The 3 F’s in Practice

by María Carreño Mora

In the equestrian world, people often talk about the “3F’s”: Friends, Forage & Freedom (Lauren Fraser). It’s no secret that with domestication, horses were separated from the wild and feral life they had known for thousands of years. However, when we provide them with these three basic conditions, we bring them closer to the natural behavior that sustains their physical and emotional well-being.

Horses are social prey animals. Herd life gives them safety, companionship, and the chance to build real bonds through play, shared rest, or the well-known ritual of mutual grooming. That’s why the “Friends” F is not a luxury but a vital need: when horses can live and grow alongside others, they feel calm and fulfilled.

The second F, “Forage,” refers to their natural diet. Horses are grazers by nature, designed to spend most of the day eating. Forage —whether grass, hay, or alfalfa— not only keeps their digestive system in balance but also satisfies the behavioral need to chew for hours, preventing ulcers, colic, and the unwanted behaviors that appear when they go too long without food.

The third F is “Freedom.” Freedom of movement is key to their welfare: in the wild, horses cover several kilometers a day. Open space and the ability to choose where to be, who to be with, and when to move are fundamental.

At Pio Endurance International, the 3F’s are not just theory: they are the foundation of how horses are raised and live. The goal here is to breed and develop high-quality endurance horses, always with the conviction that responsible natural breeding and care are just as important as bloodlines.

Breeding takes place naturally: the stallion lives freely in a pasture with the mares, sharing life with them as he would in nature. The foals grow up in Zapicán, on vast, varied fields with small hills, streams, and tall trees that provide shade and shelter. They are grouped by age, living with horses of similar characteristics, which supports both their physical and social development. That natural environment is their best school: each uneven patch of ground sharpens their balance and proprioception, each sudden movement teaches them to coordinate their bodies with agility. They grow alongside their mothers, learning from a young age the importance of herd life, of relationships, of exploration.

Later, when training begins, they move to Loma Azul and(or) Campo Azul, equally open spaces where they can run, graze, and stay connected with other horses. There, they start to experience different types of ground —sand, stone, firm grass, mud after rain— which shape their muscles and tendons, preparing their bodies to withstand prolonged effort without losing efficiency. Training is always done in groups, reinforcing the calm and confidence that come from being part of a herd, and helping them learn to maintain rhythm and composure even under demand.

The 3F’s are fulfilled: the horses have friends, they have forage, they have freedom. And with that solid foundation, they become not only great athletes but also balanced, healthy, and happy horses.