Domestic horses retain locomotor traits shaped by evolution in free-ranging environments, yet conventional husbandry often constrains voluntary movement and species-typical behaviour. This study quantified changes in locomotion following rehousing in a paddock trail system designed to emulate key ecological features of wild horse ranging by separating essential resources. Twenty mares, previously kept in standard group stables (four groups of five; ~210 m²/horse; resources within ~20 m), were transferred with unchanged group composition to four identical paddock trails (~440 m²/horse) where forage, water, and shelter were separated by up to 150 m. Horses were monitored using GPS collars over 14 months, yielding 77 ± 32 full days of data collection per horse. Daily distance was analysed using linear mixed-effects models with horse-level repeated measures; shoeing and temperature–humidity index were retained as key predictors, while housing effects were assessed descriptively only due to the unbalanced design. Under standard housing, horses travelled 2.14 ± 1.12 km/day. In the trail system, mean daily distance increased to 5.43 ± 2.31 km, more than doubling locomotion despite high variability. Shod horses travelled farther than unshod horses (P < 0.001). Locomotion increased with temperature–humidity index but was not associated with age, dominance rank, or health history. Movement varied seasonally and with site conditions, decreasing during cold or muddy periods and increasing under warmer conditions and pasture availability. Heat maps identified hay racks as central activity hubs, while indications of disturbed lying behaviour suggest potential trade-offs in rest quality. Overall, paddock trail systems increased daily locomotion and may represent a welfare-oriented alternative to standard group housing, provided surface conditions and hoof management support comfortable movement.