How much exercise does a horse need?

Most sources are British (DEFRA, RSPCA, BHS, World Horse Welfare), not law in Slovenia or Croatia. See also How to care for a horse.

Short answer: movement every day

Natural movement and grazing

According to DEFRA, wild horses would travel long distances searching for resources; the same code says horses require adequate exercise or the freedom to exercise, which takes time and effort from the owner. Grazing is food and movement at once: BHS describes pasture as a food source, an exercise area and a secure place to socialise with other horses. Sources differ on how many hours a day a horse would spend eating; see What do horses eat?. The Lipizzaner profile stresses that an hour's ride is no substitute for free movement.

Unlimited grazing is not always suitable. World Horse Welfare (WHW) lists excess calories, lack of exercise and equine metabolic syndrome among common causes of excess weight. For an overweight horse it suggests strip grazing or a track system, which raise movement and cut grass intake, and more walking: a brisk walk or steady trot burns more fat than faster work.

Turnout or training

In turnout a horse moves as it chooses: it grazes, walks, runs and socialises. Work (riding, driving, lungeing) is movement on the handler's terms, aimed at fitness and schooling. DEFRA presents exercise as the answer when turnout is not feasible. Breed profiles on Živalce describe the two separately:

Turnout is movement on the horse's terms; work is movement on ours.

Company during turnout

Horses are herd animals. DEFRA says they would live in relatively stable groups in the wild and that isolation can harm them psychologically; other animals can provide company, but other horses are by far the better option. The RSPCA adds that horses should not be kept alone in individual paddocks, because isolated horses can become very stressed, which can lead to abnormal behaviour.

Group turnout is not risk-free. DEFRA warns that horses competing for feed, water and company may show aggression, so fields should not be overstocked; a new group should be formed so as to minimise fighting and stress, for example with more space. The RSPCA recommends keeping the same groups each time.

Slovenian and Croatian rules

Position as of 29 September 2026, from the Slovenian and Croatian official gazettes and the PISRS legal register; not legal advice. Check validity with the competent authority (Slovenia: the ministry of agriculture, UVHVVR; Croatia: the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries).

Slovenia. The Regulation on the protection of farmed animals (Slovenian: “Pravilnik o zaščiti rejnih živali”; Ur. l. RS 51/10, 70/10, 63/23, 69/23 – popr.) applies to all farmed animals, except animals in procedures. The Animal Protection Act (Article 5, point 21) counts equids, cloven-hoofed animals, poultry, rabbits, fur animals and other animals bred or kept for producing food, wool, hides, fur or for other economic purposes; the Regulation defines the use of an equid as including recreational use. If your horse is kept purely for pleasure, ask the competent authority whether it applies. The chapter on equids (horses, donkeys, mules, hinnies) came with the amendment in Ur. l. RS 63/2023; PISRS lists a further amendment in preparation (EVA 2026-2330-0001) but publishes no text for it. From the chapter:

• Movement: equids must be given daily free or supervised movement, except in case of illness or injury or in exceptional or unforeseen circumstances that prevent the keeper providing it
• Paddock: the size must allow species-typical behaviour; the minimum area is the largest number of animals in the paddock at once × (2 × withers height in metres)². For a horse of 1.60 m (160 cm, 15.3 hh) that gives 10.24 m² per animal (our calculation): a minimum area, not time in the paddock
• Company: equids must have contact with at least one other animal, preferably of the same species, so that they can see or smell each other (absence of up to four months is allowed in unforeseen events or on written veterinary instruction). This does not apply to a holding with one equid: there the horse must, if possible, have company it can live with without stress. Young horses up to two years old must be given contact with peers, where possible in shared housing or paddocks, at least two hours a day, five days a week
• Work: use must suit age and body condition; every "working equid" must have at least one day of rest a week (the Regulation does not define the term)
• When it applies: the amendment has been in force since 24 June 2023. Provisions on movement, paddocks, company and care apply from December 2024 (18 months after entry into force; our calculation); the ban on tethering for more than six continuous hours a day (supervised exceptions, e.g. veterinary care, competitions) and the housing rules (box size, ceiling height, bedding, natural light; Annex 5, points 5.2 and 5.3) apply from 1 January 2028
• Care for third parties: anyone who houses and cares for horses for others needs a training certificate (at least 10 school hours plus an exam; contents include the need for movement and social contact); the three-year deadline ran out in June 2026 (our calculation). More: What you need before buying your first horse

Croatia. The Animal Protection Act (NN 102/17, 32/19, 78/24) counts horses and other equids among working animals, used for tasks other than production (Article 4, point 28). Its movement article (Article 42) speaks of animals bred and used for production. Article 5 prohibits neglecting animals as regards health, housing, feeding and care, and restricting movement in a way that causes pain, suffering, injury or fear. In the texts we reviewed as of 29 September 2026 we found no rule setting a minimum daily movement or turnout for horses: the Regulation on the protection of animals bred for production (NN 44/10, listed in Article 95 of the Act among the rules that remain in force) applies to production animals, and NN 102/2025 deals with registration and approval of operators and premises.

