Exploring the Five Domains of Equine Welfare

Through the Lens of Equine Ethology

I recently became a member of the International Society for Equitation Science and completed my first webinar video. Honestly... wow. It felt incredibly validating to watch open, science-based conversations around topics I’ve wanted to understand in depth for years being discussed so clearly and publicly.

The first webinar in their series focused on Equine Ethology, a subject I didn’t realise I was deeply interested in until now. What fascinated me most was the discussion around the Five Domains of Equine Welfare, and how the welfare conversation is shifting away from simply meeting needs toward supporting wants, fulfilment, and quality of life. That shift feels especially relevant to us as riders, because fulfilled horses don’t just cope, they participate.

The Five Domains provide a framework for understanding horse welfare, but they are not yet fully quantified. This means they remain, to some degree, subjective and dependent on how thoughtfully we apply them. In this post, I want to explore each domain and share how I am currently working to fulfil them in my own horses’ lives, while also highlighting why this matters for us as riders.

Domain 1: Nutrition

Traditionally, this domain was considered fulfilled if a horse had access to food and water. Today, welfare science looks far deeper than availability alone. Good welfare is created through sufficient good-quality nutrition, alongside variety and preference, including different tastes, smells, textures, and feeding experiences.

On the surface, this sounds straightforward: feed a balanced diet, supplement where necessary, and allow access to grazing. But that only addresses the baseline. The missing piece is stimulation and choice.

Research discussed in the webinar highlighted that horses often prefer working for a reward rather than simply receiving it. Access to grass alone is not enough. Horses benefit from exposure to different plant species, varied grasses, and even very small, controlled exposure to plants that may be mildly toxic in nature. Their brains are constantly scanning the environment, learning what is available, what is safe, and what can be relied upon during times of scarcity.

This matters because increased nutritional and environmental variety has been shown to promote optimism in horses. Optimistic horses are more willing to try new things, persist through difficulty, and continue engaging even when rewards are delayed, something we directly rely on in training and competition environments.

In my own yard, I’ve applied this principle by allowing 24/7 grazing on a track system with intentional plant placement to stimulate different senses and choices. Along the track, I use mint and lemongrass primarily for smell, chamomile for texture, and have these planted near wild olive and roses to further increase sensory variation. I also allow access to mulberry, oak, and beans, which support natural browsing behaviour and seasonal interest.

Inside the fenced paddocks, I avoid large monocultures of the same grass species. Instead, I focus on mixed plantings to prevent uniform grazing patterns and reduce mental stagnation. I also provide multiple water points along the track, some of which include herbs or minerals to introduce different tastes and smells, allowing my horses to self-select rather than consume passively.

Just as importantly, I am intentional about what I avoid:I avoid large areas of the same grass, concentrate feeds, and bulk or blanket supplementation. Uniform diets reduce sensory engagement, concentrate feeds bypass natural foraging behaviour, and bulk supplementation can override a horse’s ability to self-regulate based on need. Instead, I prioritise forage-first nutrition, environmental variety, and minimal intervention unless something is clearly required.

For riders, supporting this domain often results in horses that are less reactive, more settled, and easier to manage day to day. When horses are nutritionally fulfilled and mentally stimulated through food, they are calmer, more optimistic, and more resilient in both training and competition environments.

Domain 2: Physical Environment

Originally, this domain focused on providing shelter from extreme temperatures. Today, it extends to thermal comfort, including access to shade, airflow, shelter, and opportunities for cooling.

This domain is often considered easy to fulfil, but it has a far greater impact than we sometimes realise, not only on the horse, but on us as riders as well.

When horses are physically comfortable in their environment, they tend to be less temperamental, less reactive, and easier to manage. A horse that can regulate its own temperature, rest comfortably, and move away from discomfort arrives at training sessions calmer, more settled, and more able to focus.

An important aspect of environmental welfare that is often overlooked is space and stocking density. Horses require adequate space to move, rest, and regulate social distance. Properties with too many horses often rely on individual paddocking, which significantly reduces welfare by limiting movement, social interaction, and choice. While individual paddocks are sometimes necessary, they should not become the default solution to space limitations.

In my own setup, my horses have access to shelter, fans, and stables 24/7. They are rugged appropriately during prolonged rain, and because I live on the property, I can adjust layers as weather conditions change. However, where my environment currently falls short is in active cooling opportunities.

