When it comes to boarding your horse, the traditional boarding option is stall board, where your horse stays in a stall at night and is turned out during the day. But pasture boarding is another option, and it can offer you and your horse a number of benefits. Here some reasons you might want to consider pasture board for your horse.
Cheaper Alternative
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When your horse stays in the pasture all of the time, there is no stall cleaning involved, and your horse’s caretaker saves time because they won’t have to bring your horse inside and out each day. Because of these factors, pasture board options are often more affordable than stall board costs are.
Healthier Feeding Atmosphere
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When you pasture board your horse, he will be able to graze for a large portion of the year. Additionally, he won’t be locked in a stall to eat his meals, and as long as there is grass available, he won’t need to receive bulk meals of hay. This all amounts to a more natural feeding atmosphere for your horse. Because he can pick away at his meals gradually, and because he can graze, your horse is likely to almost always have food in his stomach. This is an important factor in reducing the chances of colic and helping to prevent the development of ulcers in your horse. Pasture board can result in a healthier digestive system for your horse.
Increased Activity
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When your horse has continuous access to a pasture, he can move around as much as he’d like. This increases the amount of activity that he’ll have compared to his activity if he were stalled. Movement is good for horses. It helps to prevent obesity, and the act of moving increases the circulation in your horse’s hooves. Additionally, moving regularly can help to keep your horse’s digestive system functioning properly.
Reduced Equine Stress
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When horses are kept in stalls and are separated from other horses, boredom and separation anxiety can occur. Stalls aren’t natural for horses, and some horses tend to stress quite a bit when they’re kept in stalls for significant amounts of time. By removing the stall atmosphere from your horse’s life, you may reduce his stress and boredom.
Less Difficult to Start Up
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If you want to bring your horse home and set up a system where you can care for him yourself, creating a pasture board situation is easier to initially set up than it is to build a barn with stalls. When you pasture board your horse, you’ll need to fence in an adequate amount of space, and you’ll also need to construct a shed or other structure to give your horse shelter when he wants it. This can cost less and be constructed far faster than a barn can.
There are many benefits to pasture boarding your horse. Have you ever given it a try? Let us know in the comments below!
