Rethinking Housing For Stallions

Keeping stallions in  “solitary confinement” causes needless stress, say Swiss researchers, who call for more humane, healthy and safe housing alternatives.

Life can be lonely for stallions. At most farms, they are isolated from other horses to minimize conflict and the risk of injuries. But Swiss researchers say these living arrangements cause needless stress and even suffering. And they are working to develop more humane, healthy and safe housing alternatives.

“Social contact for horses is not just ‘nice to have,’ it’s a fundamental basic need. We should understand that the possibility of interacting and maintaining affiliative relationships with other horses is vital to a stallion’s well-being,” says Anja Zollinger with Agroscope, the research division of the Swiss National Stud Farm in Avenches. “Isolation and lack of social interaction cause stress. And we know the consequences of chronic stress and distress. These include behavioral problems such a stereotypies, aggressivity, self- mutilation such as flank- biting in stallions, depression, anxiety, weakened immune systems and probably other health problems well known in humans.”

Isolation is unhealthy

The Social Box system reduces stress levels by enabling stallions to engage in natural behaviors, say Swiss researchers.

Although isolation is unhealthy for any horse, it can be particularly damaging for stallions, says Zollinger. “They have much more lively and extroverted social interactions than do the other sexes,” she explains. “Their ritual interactions are lively and noisy.”

What’s more, she says, our responses to their natural behaviors can exacerbate potential problems. “Often it’s a vicious circle—stallions are isolated from a very young age so they didn’t learn to interact normally with other horses. Then they become even more isolated because they overreact when they come into contact with other horses.”