Time-activity budget in horses and ponies: A systematic review and meta-analysis on feeding dynamics and management implications.
Authors: Lamanna M, Buonaiuto G, Colleluori R, Raspa F, Valle E, Cavallini D
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Understanding how horses allocate their time across different activities remains fundamental to assessing and improving welfare across diverse management systems. Lamanna and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of 14 studies spanning four decades and encompassing 364 horses in wild, pasture-based, and stabled environments to quantify daily time budgets for feeding, resting, standing, and locomotion. Key findings demonstrated substantial differences between management systems: free-ranging horses spent 56% of their time feeding compared to only 38% in stabled horses, whilst social housing increased feeding time to 54% versus 39% for isolated animals; notably, mares allocated significantly more time to foraging (64%) than stallions and geldings (48%), and grazing horses invested considerably more time in feeding behaviour (56%) than those restricted to hay (39%). These data have direct implications for practice, suggesting that practitioners advising on stable design, turnout protocols, and feeding strategies should prioritise systems incorporating extended foraging opportunities, social grouping, and movement, as these management choices demonstrably align equine behaviour with their natural time-activity patterns and consequently support improved welfare outcomes.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Stabling management should incorporate pasture access or extended forage feeding periods to meet natural feeding behaviour patterns and improve welfare outcomes
- •Social grouping and grazing opportunities significantly increase feeding time and reduce stereotypic behaviours; isolating horses or restricting to hay-only diets increases standing and reduces activity
- •Sex and age influence time budgets—females and younger horses show higher resting; management protocols should account for these demographic differences when assessing welfare
Key Findings
- •Free-ranging horses spent 56% of time feeding compared to 38% in stabled horses (p<0.0001)
- •Grouped horses fed 54% of the time versus 39% for isolated horses (p=0.0052)
- •Females allocated 64% of time to feeding versus 48% for males (p=0.0253)
- •Grazing horses spent 56% feeding time versus 39% for hay-fed horses (p=0.0003)