Horse living in stall?

Question

my horse has never lived in a stall before, always in the pasture, never even in the barn before. In the fall  my gelding will be living in a horse barn with a stall the size of 12x12 also there will be other horses in other stalls. Will my horse be OK with this? Wont he be cramped up in it? I really dread the fact he will be living in one. Also i will still ride him or work with him everyday.

Amber · Accepted Answer

I honestly don't think he'll enjoy it... My gelding has always lived outside in either a large corral or pasture and was pissed when I put had to put him in a 12x12 stall. He was a terrible - constantly pacing, biting the bars, kicking. All was completely out of character for him. Even with a daily turnout and daily riding, he just wasn't himself. He was a lot harder to manage and I could tell that even with all the toys I gave him, interaction with other horses, and constant exercise, he despised the indoor stall. Once a 24x24 outdoor corral became available I moved him immediately and notice a huge change. He was a lot calmer and happier and back to his old self. 

I don't think a horse should ever spend more that a night in a box stall. Horses are outdoor animals and I truly believe they enjoy being outside more. Plus, a lot of horses suffer lameness issues from staying inside a small stall for too long (mainly from resting one side too much.) Even if you take him out for an hour each day, that's still 23 hours in a small space. That's a long time. I would strongly advise you to try your hardest to get a different situation. I don't think he'll enjoy it at all and I assure you you will see a negative change in your horse if you stuff him in a tiny barn stall, especially when he's so used to being outside in a pasture. 

I hope everything works out!

Wraith™ · Answer

Amber is 100% correct. I mean would you enjoy being taken from the WORLD and stuck in a 12x12 stall for close to 22 hours a day? I know I wouldn't enjoy it. People need to realize horses are WILD animals no matter how much we have bred and changed things in them to be more of a people oriented creature. They will always enjoy outside and other fellow horses.

Finley · Answer

that's pretty cruel.

he's a horse.
12x12 is tiny to a horse that's not a miniature.

why are you taking his freedom away?

he'll probably start to pace, weave, crib, or just plain get sour.

let him be free in a pasture. don't force him into a prison.

work him every day? great. 
he needs to be outside every day for most of the hours.
not in a box.

imagine sitting in your room for 23 hours and being let out to work for 1 hour each day.
that's how your horse will feel.

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Horse living in stall?

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