My next step in supporting this domain will be to build a small dam within an underutilised section of their track system. This will allow my horses to cool themselves naturally, engage in play, and exercise choice, while also making use of space that is currently functionally unused.

Domain 3: Health

Historically, this domain was fulfilled through treating injury, illness, weakness, and poor physical condition. The modern approach reframes health as robustness, being injury-free, physically capable, and fit for purpose.

This domain is more subjective than the others, as it depends heavily on training type, workload, and healthcare philosophy. One distinction, however, is crucial: ill health does not automatically mean poor fitness, and good fitness does not guarantee good health.

Movement is foundational for horses. Free movement supports circulation, joint health, digestion, and nervous system regulation. However, arena work is processed very differently by the body compared to a horse’s natural movement patterns, which average around 9 km per day of low-intensity browsing and walking.

Short-term solutions such as anti-inflammatories and sedatives should no longer be viewed as complete answers. Long-term health depends on correct work, progressive conditioning, awareness, and rehabilitation.

What “Correct Work” Means to Me

Correct work means biomechanically sound work that isolates specific muscle groups, develops range of motion, and progressively strengthens tendons and ligaments so that the horse can load their body correctly.

A current example of this is one of my horses with a compromised hoof wall. Although he walks and moves freely day and night on the track system, the persistent rain has increased the demands on his feet. In this case, less work would not support his health — he actually needs more correct work, not less.

This work is not endless trotting around an arena. It is targeted, biomechanically informed movement that encourages correct muscle use, allows the topline to release, and teaches the horse to load the foot properly. By strengthening the appropriate muscles and supporting correct tendon and ligament function, the hoof is better supported from the inside out.

For riders, this has a direct impact on performance. Horses in good health move more freely, recover faster, and are more consistent day to day. What is often labelled a “training issue” is frequently a capacity issue, the horse simply does not yet have the physical ability to do what is being asked. When health is truly supported, performance improves dramatically and sustainably.

Domain 4: Behavioural Interactions

Previously, this domain focused on freedom from threats, disturbance, and competition for resources. Today, the emphasis has shifted toward opportunity, the ability to explore, forage, socialise, and exercise choice.

One of the most significant ways we unintentionally reduce welfare is by removing autonomy. As humans, we often make every decision for our horses: when they eat, when they go out, when they exercise, when they rest, and when or if they are allowed to socialise.

Autonomy is also limited in more subtle ways. We expect horses to comply simply because we need something from them for example picking up a foot for the farrier, being boxed, or standing still when they are unsure. In these moments, “no” is rarely viewed as an acceptable response.

Allowing horses the ability to express hesitation or refusal, even when it does not suit us, is a crucial part of supporting this domain. Autonomy does not mean a lack of boundaries, but it does mean recognising that the horse has agency. When horses are consistently overridden, they learn that communication is pointless. When they are allowed to express themselves, they learn that their environment is predictable and safe.

Horses with autonomy are less spooky, less tense, and more confident. They become better decision-makers, more emotionally regulated, and more capable of coping with novelty and pressure all of which directly benefit us under saddle.

Domain 5: Mental State

This domain was once defined by the absence of negative experiences such as hunger, pain, fear, frustration, and isolation. It has now evolved into the presence of positive experiences, these include pleasure in exploration and foraging, satisfaction from varied food textures and tastes, physical comfort, vitality from fitness, social connection, playfulness, calmness, and the rewards of choice and control.

While this list can feel overwhelming, the mental state domain is not something we fulfil directly. It is the result of how well we support the first four domains. When nutrition, environment, health, and behaviour are thoughtfully addressed, a positive mental state follows naturally.

We are all trying to do the best we can for our horses, with the knowledge, time, space, and resources we have available to us. Welfare is not about perfection, it is about education, awareness, and intention.

The more you learn, the more you become a steady pillar for your horse’s welfare. Education gives you options, helps you ask better questions, and allows you to find creative solutions to challenges that may initially feel overwhelming.

It’s important not to beat yourself up as you learn. Welfare is a process, not a destination. Small, thoughtful changes have a far greater impact than trying to fix everything at once.

If you’d like support navigating this process, or simply want to brainstorm ideas specific to your horse, your space, or your goals, you’re welcome to get in touch. Sometimes a conversation is all it takes to see a new way forward.