article_snippet: We think Nottingham Trent University study provides horses with a warm and cosy sanctuary – but apparently horses hate being saddled with stables.
article_snippet: The beasts find horses a miserable and stressful experience, research reveals.
article_snippet: As a herd animal, horses prefer to be in groups and stables prevent horses interacting with horses neighbours, according to a study by Nottingham Trent University.
article_snippet: The findings, published in the journal Physiology and Behaviour, showed that horses are at horses happiest in a paddock.
article_snippet: a study by Nottingham Trent University found that as a herd animal, horses prefer to be in groups and stables prevent horses interacting with horses neighbours .
article_snippet: Equine welfare expert Kelly Yarnell told the Daily Telegraph:
article_snippet: To the human eye, the stable appears safe and inviting and is based on the belief of what the horse finds comfortable.
article_snippet: However, for a social animal that spends most of its time in close contact with other horses, the isolation brought about by single housing could activate an equine stress response.
article_snippet: She said equine welfare would be improved by shared housing.
article_snippet: In the wild, horses live in herds that move over up to 30 sq miles while domestic horses often spend most of the day inside.
article_snippet: Lee Hackett, director of equine policy at The British Horse Society, said a study by Nottingham Trent University should change the way we keep horses.
article_snippet: Lee Hackett, director of equine policy at The British Horse Society said: ‘It is fairly obvious that keeping any animal in a domestic setting could potentially compromise it, whether that be a hamster in a cage or a lion in a zoo.'
highlights_snippet: Stables prevent horses interacting with Stables neighbours, scientists say .
  
highlights_snippet: Nottingham Trent University study shows horses are happiest in paddock .