This thesis compares two different stabling options for horses: natural and classic type. A natural stable means a place for horses which equivalents the most natural way possible, as if the horses would be in freedom. There might not be any in-door boxes, horses are staying outside basically the whole day and they are fed the basic food a horse needs. The classic type of a stable means the most popular one where there are stables; one for each horse, specific food diet for everyone, and the equipment used are more elegant and there are many extra supplements to make every person’s horse hobby or job more sophisticated. In this thesis the negative and positive aspects of both types are studied, getting into more details on stables, feeding, paddocks and costs.

The primary objective of writing this thesis is to show horse owners and other people interested in horses the natural type of a stable, which in many cases is more horse friendly than the classic type. This study emphasizes the similarities the natural stable has with horses being in freedom than when they live in classic stables. When the horses are happy and well taken care of, also the customers will enjoy more being at the stables. As research methods observation on both types of stables was used.

There are negative and positive sides in both types of stables which are brought up in the study. By discussing the topic from many different points of view it gives a good picture of it as a whole. The topics discussed include positive and negative aspects of stables, feeding and paddocks, comparison of costs of both types, and development suggestions.