In general (and there may be some horses that don't fit this statement) the more turn out the more mentally happy a horse is - regardless of breed or discipline - and the better adjusted to perform as athletes.
I will say this though - there is a great misconception that jumping is the most difficult on the horses joints when in reality - after speaking to many many vets and master teachers - dressage is actually the most demanding on those back joints (at the higher levels of course and excluding the great demands therapuetic horses experience whole body wide). But again - the more turn out the better joint health!
Best advice for an activity for you to give your horse that will help keep them mentally happy and well adjusted - ride them out of the school on trail or aroudn the farm. Let them see and experience it all :) And......lots of turn out time in the pasture to just play with friends!
--- In haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com, Norma Roddy <nroddy98@...> wrote:
>
> I read this article with great interest, Linda and I concluded that I must have the most emotionally healthy horses around. They rarely work and spend their day romping through the pasture or eating. How unstressed can you get?!
> Seriously, though...I'll bet the horses in the study would be a lot different if allowed to spend some time out just being a horse.I would think your horses getting to be out to pasture every day would keep them pretty fresh mentally and physically.
> Thanks for sharing the article.
> Norma in MS
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Linda-Pretty Pony Pastures <linda@...>
> To: "Haflingerfriends@Yahoogroups. Com" <haflingerfriends@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thu, March 4, 2010 12:27:01 PM
> Subject: [haflingerfriends] Did anyone see this article?
>
>
> I believe I read it in this month's Equus magazine.
>
> http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=15919
>
> What are your thoughts? I was a little surprised, since we've added dressage
> to our horses' repertoire so they wouldn't be bored with Therapeutic Riding
> - which is the most difficult work for a horse due to the number of
> unbalanced riders they have.
>
> Our horses are outside 24/7 - except, of course, when working. I'm hoping
> this study is more indicative of stalled horses than those that are in
> paddocks.
>
> Linda W - southeast Michigan
>
> Pretty Pony Pastures www.prettyponypastu res.org
>
> See all our gifts <http://www.cafepress.com/p3riding>
> http://www.cafepres s.com/p3riding
>
> Readin' and Ridin' - http://prettyponypastures.wordpress.com/
>
> Find us on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/PrettyPonyPastures
>
> "When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt." (Henry Kaiser 1882 -
> 1967)
>
> P Please consider the environment before printing this email.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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