The subject of this thesis is the active stable for horses. It is a relatively new way of stabling horses that is still practically non-existent in Slovenia. It allows the horses to behave in species-specific and social manner and it gives the breeder more control over each horse, which reduces the work load. The goal of this thesis is to identify the positive aspects of an active stable from the horses' and breeders' point of view and to present this way of breeding to horse breeders. After reviewing the available literature, we have found out that horses living in a properly designed active barn show very similar behaviour to horses living in wild herds. This means that the horses are more active than the horses in individual stables, they enjoy more fresh air, eat smaller meals during the day and even at night, they have more room to move and play, and they always have a shelter with a dry and soft place to rest. The breeders are usually reluctant to practice group stables because allegedly there is higher risk of injury from horses fighting for hierarchy status or playing, however, studies have shown that the number of injuries is not related to how the horses are stabled. With a properly designed active stable, horses show minimal aggression. The studies have also shown that an active stable demands significantly less work hours than an individual stable.
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