Enrichment is enhancing your horse’s environment and experiences to allow them to express natural behaviours and therefore, promote their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Enrichment is so much more than simply 24-hour turnout. It’s about providing a diverse and engaging lifestyle that promotes physical fitness and mental stimulation.
Enrichment is important because, in a domestic environment, most horses are not able to live as they would in a natural environment. Most domestic environments are mundane with little cognitive or physical stimulation as horses are kept in small paddocks, often alone, with food and water provided. Although it is vital that we meet the horse’s basic needs by providing2:
A) a safe and suitable environment,
B) suitable nutrition,
C) protection from pain, injury and disease,
D) behavioural interactions, be that with their environment, other animals or people,
it is our duty as their care givers to provide as much stimulation as possible to enhance their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. This ultimately leads to horses who are less stressed, happier and healthier, making the time we spend with them, much more rewarding.