Okay, so I’ve been thinking a lot about horse care in zoos ever since seeing some comments online like “keeping horses in cages is cruel.” Honestly made me curious, so last Tuesday I actually went down to City Zoo to check this out myself.
Getting the Background Scoop
First thing I did was chat up Mike, one of the senior keepers near the hoofed animal section. Told him straight up: “Look, people say this is like jail for horses. What’s really going on here?” Mike kinda laughed and waved me over, saying “Nah man, come see how they actually live.”
The Setup Walkthrough
He showed me the main enclosure layout:
- Big outdoor paddock: Not just dirt and grass – they have these rolling hills and trees, plus these huge scratching posts shaped like boulders.
- Indoor stable area: Way bigger than I expected, with super tall ceilings and giant fans moving air.
- Trail path: Weird thing – they built this winding dirt track behind the main area with different textures like gravel and sand patches.
Observing Daily Routine
Sat there watching with my notebook for like three hours Wednesday morning. Saw the morning routine kick off around 7:30 AM:
- Keepers rolled out six different feeding stations spread way apart
- Dumped hay into slow-feeder nets hanging at different heights
- Scattered carrots and apples under logs and in bushes
Then around 10 AM, two handlers came out dragging these big plastic barrels and logs. Took me a minute to realize – they were rearranging the whole dang yard to make new obstacles! Mike later told me they do this scrambling game every other day so the horses stay curious.
Health Checks
Around noon, saw the vet team doing their rounds. Was surprised they didn’t corner the horses for checkups. Instead:
- Stood near the fence checking hooves when horses leaned against rails naturally
- Checked teeth by offering treats on a long handle
- Monitored weight using pressure-sensitive mats under the water trough area
Mike explained they train horses since colthood to associate humans with food and scratches, not stress. Took me behind the scenes later – medical gear like X-ray machines? Painted like tree trunks! Genius camouflage.
Social Time
Most interesting part was seeing how they group horses. That afternoon:
- Younger geldings were wrestling near the mud wallow
- Older mares chilling under shade trees together
- One skittish rescue horse had its own smaller section but could still see others
Keeper mentioned they watch tail swishes and ear positions constantly to catch beef before it starts. Saw one gelding getting too pushy near lunch – keepers immediately redirected him with a scratch session.
Biggest Takeaway
Honestly? Came in thinking zoos just stick horses in boxes. Left realizing it’s all about constant problem-solving. That fake “boulder” feeder? Costs more than my car. The daily layout changes? Staff spends hours planning. The vet sneaking health checks during feeding? Pure dedication. Wild horses roam free obviously, but seeing the effort here to recreate that freedom? Respect where it’s due.
