Horse welfare in livery isn't just about shelter and food. It's a combination of routines, personalised attention, and above all, an environment where the animal can live according to its nature.
At NA STABLOS, we've been putting horse welfare above everything else since 2019. It's not a slogan: it's how we work every day.
Daily Routine: The Foundation of Welfare
We wake up at 6 in the morning. After a strong coffee, we start feeding the horses. No shortcuts, no rushing. Each animal has its moment.
Then comes the general cleaning: all the boxes, all the arenas. A horse that lives in a clean space is a horse with fewer health problems, less stress, and a better quality of life.
Our morning routine:
- 6:00 - Feeding (each horse according to its diet)
- 7:00 - Box cleaning and bedding replacement
- 8:30 - Visual check of each animal
- 9:00 - Fresh water and second observation round
Feeding: No Magic Formulas
Feeding depends on each horse's diet. There's no universal formula. We choose the most suitable feed without cutting corners, because saving on feed means paying the vet later.
Monitoring is constant according to each horse's individual activities. A horse that works daily isn't the same as one that's resting. Their nutritional needs change, and we adapt.
The Box: Their Vital Space
Box management is daily: always good bedding, clean water, and any damage our "friends" create needs to be fixed as soon as possible. A loose nail today can be an injury tomorrow.
Checks are constant, day after day. It's not just about looking, but observing. A change in behaviour, a subtle lameness, a coat losing its shine... these are signs you need to know how to read.
What You Don't See on Social Media
What doesn't shine on Instagram but keeps a horse healthy: weekly hoof checks, feed adapted to each metabolism, clean boxes before the morning coffee.
True equine welfare isn't photogenic. It's routine, consistency, and decisions that prioritise the animal over the convenience of the owner or the centre.
"The mistakes we see elsewhere are the massification of everything. For us, not everything is business. The priority is the horses."
— NA STABLOS Team
Signs of a Good Livery Yard
How do you know if a centre truly prioritises welfare? These are the signs you should look for:
Impeccable Cleanliness
Clean boxes, tidy corridors, no manure build-up.
Relaxed Atmosphere
No excessive noise, no constant coming and going of strangers.
Personalised Attention
They know each horse by name, its history, its needs.
Quick Response
Any problem is addressed immediately, without excuses.
Conclusion
A horse's welfare depends on small daily decisions: a clean box, fresh water, good hay, moments of freedom. It's not spectacular, but it's what truly matters.
At NA STABLOS, we're not perfect, but we work every day to get a little bit better. Because that's what our horses deserve.