We will have to agree to disagree. All of my rabbits so far have been much happier outdoors. Horses are also animals that have been domesticated for thousands of years, but are happy to live out in all weathers so long as they have the appropriate rugs to keep them warm. Like rabbits, they still grow thicker fur in the winter that prepares them for the colder seasons.
The happiest I've ever seen my rabbits is the one time it snowed and they were prancing around in it and digging. They literally played in the snow for hours and would probably have stayed out all night if I had let them. Rabbits can't exhibit all of their natural behaviours indoors because there aren't falling leaves, the smells of nature or grass roots to dig up. I think that rabbits can be very happy indoors too, but to make out that keeping rabbits outdoors is cruel is a really unfair blanket statement and kind of offensive to many members on RU who have amazing outdoor setups for their bunnies with all of the comforts of a 'bunny room'.
I agree that not everyone is going to agree and ultimately you’re probably right that the majority of people on this platform house rabbits outdoors because that is unfortunately societally acceptable and what is expected (wrongly imo). But to compare horses to rabbits is a completely inaccurate comparison. As someone who also has some experience with horses, I can confirm that they are a completely different species species with entirely different needs. Yes they have some similarities in terms of diet etc., but horses are also about 80 times bigger than rabbits and this are able to regulate their temperatures differently to rabbits, not to mention the chance of a predator getting to a horse is far less likely than to a rabbit, as well as how they would deal with this including their shock response. Horses also can’t go into shock when they get wet and develop hypothermia in the same way rabbits can in the cold. There are many other vital differences between the two species which I could go on about but I won’t to save everyone’s time, but like I said to compare the two is very naive in my opinion considering their fundamental biological and social differences.
I’m not denying that rabbits can be happy outdoors but I stand by my point that most rabbits are happier indoors. Also, the idea that indoor rabbits are missing out on things and can’t exhibit natural behaviours indoors is not true. For a start, indoor rabbits can be lead trained to go outdoors, in a garden for example, or even freely go outside providing the area is secure and they are being supervised. Not to mention that you can ‘bring the outdoors in’ in terms of giving your bunnies fresh grass which mine get daily, as well as certain types of sticks from trees for them to nibble on which can be brought online for or from outside providing they are deemed safe. Moreover rabbit’s natural digging behaviours can be expressed through toys such as seagrass mats and cardboard boxes which are great for this. With all the rabbit products available nowadays is argue that indoor rabbits miss out on nothing significant enough to justify putting them outside, as I have demonstrated above.
Since you mentioned the fact that the happiest you saw your rabbits was in snow, I don’t doubt that. But my previous rabbit who lived indoors half of the time and outdoors half of the time also had the same experience in snow and she loved it. However, I have got to say that I see far more enjoyment and far more binkies from my current rabbits who live indoors (every morning usually when they see us) - they definitely seem to show a more consistent happiness than what I saw with my rabbit who was outdoors part time.
And finally, I never said that keeping rabbits outdoors was cruel, so I would rather not have my words twisted. I have in fact seen outdoor bunny set ups which look good and have enough enrichment to hopefully prevent boredom, but then the issue of human interaction and the promptness of medical care still remains I believe. However, that is not to say that keeping rabbits outdoors is cruel or abusive, as I am aware that it can work both ways if suitable accommodation and enrichment is not provided to indoors rabbits - it all depends on the individual situation. Although, I still stand by my point, as stated before, that most rabbits live longer, happier and healthier lives indoors in my opinion for the reasons I mentioned in my previous post.
I do not wish to continue this debate as it is unlikely that we will come to a middle ground. Therefore, I fully accept that we can agree to disagree on this topic.