06/05/2026
When caring for our horses, everything we do should be based on the concept of the 3Fs...
💕 Friends – As highly social herd animals, our horses should have contact with other on a daily basis. Ideally, this would come through being turned out in a group, where they can perform behaviours such as mutual grooming, playing and building bonds. If this isn't possible, they should still be able to see and touch each other while turned out or in a stable.
🌱 Forage – As grazers, our horses should have a forage-based diet, which could comprise grass, hay, haylage, chaffs and forage replacers. To aid digestive health and mental wellbeing, this should be trickle fed throughout the day, alongside adequate vitamins and minerals. Forage can also be fed in a variety of ways to provide enrichement.
🐎 Freedom – Horses should be able to move freely, ideally for extended periods of time. They should also have freedom of choice, which could be through going where they want, choosing between forage options or making decisions about their environment.
While yard set-ups and individual circumstances may dictate some of how we keep our horses, encorporating the 3Fs where you can will boost your horse's mental and physical wellbeing.
Find out more about the 3Fs and how to apply them to your horse's life by listening to this morning's podcast episode with Roly Owers and Janet Douglas from World Horse Welfare. You can find it on your chosen podcast streaming platform or via the Equine Health Week 2026 hub on our website 👉 https://bit.ly/BEF_EHW26