The stabled horse: movement and long confinement

DEFRA says all stabled horses benefit from daily turnout, apart from those on veterinary box rest; the same source says it may reduce the risk of abnormal behaviours such as windsucking, weaving, crib-biting, box walking and wood chewing. The RSPCA warns that a horse confined to a stable for long periods can become ill or show abnormal behaviour. When turnout is not feasible, BHS lists hand walking, lungeing, riding or driving, turnout in an enclosed arena, or a horse walker.

Research shows associations, not causes. A British case-control study (Hillyer et al., 2002) linked more hours in a stable and a recent change in exercise routine with one type of colic (simple colonic obstruction and distension); 24-hour stabling was one of three factors with a large increase in risk (the other two: crib-biting or windsucking, and travel in the previous 24 hours). More on colic: Colic in horses. In 187 horses in individual boxes (Ruet et al., 2019), more time in a box meant a higher likelihood of unresponsiveness to the environment; the authors consider free exercise, contact with other horses and fibre necessary as often as possible. If a vet prescribes rest, the vet decides how much movement is allowed.

Increasing workload gradually

BHS says the key to improving fitness is to take it slow, make a practical individual plan and avoid rushing for quick results. Eagerness is not fitness: a horse that cannot wait to go out may look fitter than it is, so assess the current workload first. Also:

• increase exercise gradually, changing one thing at a time (frequency, intensity or duration)
• plan easier days or days off; fitness gains reverse if training stops
• after a long break it takes longer to regain fitness; for a horse returning to work BHS gives roughly nine weeks (walk first, canter and interval work only towards the end) as general guidance, staying at the current workload if the horse is not coping

BHS classifies work by level (not a recommendation for your horse):

With young horses caution matters more. BHS warns that excessive stress on young joints, bones and muscles too soon can lead to debilitating problems later in life. The Slovenian regulation counts as overloading the use of an animal under three years old under saddle (except registered competition horses in disciplines governed by international rules) and the training of an animal under one year old.

Excess weight can place extra strain on joints, tendons, muscles and the cardiovascular system (BHS), which matters when changing workload. After an injury, consult your vet before starting a fitness programme.

Movement in winter

In winter you might need to reduce turnout to protect fields from mud, but BHS says it is still important that horses get outside every day. When normal turnout is not possible, the options are those for the stabled horse (see above).

• Change of routine: moving from summer turnout to winter housing should be gradual, over 10-14 days, to reduce colic risk (BHS)
• Less riding: short days and poor weather make fitness harder to keep (BHS)
• Ground: do not ride on ice or in poor visibility; on frozen hard ground find a softer surface or work mostly in walk (BHS)

Signs of too little exercise (behaviour)

Behaviour alone does not show whether too little exercise is the cause. DEFRA says horses do not perform unwanted behaviours to defy their handlers; usually there is an underlying reason such as pain, discomfort, fear or habit. BHS says stereotypies often occur as a response to stress: physical (for example gastric ulcers, which are pain related) or environmental (for example not being able to see other horses).

In connection with restricted movement and boxes the sources mention:

• Stereotypies: repetitive behaviours with no obvious goal: crib-biting (gripping an object with the teeth and gulping air), windsucking (swallowing air without gripping), weaving (shifting weight from leg to leg while swinging the head), box walking, wood chewing (BHS, DEFRA)
• Individual boxes: Ruet et al. (2019) monitored stereotypies, aggressiveness towards humans, unresponsiveness to the environment and stress-related behaviours; the longer horses spent in boxes, the more likely they were unresponsive
• Weight gain: lack of exercise is a common cause of excess weight (WHW)

A stereotypy can remain a habit even in a suitable environment; BHS lists an increased risk of colic, weight loss and tooth wear. Devices that suppress the behaviour (cribbing collars, anti-weave grills) do not address the root cause, BHS says; adapting management works best (more turnout, more forage, company), but such behaviours are very unlikely to be eliminated altogether.

Frequently asked questions about exercise

How many hours a day should a horse be outside?

None of the sources sets hours: DEFRA speaks of daily turnout, the RSPCA of movement "for as long as possible", the Slovenian regulation of daily movement. The only number of hours about company concerns young horses up to two: contact with peers for at least two hours a day, five days a week. Judge what is enough for your horse with your vet or an experienced instructor.

Is riding enough exercise?

Not necessarily. DEFRA offers exercise as the answer when turnout is not feasible, and the Lipizzaner and Haflinger profiles name free movement on pasture or in a paddock as well as work. Turnout also gives grazing and company, which riding does not.

Can a horse stand in a box all day?

The sources do not recommend it. The RSPCA warns of illness or abnormal behaviour after long confinement, and DEFRA says stabled horses benefit from daily turnout unless on veterinary rest. In Slovenia the regulation requires daily movement, except in case of illness, injury or exceptional circumstances.

How often should you ride a horse?

There is no single figure. BHS classifies work by level, from occasional gentle rides (1-2 short sessions a week) through regular schooling (3-5 hours a week) to elite performance (6-12 hours or speed work); this is a classification, not a recommendation. The Slovenian regulation requires one day of rest a week for working horses. Fitness and health decide the rest.

What is lungeing?

The horse moves in a circle around a handler standing in the middle with a long line (the lunge). An FEI article says lungeing is a skill that must be taught, and trainer Judy Smith cautions that circles that are too tight can strain the horse. It suggests sessions of 15 to 20 minutes to minimise boredom; BHS mentions no more than 20 minutes in its return-to-work programme.