09/22/2025
Great post, this is the reason we’re moving to track systems at BridleWood!
Top picture: Wild horses grazing
Bottom picture: Domesticated horse grazing
What's the difference?
#1 THE GRASS ITSELF
In the top picture the grassland is long, stalky and sparse and low in sugar.
In the bottom picture the grass is shorter, greener, higher in sugar and starch and overseeded with higher sugar and starch grasses.
#2 MOVEMENT
In the top picture horses travel miles per day between resources.
In the bottom picture horses go into a small paddock and then a stable resulting in very limited movement.
#3 HERD MEMBERS
In the top picture the horses live in a herd.
In the bottom picture the horse is turned out alone. As is common practice.
#4 TERRAIN
In the top picture the horses travel over varied terrain during their miles of travel. Stimulating their hooves and creating natural wear.
In the bottom picture the horse only travels from field to stable on soft ground and is traditionally shod, restricting the expansion of the hoof to absorb impact and blocking any conditioning over terrain.
NATURAL HORSE VS DOMESTICATED HORSE
Physically, mentally and emotionally? No difference.
And we wonder why horses don't thrive on traditional keeping?
This is why we have health conditions such as laminitis, EMS, obesity, colic etc, and diagnosis' that are better managed on track such as Cushings or arthritis that are commonly a struggle to manage on traditional set ups. Also, behavioural conditions such as weaving, cribbing, box walking, being difficult to handle, explosive, rearing/bucking etc under saddle and in hand are all caused by either/and, incorrect or limited turnout, high sugar feed/forage and a lack of herd turnout.
This. is. why.
*Both images are from Google images and I do not own them.
