Finding a type of horse management that respects their physiological and behavioral needs and that is compatible with the needs of use as an amateur or sporting / competitive saddle horse is possible.
A careful stable management that respects the five freedoms of the horse to increase its well-being certainly leads to an increase in the competitive performance of the animal which, not being stressed, can devote more energy to the owner’s requests.
It is therefore beneficial for both parties and should be increasingly considered by those who own a horse or a stable. The concept of safeguarding animal welfare in captive conditions was first codified more than fifty years ago in England, in 1965, and subsequently revised in 1979 by the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC), giving rise to what are called “The Five Freedoms”. But what are these five freedoms?

1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst: through free access to fresh water and a diet that maintains full health and vigor.
2. Freedom from Discomfort: providing an adequate environment with comfortable areas in which to retreat and rest.
3. Freedom from Pain, Injury and Disease: through prophylaxis, rapid diagnosis and treatment.
4. Freedom to Express Normal Behavior: providing sufficient space, adequate facilities and the companionship of conspecifics.
5. Freedom from Fear and Suffering: ensuring conditions and treatments that avoid mental suffering.

They may seem obvious things, but in reality they collect the main animal needs to be respected and which can also be applied to the daily management of the horse, increasingly a companion animal as well as a fundamental part of the equestrian sport combination.

Stable horses spend a lot of time in the box and for this there must be conditions that respect the needs of minimum movement, rest, access to food and water and contact with conspecifics. This is because the horse must also have the possibility to assume decubitus positions and roll freely. Contact with conspecifics, even if only visual, is essential, so the walls of the box should not be completely closed but offer the possibility of vision and contact between neighbors. There are different types that can be implemented, for example masonry walls from the base up to about half the height but with the upper part with bars or windows. This also applies to the doors, the horse must have the opportunity to see as much as possible the environment around him and to interact. In any context, and therefore especially in the environment in which the horse spends most of its time, it is essential that it can implement the exploration behavior that can be associated with a positive emotional state. Attention should also be paid to the ventilation of the stable, there must be sufficient air exchange to avoid respiratory problems.
The bedding should be as comfortable as possible so that the horse is comfortable in lying down. The material must be chosen carefully as it must absorb as much as possible the ammonia that derives from excrement, it must be clean and not dusty as this can cause various respiratory problems and must be soft to allow the horse to be comfortable in decubitus. Grooming is a fundamental activity for equines, as it is a manifestation of a solid bond between two individuals. Therefore, never miss a good daily grooming and brushing, as well as keeping it tidy, grooming reduces the horse’s heart rate, reflecting the fact that it is a relaxing activity, especially in the favorite and most sensitive areas such as the neck, withers and rump. . Make sure that the daily management of your horse respects the five freedoms, only in this way will you have a happy and cooperative horse!

https://www.selleriagianetti.com/categoria-prodotto/scuderia-e-paddock/cura-grooming/