So I had Ice again today, but he was noticeably not in a good mood. I made do with it and acknowledged that it was probably something I was doing as well. Then it became time to trot and it was just not good. My trainer had me drop my reins, as many of you had suggested, and it was very challenging. I crumpled, lost balance, and lost some confidence. I know bad rides happen. This sucks tho lol
What can I do to not do whatever the hell this is? In the moment, I feel like there is absolutely nothing i can do to prevent myself from bouncing up in the air, and all I want to do is be able to post like other riders. Just feeling super discouraged.
Edit: I am sorry if I have offended anyone that has been in this hobby for years and have worked hard for what they have, it was absolutely not my intent to offend or insult anyone. I just wanted to share my anxieties!
I want to be in the horse community so bad, but it's incredibly difficult because I am not born into it.
I want to learn how to train horses and I can't find anyone to teach me. There are no local barns in my area, and there are no internships or apprenticeships in my area either.
I've been taking riding lessons, but after the 6th lesson I don't even feel like I'm learning anything. I just don't ride well.
There are people my age doing rodeo and earning prizes and money and it just looks so exciting and it looks like so much fun. I am so frustrated I cannot figure it out.
I just wanna be a part of it so bad and I feel like I will never be able to. I am so passionate about this and I am terrified I am never going to be a part of it.
If anyone else has felt the same way, did it work out for you in the future?
Basically you can pick his hind legs as much as you want, he has no problem picking them up, but when i try picking up his front legs (like holding his foot in my hand) he will fall back. He's been like that since i got him (about 6 months) and i learned to compromise with him because he holds balance just fine on his own but not when you hold his hoof. Basically i tap his hock with my hand and he holds his foot for me and i crouch behind his leg and pick up his feet without holding his leg (i know this could be dangerous but it's the only way i could get him to pick up his feet, he won't pick them up if im standing because of a bad farrier experience) and also he's recovering from laminitis and he's developed thrush from the weather so we're working in short sessions....but he's been like that before laminitis and thrush and i don't know why he "falls" backwards so if someone knows why he could be doing that it could be really helpful (and he's been cleared for any arthritis or anything, and he's also 5yo) is it just a quirk or something??? I don't know anymore
Got a horse 2 months ago and I'm really bummed that I just don't like him like I thought I would. There's no glaring issues outside of some nipping when I scratch him. I have not ridden him yet. But I'm just not feeling it. The feeling is like when you ride a lesson horse that you don't particularly like and wish you were on the lesson horse you do like. I feel like I bought that horse? We just don't connect. I don't really look forward to when I eventually ride him and I get more anxiety thinking about him than anything. I worry about his feet since he's an OTTB and don't fully trust the farrier I have for him. I worry about ulcers even though he's on ulcer meds. I obsess over what to feed him because he's skinny and not putting on weight. I constantly watch him for lameness and am always in between if he's lame or not. He is unmotivated and slow. But very curious which is when I do enjoy him. I've always preferred mares and feel like I missed out on buying one and had to settle for a gelding. But I do love goofy geldings as well.
He was cheap and selling him shouldn't be an issue. I just wish I really liked him. I feel bad for not really enjoying him. Maybe this will change as time goes on?
Hi there, I have 3 horses, 2 haflingers and a haflingerxTB (it was an accident oops!) and 2 of them have a history of being shod since they were young, one haflingers has always been barefoot.
I am trying to understand how to support their transition. I have taken their shoes off in January.
The hafxTB is showing pretty much no discomfort even on gravel roads, however the haffi mare is sensitive when there are little rocks.
My farrier is a metal shoe's farrier, and in my area it's really hard to find another farrier, let alone a barefoot one, I don't even know if they exist. He unfortunately is very uneducated about barefoot and thinks horses need shoes. I fear that the way he trims their hooves is just as if he were to put a shoe on but without putting it, so probably too short.
How should I explain to him what the barefoot hoof anatomy should be like? I don't even know myself, and for the time being I'm stuck with him.
P.s. our horses do very little, they don't work daily, maybe weekly and we just go on a couple hours' trail ride, so I figured they could very much stay shoeless. Also because the hafxTB always lost them and would become so lame!
My daughter has been showing at a schooling show series for 4 years. They run a 5 show series from October to March and last weekend was the first of the 2026-2027 series. She has shown in showmanship and riding classes. The riding classes she's gone from walking only (even in the walk/trot classes) to going out and just absolutely nailing the walk/trot. She wants to do walk/trot/canter but because she's 10 she's not allowed. In the showmanship classes she's gone from barely remembering the pattern to having it nailed down as we're finishing up helping her get ready. She had just finished getting herself ready and I was switching the halter when my friend captured this picture. And to me this just shows it all. I am so incredibly proud of her.
