Horses have evolved as prey animals that would, under natural circumstances, obtain the majority of their nutrition from forages. While many horses are still maintained on pastureland and derive all or most of their nutrition from forages, many horses are stabled year round and let out to pasture or paddocks primarily for exercise, rather than to obtain nutrition.

As I was reading through some articles about equine feeding behavior and how traditional (and non-traditional) management methods affect equine behavior and equine welfare, I came across a few links you might enjoy.

The first is a link to the Havemeyer Foundation’s workshop held in Holar, Iceland: Horse Behavior and Welfare.

The second link is to an abstract presented by Nell Davidson, The Impact of Nutrition and Feeding Practices on Equine Behaviour and Welfare.

The third is a link to The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC), part of the National Agricultural Library, a part of the USDA: Information Sources on the Care and Welfare of Horses, which is an update and expansion to AWIC’s 1994 Housing, Husbandry and Welfare of Horses.