Changes in Management, Welfare, Emotional State, and Human-Related Docility in Stallions

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Regardless of age, breed, physiological condition, or gender, all horses are social animals, requiring the company of their own kind. Due to their natural instincts to fight each other, adult stallions are often kept in isolation. Several studies have shown the possibility of free group housing and recommended methods to reduce the detrimental effects of limited social contact on their physical and/or mental wellbeing. Nevertheless, the beneficial effect of transitioning from tie-stalls to free housing on adult stallions’ overall welfare has not been researched before. According to our results, in only two weeks after the management change, the studied stallions had significantly better welfare, improving further over time. Additionally, their human-related responses improved, and their docility did not decrease, despite minimal human–animal contact during the study. Although positive emotional states were identified within the study, these did not correlate consistently with the other parameters assessed. Given the findings in this paper and accounting for all precautions required while making such a management change, we conclude that adult stallions can and should be kept in free group housing to provide them with the best possible conditions to support their optimal welfare. ABSTRACT: Despite an increase in awareness of their essential needs, many stallions continue to be kept in conditions limiting their social interactions and movement. To supplement the studies which highlight the effects of these practices on selected aspects of equine mental and physical wellbeing, we aimed to monitor a group of 32 adult intact stallions during their transition from tethered housing with limited outdoor access to free group housing through the lens of their overall welfare, perceived emotional status, and docility toward humans. Over three visits (before the management change, two weeks, and three months after, respectively), their welfare, qualitative behavior, and docility were assessed. Analysis of the data collected showed an improvement in the stallions’ overall welfare and no decrease in their docility after their group-release, with a constant correlation between these two aspects. The evaluation of their emotional states was less relevant, lacking consistency between the assessments for most of the descriptors used, warranting further research in similar conditions. Although our study covered a relatively short period of time, our results provide encouraging support for stallion owners in deciding on a similar management change for the welfare of their animals.