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Wild / Feral Horses vs. Domesticated Horses
From the January 2003 NoHoof-NoHorse Newsletter
by Cheryl McNamee Sutor, MHG

In recent years, new research has shown that wild/feral horses not only live longer and healthier than our domesticated horses, but also that they are not plagued by the deadly illnesses and diseases that destroy our domestic horses, especially lameness and colic (the top 2 reasons for death or euthanasia).

This has led many professionals to begin studying wild/feral horses to find out why they are so much healthier. The more we compare, the more we realize that these illnesses and diseases can not only be treated, but also prevented when we try to mimick the wild/feral horse's environment and lifestyle with our own domesticated horses.

Below, I have listed a short description of the typical lifestyle for each...

The Wild / Feral Horse...

Has an average lifespan of 30-40 years.
Lives in a herd environment.
Has a variety of plants, trees and grasses available for a vast array of nutrition and spends 60-70% of its time eating.
Stands in bodies of water while drinking, and drinks/eats with head lowered.
Wears no shoes, leg wraps, boots, blankets, etc.
Travels an average of 20 miles per day over rugged terrain.

The wild or feral horse, on free range, lives 30-40 years - that's twice as long as a domesticated horse!

The Domestic Horse...

Has an average lifespan of 15-20 years.
Often lives in solitary confinement in box stalls or individual paddocks with minimal turnout and minimal contact with other horses. The lucky ones get outside for a few hours daily.
Eats concentrated rations, often going hours with nothing in its stomach.
Often spends as little as 20% of its time eating, often fed at table-height and must stand unnaturally to eat.
Has no access to bodies of water to stand in or to drink in a natural head-down position.
Often has oils, greases or chemicals applied to their hooves.
Often wears shoes, leg wraps, blankets, etc.
Travels minimally, mostly over soft ground, typically less than 1 mile per day.

The domesticated horse, stalled and bored, lives on average to 15-20 years.

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There's Always Room for Improvement!

Another very interesting comparison is durability and strength. Wild/feral horses are extremely durable, travelling upwards of 20 miles per day over varried terrain (including rough rock) with bare hooves. I once saw a video of a bunch of cowboys rounding up a wild horse herd. They were riding their own domesticated horses, all of which were wearing horse shoes (for "protection"). As they peaked over a large hill, they realized the other side was covered in large, rough rock. The wild horse herd galloped down that hill, not one of them missing a step. However, the cowboys all had to dismount their horses and hand-walk them down the rocky hill because they just couldn't make it. Even with metal horse shoes covering and nubming their hooves, they were simply not strong or durable enough to perform as well as the wild/feral horses.

Although many of us believe that our horses "have it better" than most, we can still provide an even better lifestyle to ensure our horses life longer, stronger, healthier lives. Many owners seem excited about moving their horse to a facility that does daily turnout... 6 hours seems to conjure up plenty of excitement. However, I must ask... How many hours does that leave the horse inside a 12x12 box, standing still, in solitary confinement? 18 whole hours! Now we can see that this is simply not good enough.

Although the 6 hours of turnout daily may be a better temporary solution, do not settle for it permanently! Keep looking for a better, healthier place for your horse!

There is always room for improvement.

If we can continually work towards providing as close to a natural environment for our horses as possible, we will utimately have healthier domesticated horses that live longer lives. For more information about how you can provide a natural environment for your horse, read my article:
Living Requirements For Horses

The information on this site is not meant to diagnose or prescribe for you. This information is not intended to be used as medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Cheryl McNamee-Sutor is a certified mentor hoof groom, wholistic bare hoof specialist, horse trainer, reiki practitioner, and an educator and distributor of therapeutic-grade essential oils; NOT a licensed doctor or veterinarian. If you are sick, injured or otherwise unhealthy, please consult with a licensed doctor.
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