Prevalence and Perceived Effects of Enrichment Elements in Outdoor Areas on the Behavior and Welfare of Group-Housed Horses

Environmental enrichment has the potential to cultivate positive equine welfare through agency-driven opportunities for socialization, foraging, and exploration. Although the beneficial impacts of enrichment are well documented for captive wildlife, there is comparatively little research on the applications and impacts of enrichment for domestic horses. Our aim was to understand the use and perceived impacts of enrichment for group-housed horses through a global survey of barn owners/managers. The survey asked questions on demographics, horses, and facility characteristics, as well as the use and perceived effects of foraging, structural, and sensory enrichment on horse behavior and welfare (e.g., perceived effects on health issues and stereotypies). We received 132 responses from 16 countries. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and visualizations. Fisher's exact tests were used to explore the significance of reported behavior changes, and a chi-squared test was used to examine the relationship between the size of the turnout area and the number of enrichment elements. Enrichment elements providing horses with foraging opportunities were the most prevalent type of enrichment, while offering structural diversity and sensory stimulation were also much-utilized enrichment strategies. Respondent data suggested a significant, direct relationship between the prevalence of enrichment and positive behavior change (p < 0.001). Respondents reported an increase in natural behaviors since the onset of enrichment provision, including increased foraging (66.7%), play (65.2%), and locomotion (78.8%). They also reported their horses to be calmer (forage enrichment 30.5%, structural enrichment 13.8%, sensory enrichment 7.4%), more social (forage enrichment 9.4%, structural enrichment 8.9%, sensory enrichment 2.8%), and more confident when being handled on the ground and under saddle (structural enrichment 8.1%). Most respondents reported that providing enrichment elements improved the health issues their horses were dealing with (hoof problems 88.7%, laminitis 91.7%, EMS 89.6%, lameness 93.5%, equine asthma 88.5%, others 88.9%) and indicated decreased frequencies of stereotypic behaviors (weaving 100%, box/fence walking 100%, crib-biting 66.6%, others 50%). No significant relationship was found between the size of the turnout area and the number of enrichment items (p = 0.33). Overall, these findings suggest positive impacts of environmental enrichment on the behavior and welfare of group-housed horses, warranting further research as a potential welfare-enhancing tool.