Time-Budget and Welfare Indicators of Stabled Horses in Three Different Stall Architectures: A Cross-Sectional Study.
Authors: Carvalho Seabra Jéssica, Martinez do Vale Marcos, Spercoski Katherinne Maria, Hess Tanja, Patricio Viviani de Moura Penélope, Dittrich João Ricardo
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary This cross-sectional study examined whether stall design could mitigate chronic stress and abnormal behaviour in stabled horses by comparing three architectures: a larger stall (3.2 × 3.7 m) permitting tactile contact between neighbours, a medium stall (2.6 × 3.5 m) with visual contact and external views, and a smaller stall (2.3 × 3.4 m) offering visual contact only. Continuous 24-hour video analysis of 29 horses combined with blood sampling assessed time-budgets, cortisol levels, circadian rhythm disruption, and white blood cell counts across the three groups. Whilst horses in the largest stall (B1) spent significantly more time in social interaction (2.77% of their day), this modest benefit failed to translate into measurable welfare improvements: all three groups exhibited abnormal stereotypic behaviours accounting for approximately one-fifth of their daily time-budgets, and physiological stress markers remained consistently elevated across all stall types, with 38% showing elevated basal cortisol, 29% displaying disrupted circadian rhythm, and 25% presenting suppressed white blood cell counts. The findings suggest that stall architecture alone cannot compensate for the inherent constraints of single-stall confinement, and that meaningful welfare improvements likely require complementary strategies such as increased turnout, dynamic feeding schedules, or structured exercise programmes rather than relying on design modifications alone.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Stall architecture modifications alone (size, visual/tactile contact) will not eliminate stereotypic behaviors or stress indicators in stabled horses—address root causes including feeding frequency, turnout, and social housing
- •Monitor for chronic stress biomarkers (elevated cortisol, altered circadian rhythm, low WBC) in all stalled horses regardless of stall type; behavioral observations should be paired with physiological assessment
- •Increase forage availability and feeding opportunities as a priority, since horses spent only ~14% of their time eating across all stall types—this fundamental welfare need supersedes architectural changes
Key Findings
- •Larger stalls (B1: 3.2×3.7m) with tactile contact allowed 2.77% more time in social interaction compared to smaller stalls, but this difference did not reduce stereotypic behaviors
- •All horses demonstrated abnormal behaviors (21.10% of time-budget) regardless of stall architecture, indicating stall type alone does not prevent ASB
- •38% of horses had elevated cortisol levels and 29% showed altered circadian cortisol rhythm, with 25% presenting low white blood cell counts, suggesting chronic stress across all stall types
- •Eating time was low across all groups (14.31% of time-budget), indicating insufficient foraging opportunity regardless of stall design