Horse Welfare

Horse Welfare Requirements

All measurements refer to usable interior space unless stated otherwise. Walls, fences, and partially obstructed blocks do not count. When unsure, provide more space. Horses do not require a pasture and a stall, they may be stalled or pastured providing accommodation meets welfare.

Category Requirement
Food & Water Horses must always have access to food and fresh water, whether stalled or turned out. Water may be provided through an accessible trough, half barrel, or natural source.. Food may be provided through natural grazing, grain, or accessible timothy, alfalfa, or quality bales. 
Minimum Stall Size A standard SWEM horse stall must contain at least 7 blocks long × 7 blocks wide of usable interior floor space - walls do not count. Some walls and decorative blocks extend partially into the stall. Only fully usable floor blocks count toward the required measurement. If a block is partially obstructed or you are unsure whether it counts, enlarge the stall.
Foaling Stalls A stall housing a mare and her foal must contain at least 10 blocks long × 10 blocks wide of usable interior floor space. 
Stall Footing At least 50% of the stall floor must be covered with bedding. Shavings are recommended, although suitable alternatives such as straw are allowed. The remaining floor may consist of mats or full wooden blocks such as planks or logs.
Stall Security Stalls must be secure and have no openings through which the horse can escape, other than intended entrances and exits. Barrier blocks may be used to close small cosmetic gaps, they cannot be used to block entrances. Your stall must be fully covered.
Stall Occupancy Only one horse may be housed in a stall. The only exception is a dam housed with her foal or foals. Foals must be removed from the shared stall and weaned from their dam before 12 months (1 year) old.
Runs A run may be attached to a stall to provide outdoor access, grazing, and socialisation without using a full pasture. A run must be at least 6 blocks long × 6 blocks wide.


Pasture Welfare

Category Requirement
Pasture Security Every pasture must have secure and suitable gates. All entrances and exits must be at least 2 blocks wide. Pasture fencing must be physically and visually at least 1.5 blocks tall to prevent horses from escaping and other animals from entering. A SWEM fence with a half SWEM fence placed above it is recommended and may be created using the fence tool.
Space A pasture containing one horse must be at least 15 blocks long × 15 blocks wide, each additional horse requires another 225 usable blocks of internal pasture space. Accessible feeders, water sources, and sensible enrichment may count as usable floor space. Fences and walls do not count. Only fully usable floor blocks count toward the required measurement, some fences take up part of a block depending on how they are placed.
Pasture Footing The majority of the pasture must consist of natural, soft footing such as grass or dirt. Small amounts of harder material may be used decoratively, but hard blocks must not make up most of the available area. Pastures must not contain harsh slopes, drops, or dangerous terrain that could injure a horse unless the dangerous area is securely fenced or barricaded off.
Shelter Every pasture must provide at least 16 usable blocks of shelter per horse. Shelter may be constructed or naturally occurring, including barns, field shelters, trees, caves, or overhangs, provided it is accessible and protects the horse from the elements.
Mixed-Species Pastures Horses may share a pasture with other animal species only when the accommodation meets the full welfare requirements for every animal present.


Mare, Stallion & Gelding Separation

Category Requirement
Required Separation All mare and stallion housing must remain at least 20 full blocks apart. This applies to stalls, barns, stable wings, attached runs, pastures, and any other permanent housing or turnout areas. Measure from the nearest outside edge of one enclosure to the nearest outside edge of the other. Please note that some walls and fences take up part of a block depending on how they are placed, this does not count.
Stabling Mares and stallions may be housed within the same stable only when there is a clear division between their areas and at least 20 full blocks between the outside edges of their stalls, runs, or other housing. Separate stable wings are strongly recommended.
Separate Buildings Housing mares and stallions in separate barns does not remove the distance requirement. Their stalls, barns, runs, and pastures must still remain at least 20 full blocks apart.
Runs and Pastures Mare runs and pastures must remain at least 20 full blocks from all stallion housing and turnout areas. Stallion runs and pastures must remain at least 20 full blocks from all mare housing and turnout areas.
Measuring Distance Only complete, unobstructed blocks count toward the 20-block distance. Decorative blocks that occupy only part of a block do not count as a full block. When unsure, provide additional distance.
Turnout Mares and stallions may not share the same stall, run, pasture, or turnout area. They must remain in separate accommodation that meets the 20-block separation requirement.
Geldings Geldings may be stalled or turned out with either mares or stallions, provided all other space, shelter, security, and welfare requirements are met.


Tack, Equipment & Hitching

Category Requirement
What Counts as Tack These rules apply to all tack and horse equipment, including saddles, bridles, harnesses, wagons, ploughs, and similar attachments.
Temporary Tack Use A horse may remain tacked for a short period while the player is online and actively intends to continue using it. Examples include briefly dismounting to gather wood or temporarily leaving a horse attached to a plough while fixing part of a farm.
Extended Tack Use Horses may not be left tacked for an excessive or unnecessary period. Staff may remind or instruct a player to untack a horse when it appears the player is not returning to use it, likewise the horse is also subject to being sent to rescue. Horses must not be left tacked, attached to equipment, or hitched when the player logs off.
Welfare Access Tack or equipment may never be used to bypass welfare requirements. A horse must be physically capable of accessing its food, water, shelter, and usable space. Leaving an invisible bridle or similar equipment on a horse to prevent it from eating or using its provided welfare is prohibited. If the horse cannot physically access or use its welfare provisions, the setup is not acceptable.
Hitching Horses may only be hitched temporarily while the player is online and actively using or returning to the horse. Hitching prevents the horse from accessing its normal welfare.