumpers yard & only brood mares ever went out on grass.....all his jumpers stayed in. They were well exercised, well fed, given top quality hay etc but were considered too valuable to turn out in a paddock to injure themselves. Aditionally when stabled they have total control over the horses feed intake.

It may not be 'The Natural Way' as some people say, but cruel it isn't.
 
i worked on a top showjumpers yard and the only time they ever got turned out was for 90 mins a day on their 2 weeks holiday and always by themselves.
it didnt bother them because they didnt know any other way so no, not cruelty
 
i,ve just got back from an early sunday visit to my tb gelding harry , there he was standing against his best friend oliver under an oak tree , the other two geldings were two feet away , they,ll go off for a graze i expect shorly or maybe a wander over to say hi to mares across the lane , maybe a little gentle scratch of each others withers or thier best bit of fun galloping after the farmers new puppy when he walks through later , my point? do i really have to point it out?
 
Yes I would IMO. I think all horses deserve as much turnout as possible. I couldnt imagine keeping horses in permanently, I think its horrid and goes against everything in their nature. Their basic need as horses is freedom to roam and graze. Take that away and I dont believe the horse will be happy at all. I know lots of people think its ok and say that they know of yards full of stabled horses (PapaFrita) and that they are all happy, but I dont think they are. I think that its all they've ever known so they're used to it however I honestly believe they'd be FAR happier and healthier living out if they were given the chance and given the time to get used to it. When do these horses get a chance to groom each other and play?! I find that very sad.

One of my horses was stabled a lot before I bought him. He was very depressed on arrival. After 3 months of being out, he changed completely - he came out of his shell and was so obviously happy to be out, and remains so even in the depths of winter.

I would never take away my horses turn out time. Every day they play and groom together, that is what horses are meant to do.
 
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I know lots of people think its ok and say that they know of yards full of stabled horses (PapaFrita) and that they are all happy, but I dont think they are. I think that its all they've ever known so they're used to it however I honestly believe they'd be FAR happier and healthier living out if they were given the chance and given the time to get used to it. When do these horses get a chance to groom each other and play?! I find that very sad.

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Woah missy!! (
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I've always wanted to say that!
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I agree being stabled doesn't suit all horses and giving them pleny of turn out is MUCH better, especially (as is sadly too often the case here) they don't get exercised regularly.
PF has a pen of sorts where she can stretch her legs, but at this stage I simply would not turn her out with other horses because they're not properly socialised in a group (horses get turned out randomly and kick the sh:t out of each other until the hierarchy is established) If I had the chance to integrate her gradually into a herd, I would absolutely do it. As things are now, I wouldn't take the risk.
 
No turn out time isnt ideal but def isnt cruel. I did 3 day eventers who were on the olympic team (Italian) and I can promise you that they were NOT turned out at all. They were all fit etc, exercised 7 days a week (day off was a hack around the block) and when the riders were feeling generous, 20 mins turn out in the sandpit booted up to the eyeballs! I didnt see suffering in any way and these horses had character to sell. Mairi.
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I think it's a shame that some horses are considered so valuable that they're not allowed to be horses lest they get unjured.

While not out and out cruelty, I certainly don't agree with it.
 
sorry I think I should have made this a bit clearer. In most cases I believe that horses that are kept in is not the ideal situation but the horse in particular I was a bit worried about is only kept in as its owner doesn't want to turn him out as they do not want to go to the yard early in the morning and they visit the horse at about 7pm at night so it has been in all day and no mucked out. It isn't allowed any grass not even given walks on it so it can eat a bit and I'm just worried about it as it seems so unhappy!
 
That is disgusting. I think horses are better off living out 24/7/365 but accept not all horses are happy with this or can be looked after like this. But not turning out simply because the owner can't be bothered to go down there is terrible.
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