Health and Body Conditions of Riding School Horses Housed in Groups or Kept in Conventional Tie-Stall/Box Housing.
Authors: Yngvesson Jenny, Rey Torres Juan Carlos, Lindholm Jasmine, Pättiniemi Annika, Andersson Petra, Sassner Hanna
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Housing Systems and Health Outcomes in Riding School Horses Swedish researchers compared health records and clinical examination data from 327 horses across 16 riding schools to determine whether group housing or conventional tie-stall/box systems better supported equine welfare during winter months. Horses in tie-stall housing experienced significantly higher rates of respiratory disease (5.8% versus 1.1%) and colic (2.38% versus 0.38%), whilst minor tack-related skin injuries were nearly four times more common in confined systems, though lameness remained the most prevalent issue regardless of housing type. Body condition scores averaged 6.2–6.3 on the Henneke scale across both systems—substantially above the optimal 4–6 range, with 25–32% of horses classified as overweight. For riding school operators and equine professionals advising on welfare, these findings suggest that group housing confers measurable health advantages over box/tie-stall systems in reducing respiratory and gastrointestinal disease, whilst the pervasive overconditioning challenge warrants implementation of regular, independent nutritional assessment rather than ad-libitum or standardised feeding protocols across all housing systems.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Group housing significantly reduces respiratory disease and colic risk compared to tie-stall systems—consider transitioning riding schools where feasible
- •Tack-related skin injuries are more common in confined housing; implement regular saddle fitting checks and skin inspections, especially in tie-stall facilities
- •Implement independent feeding assessments at riding schools since 25-32% of horses are overweight despite appearing healthy—this impacts soundness and longevity
Key Findings
- •Lameness was the most common health issue in both group-housed and tie-stall/box systems
- •Respiratory problems were significantly more common in tie-stall/box horses (5.8% vs 1.1%, p=0.01)
- •Colic incidence was significantly higher in tie-stall/box systems (2.38% vs 0.38%, p=0.01)
- •Minor skin injuries from tack were more prevalent in tie-stall/box horses (1.8 vs 0.5 lesions per horse, p=0.01)
- •25-32% of riding school horses were overweight (mean BCS 6.2-6.3 vs optimal 4-6)