The Outdoor Athlete

Can a competition horse live in the field full-time? Martha Terry looks at the evidence for 24/7 grass management and assesses the pros and cons

- Martha Terry

LAST summer, Emily King’s eventer Dargun (Dre) had to be withdrawn from the young rider Europeans after tying up on arrival. Emily had been concerned about his wellbeing and has since switched him to full turnout — eating only grass and soaked hay — with dramatic improvement.

“Dre can’t seem to process hard food, no matter how low-starch/ low-glucose it is,” explains Emily. “He couldn’t keep weight on, his coat was dull and generally he’d just be unhappy. He would also tie up a lot after the cross-country.

“He now lives out 24/7,” she adds. “The only feed we give him is a handful of grass nuts at a show when the other horses are being fed.”

Dargun is proof that not only is it possible to compete an advanced eventer from the field, but that in some cases it is preferable. So, as we head into autumn, which sort of horse might benefit from a wholesale change in routine? The off-season could be the ideal time to assess whether full turnout would work.

HORSES FOR COURSES

EQUINE physiologist and biochemist Dr David Marlin says that horses suffering from poor gastro-intestinal or mental health can benefit from turnout.

“Restricted grazing is often a contributor to gastric ulceration and stereotypical behaviour, so keeping horses out can help,” he says. “It’s their natural environment. In the wild, they cover huge distances and are constantly moving and eating. When we put them in stables, it’s contrary to how they’ve evolved.”

Studies have shown that domesticated horses do not differ substantially from their wild counterparts, either physically or psychologically. Some researchers argue that domestication has not removed basic needs such as grooming, bonding and playing, yet some management conditions do not allow for this.