Your horse will undoubtedly bring you mountains of joy. Yet we shouldn’t assume that our horse is automatically happy. As with all creatures, happiness must be nurtured in horses in order for them to live a life that’s full of joy. Happily, humans have been living with horses for thousands of years, so we’ve developed a pretty good understanding of what they need to be at their best.
If you’re a horse owner who wants to bump up their horse’s happiness levels, or you’re thinking of getting a horse and want to make sure you do things correctly, then take the tips that we’ve outlined below on board.
Regular Routine
The majority of animals do better when they have a stable routine. That’s certainly the case for humans, and the rule also applies to horses. Your horse will feel more relaxed and more comfortable — foundations for living a happy life — if they have a good routine. You can engineer this by doing things like clockwork. You can let them out in the morning, feed them at the same times each day, and give them a dose of exercise at a set time.
A Happy Home
Your well-put-together home will bring you a lot of joy. A horse will get the same sensation if they have their own space to call their own. Remember that horses are naturally meant to live outdoors, so it’s important to put together a space that keeps them safe and warm while also retaining an element of nature. For instance, you can ensure that their stable receives adequate airflow by investing in horse stalls that provide plenty of ventilation. It’s also important that they have enough space in there — the stable that’s the perfect size for them when they are young may not be appropriate once they’re fully grown.
Time With Friends
You wouldn’t be all that happy if you never saw another human. While you might sometimes wish everyone would disappear, we all know that we’d be pretty sad if that ever happened! Horses are just as social as humans, and love nothing more than spending time with their kind. If that’s not possible, then make sure they have at least some sort of companion. They’ll love having dogs and cats around them, for instance. The basic takeaway? Don’t isolate your horse — think of who they can spend time with when you’re not there.
Plenty of Exercise
Your horse won’t be happy unless they’re getting plenty of exercise, and it’s as simple as that. They have big, strong bodies that they want to put to good use, so make sure they can. Taking them for long rides will help with their overall mental and physical well-being. You can think of your horse’s exercise needs in much the same way as you do your own — you probably wouldn’t be all that happy if you spent all of your time indoors. Plus, it can contribute towards keeping your horse in generally good health, which also boosts their happiness.
