Guide

Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance for horse owners: overview of the key requirements

5 min read

The Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance (TSchV) sets binding rules on how horses must be kept. It defines minimum dimensions for boxes, exercise obligations, social contact requirements and much more. This guide summarises the key requirements in a practical way, with references to the official sources.

Legal basis and enforcement

Swiss animal welfare law rests on two pillars.

Animal Welfare Act (TSchG): Overarching law that protects the dignity and well-being of animals (see Fedlex).
Animal Welfare Ordinance (TSchV): Concrete implementing provisions with minimum dimensions, rules on keeping, care and transport (see Fedlex).

Enforcement is the responsibility of the cantonal veterinary offices. They carry out spot checks and respond to reports. Where violations are found, immediate measures, fines and in serious cases a ban on keeping animals are possible.

The BLV overview on horse keeping provides up-to-date practical explanations on horse keeping in Switzerland.

Minimum dimensions for boxes and stable areas

TSchV Annex 1 defines concrete area values that depend on the horse's withers height.

Single box: Minimum area roughly two times withers height squared. For a 1.65 m horse, that is around 10.9 m². For a 1.80 m warmblood roughly 13 m².
Group outdoor keeping: A defined area per horse, varying with the number of animals and the terrain.
Lying area: Minimum dimensions for the lying area, depending on withers height.
Stable height: At least 1.5 times withers height, so the horse can raise its head.
Box walls: Visual contact with neighbouring horses must be possible.

A box that does not meet these minimum dimensions is not compliant with animal welfare law and can be challenged during an inspection.

Movement and exercise (TSchV Art. 61)

The exercise obligation is the most important point for sharers.

At least two hours of outdoor exercise on at least two days per week. This threshold is the absolute lower limit.
Horses that are only kept (in other words not, or rarely, ridden) must have at least two hours of exercise on at least two days per week.
Young horses need more exercise because their movement requirement is greater.

In Swiss practice actual movement is usually significantly higher: daily pasture time, riding work, paddock time. As a sharer you should know the standard and raise concerns where you see issues.

Social contact: no isolation

Horses are herd animals. The TSchV reflects this need.

Visual and physical contact with other horses is mandatory. A box without visual contact to other horses is not permitted.
Young horses must as a rule be kept in groups, at least up to a certain age.
Social interaction is part of animal-appropriate keeping. Horses kept only in a box every day without contact to others suffer.

In winter and during illness the rule still applies: social contact is non-negotiable.

Climate, light and stable hygiene

Several further TSchV provisions are relevant for horse keeping.

Stable climate: Fresh air without high concentrations of pollutant gases. A smell of ammonia is a clear warning sign.
Daylight: Horses need sufficient natural light or equivalent lighting.
Clean lying area: Bedding must be changed regularly and kept clean.
Drinking troughs: Drinking water in sufficient quantity and quality must be available at all times.
Climate and weather protection: With outdoor keeping, shelter against extreme heat, cold and precipitation is mandatory.

More in the summer guide and the winter guide.

Training and the keeper's certificate of competence

In Switzerland anyone keeping more than one horse generally needs a certificate of competence (FBA, "Fachkundige Betreuung von Tieren"). For sharers this is not directly relevant, but it is good to know that the owner must meet such requirements.

How you handle the horse is also regulated.

No violence. Hitting, excessive spurring, brutal handling are forbidden.
Animal-appropriate handling. The sharer must lead the horse calmly, without threatening gestures and within its training level.
Training level: Horses may only be led or ridden in disciplines for which they have been trained.

What a sharer can do about violations

If you share a horse at a stable with TSchV violations, you have several options.

Direct conversation. First step: politely point out the violation to the owner or stable operator. Often it is an oversight or a knowledge gap.
Escalation to the authorities. For systematic violations the cantonal veterinary office can be informed. A report can be made anonymously.
Personal consequences. If keeping conditions demonstrably cause the horse to suffer, terminating the sharing arrangement is justified. The violation can serve as good cause for an extraordinary termination (see termination guide).
Documentation. Photos, dates and observations help if an official inspection follows.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum size for a horse box under the TSchV? The minimum area depends on withers height. Rule of thumb: 2 times withers height squared. At 1.65 m that is roughly 10.9 m².

How much exercise does a horse need? Under TSchV Art. 61 at least two hours of outdoor movement on at least two days per week.

Is keeping horses individually forbidden? Horses may not be kept without visual and physical contact to other horses. Pure individual keeping without social contact is not permitted.

Who enforces the TSchV? The cantonal veterinary offices conduct spot checks and respond to reports.

What should a sharer know about the TSchV? The basics about exercise, social contact and stable hygiene. For violations, address the stable operator first and inform the veterinary office in serious cases.

Sources and further information

Record welfare observations

In HorseCompanion you can document exercise times, stable climate observations and care standards per horse. Over the seasons this builds a clear picture of whether keeping conditions match TSchV requirements. Start for free

Updated: June 2026