Lead your horse out to his turn-out paddock and let him loose on that lush spring turf. Chances are, he’ll let you know how much he enjoys his liberty by tearing across the field, his tail flipped up over his back; he might even throw in a couple of exuberant bucks just to emphasize the point.

Maintaining horses on pasture rather than in stalls has several advantages. Not only does it cut down on barn chores and the amount of bedding your operation will go through, but it provides horses with the chance to exercise themselves at will, naturally building strong bones and muscles, and relieving stress through running and playing. Allowing horses to graze also cuts down on feed costs, and might reduce the risk of digestive upset by more closely matching their natural feeding patterns. Horses which are allowed to graze and socialize generally are happier and more pleasant to deal with. All in all, it’s a win/win situation