The effect of shelter design on shelter use by Icelandic horses in  the winter period

This study investigates shelter use by Icelandic horses kept outdoors 24  hours a day during the winter in Denmark and whether shelter use and levels of fecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) are affected by (1) the number of entrances (1 vs. 2) and (2) a partition inside the shelter. The effects of weather conditions on shelter use are also investigated. Thirty-two Icelandi c horses participated in the study. The horses were pastured in 8 groups of 4 horses, and each group had access to a shelter (30 m2), which in the first study period (5 weeks, Dec-Jan) had either 1 or 2 entrances (n = 4 groups per treatment).
Source: Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Tags: Equine Research Source Type: research