Should Horses be Stabled at Night?
Horses are one of the most loyal and beautiful pets to have. They are calm and very friendly as well. But inhabiting them comes with great responsibilities. To keep them happy and healthy, it is very important to take care of their basic needs such as food, water, shelter and so on. When it comes to sheltering them, most of the inexperienced horse owners get confused as to whether or not to stable the horses during the night.
Although most of the horses enjoy living in an open field all the time, it is important to keep them in stables during the night. In fact, it is one of the best things to do in order to keep your horses safe and healthy.
Why To Stable Horses At Night?
All horses are different, they have their own likes and dislikes when it comes to stabling. While some horses prefer resting in stables, some totally dislike it. Whatever be the preferences of your animals, you should always think of keeping them safe. Horses need to be stabled at night because of several reasons. The first and the biggest reason is their safety. Stabling protects them from harsh weather conditions such as storms, rain, and snow. It also provides them with the comfort and warmth they need after a long tiring day. Apart from these, there are many benefits of stabling the horses at night. To provide you with a clear sense, here we are mentioning a few of them :
Benefits Of Stabling The Horses At Night
1. It Provides Them Enough Rest
Horses are not meant to stay stable all the time. They need several hours of freedom daily but during the night it becomes important to keep them in stables. It helps them to get enough rest after all the hustling they did during the day. Stabling at night keeps them relaxed and calm.
2. It Keeps Them Safe
As we already discussed, the most important reason for stabling the horses at night is, it keeps them safe. First, it protects them from poor weather like snow, rains and winter chills. Secondly, it keeps them protected against the predators and thieves. Stabling at night also reduces the chances of horses getting injured in the muddy fields during the night. Not only you will get clean horses in the morning, but they’ll also be more energetic.
3. They Sleep Better
A good night’s sleep is very important for all the animals. It rejuvenates them and recovers their muscles. Horses are no different, they need at least 4 to 5 hours of sleep every day. In absence of it, they can suffer exhaustion and may become very lethargic. Stabling them ensures that they’re getting enough sleep at night.
4. It Help Them To Socialize With Their Fellow Horses
Another benefit of stabling the horses during the night is, it helps them to socialize with other animals. In fact, they tend to get lonely if left alone. So, for the sake of your horses’ happiness, let them spend some time with their fellow mates by stabling them together at night.
Tips To Stable Horses At Night
1. Make Sure To Turn Off The Lights
Bright nights inside the stable can irritate the horses, especially the ones who are habitual of sleeping outside. So, to prevent them from getting stressed, turn off all the lights at night to make sure they sleep better. Although they can adjust themselves with the brighter conditions, it will make them sleep-deprived. So, it’s better to put the lights off at night.
2. Provide Plenty of Bedding
To provide enough warmth and a comfortable resting surface, make sure to provide adequate bedding to your animals. Although straw is a cheap and soft bedding material, it becomes damp very easily. So, you can use a good straw alternative such as rubber mats. It is very comfortable and easy to clean as well.
3. Make Sure The Stable Is Quiet
Horses are light sleepers, they get up on hearing even the slightest sound. So, to make sure they get complete deep sleep, keep the stables quiet and noise-free.
That’s all. Follow these simple things while stabling your horses at night to keep them happy, safe and healthy.
Good Luck!
