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In the equestrian world, the term “species-appropriate management” is commonly used. It refers to keeping horses according to their natural needs: safety, comfort, movement, social contact, access to feed and water, fresh air, and daylight.

However, as important as this approach is, an essential question arises in practice:
Is it enough to focus solely on the species, or should we place more emphasis on the individual horse?

Species-appropriate is not always individual-appropriate

“Species-appropriate” describes a general ideal. Horses are animals designed for movement, social interaction, and continuous foraging, which defines clear basic requirements.

In reality, however, we are dealing with individuals:
horses with a history, with physical limitations, with specific experiences or individual traits.

Examples:

An older horse or a low-ranking horse may experience stress in large group settings. In such cases, a combination of stabling and daily group turnout can be a suitable solution: the horse maintains social contact and movement, but can rest and eat calmly at night.

Feeding management also highlights the importance of individualisation: an easy keeper may benefit from a controlled group or adapted feeding management, while a hard keeper may require ad libitum access to hay.

In such situations, a strictly “species-appropriate” approach may even work against the well-being of the individual horse.

Individual-appropriate means thinking individually

“Individual-appropriate” goes one step further. It means understanding the general needs of horses and adapting them to each individual.

This may include:

• smaller or more stable groups
• adapted stable and feeding management
• more resting areas or protected spaces
• individualised training or handling

The goal is not to move away from species needs, but to apply them in a way that truly fits the individual horse.

Not an excuse for poor management

It is important to emphasise that the concept of “individual-appropriate” must not be used as a justification for inadequate, convenience-driven, or welfare-compromising management.

The horse’s basic needs are non-negotiable, as they ensure its survival and a basic level of well-being:

• Safety (herd living, a safe environment)
• Comfort (appropriate areas for resting, lying down, and scratching)
• Sufficient movement (space that encourages movement)
• Social contact (interaction with other horses)
• Access to feed and water (adequate quantity and quality)
• Fresh air
• Daylight

These fundamentals must always be ensured and must not be compromised.

An individual-appropriate approach aims not only to meet these basic needs but also to improve the horse’s quality of life, both physically and psychologically, by adapting management to the individual.

A mindful approach instead of rigid concepts

There is no contradiction between “species-appropriate” and “individual-appropriate” care, but rather a necessary balance.

Species-appropriate husbandry provides the foundation.
Individual-appropriate care ensures that this foundation is meaningfully applied to each horse.

This also means that in certain cases, measures such as specific hoof care, therapeutic support, or the use of rugs and other materials may be appropriate if they contribute to the horse’s well-being.

The key is that these decisions must always be based on the horse itself, not on human convenience, habit, or what others are doing.

Responsible horse management is not about strictly copying nature, but about supporting the horse according to its real needs, because we are not aiming for natural selection in our horses.

Therefore, it is more important than ever to observe carefully and ask:
What does this horse need in its current situation?

Observation as the key

To act in a truly individual-appropriate way, careful and honest observation is essential.

Does the horse show signs of stress in the group?
Can it rest sufficiently?
Can it eat calmly and move freely?

These questions are crucial, because it is not the system itself that determines welfare, but how the horse copes within it.

Individual-appropriate management also means being willing to continuously question and adjust solutions. What works for one horse may not work for another.

Author: Lynn Kirsch http://www.soleiftri.com