I work with Vainqueur Cheval, making custom competition jackets, so that’s the perspective I’m bringing here.
When trying on a show jacket, it’s easy to focus on how it looks in the mirror. But I think the more useful question is what happens when you move into your riding position.
Try it with your usual competition shirt, close the buttons, then bring your hands forward as though you were holding the reins. Does it pull across your upper back? Does the collar shift? Do the sleeves become uncomfortable?
Next, sit down and look at the front and hem. Some folds are normal. What matters is whether the jacket restricts your movement or makes you change your posture to feel comfortable.
It also helps to separate length from overall fit. Sleeves that are slightly too long are one issue; shoulders or a chest that feel restricted are another. Shortening the sleeves won’t fix the second problem, and stretchy fabric doesn’t automatically make every cut suitable for every rider.
Those checks are useful regardless of the brand or price. Before deciding that a jacket fits, give it a chance to move with you.
Hi, I’ve been having asthma-flare ups and my doctor said it is probably related to the dust/dander I am exposed to while riding and grooming/doing chores around the stable. Do you guys know if it is ok for me to wear a mask, and if so, what type works best? Does it help? Is there a specific brand that’s good? I’m worried it will not fit under my helmet or fly off or something, but I really want to continue riding. I could also just wear a mask while grooming/tacking and take it off before I ride. Any ideas?
So my barn recently got a western pleasure QH mare, not exactly sure why bc we are a hunter focused facility lol, but i’ve kind of taken her under my wing as a project since she was just sitting around getting fat. naturally, shes used to very minimal contact and a western bridle. i tried her in a three piece snaffle, and she hated it. i have a very very soft hand, so its not like i was yanking on her face and pissing her off lol. it was on the thinner side, so maybe that played into it. i’ve got a whole tack room of bits and bridles to try, so anyone have any suggestions? i was thinking trying a rubber single jointed D-ring, but wasn’t sure if that would upset her more since it’s thicker than whatever western bits she’s used to? i’m also tempted to just clip reins on her halter and call it a day lol, but would like to see if i can find a bridle setup that makes her happy first.
I just pulled my thoroughbred’s front shoes to see if he can handle barefoot. He has one shoe that he would always pull off and was never lame so we just decided to go ahead and try.
For context: 6 year old Thoroughbred who had absolutely horrible feet when we bought him. It’s taken about 2 years with corrective shoeing/management and diet to get his feet to be this healthy and looking good. Originally had flat, typical bad thoroughbred feet.
The goal with him is to turn him into a hunter. He has pretty tough feet, will take an off step every now and then on rocks, but normally is pretty solid. He lives outside 24/7, but on hard ground right now. We have jumped him without one shoe over some smaller jumps and he handled it just fine. I worry about the concussion of the landing when we start jumping him more and just want to make sure he’s comfortable.
What recommendations for hoof boots do you have? I just want to make sure there’s concussion from the landing and traction too. I’m also not opposed to putting shoes back on if he can’t handle it.
I have a 14yr old Haflinger that I’ve had for about a year, with hopes to show low level hunters/jumpers and do drag hunting (second-third flight no jumping) but ever since he went lame during the summer (from being cut too short) my trainer said I should never jump or even do ground poles with him ever again, because he’ll apparently never do good since he does not have the perfect jumper physique. She believes he’ll instantly Disintegrate if he ever does so, is he really that bad that he can’t even do poles anymore?
Posting for a friend since they don't have Reddit.
We're having the debate of whether you spend more money to get something pretty or spend less and get something more basic.
There are opportunities to buy some really nice Paints and leopard Appaloosas, but of course, with beauty comes a higher price tag. These horses are at least $7,500 untrained. We have access to trainers, so training isn't a concern.
On the other hand, you could get something more basic, an average-looking horse, for around $3,000.
Where do you draw the line? If you can financially afford it, is it worth spending the extra money to get a horse you really love the look of, knowing that at the end of the day, you're still buying a walking, accident-prone animal?
Edit: I'm talking about purchasing a foal or a colt, not the price tag of a riding horse. Also, horse prices vary depending on where you're located, so prices in your area may be different from those in mine.
I'm not asking for opinions on what you think a horse should cost overall. I'm simply asking how much extra you would be willing to pay for color if all other factors were the same.
my girl is a draft cross cremello. I would say, I probably paid about 1k CAD over what I should have, but I was willing to do that because i've always wanted a draft cross, and I thought she was gorgeous. AND I intend on keeping her for life. She was only 5k CAD because she has a bit of an attitude and failed out of their schooling horse program 🤣 one month though of being her only rider, she no longer rears or has the attitude. Love her to bits.
i rode all throughout my childhood before quitting in high school, but now I’m getting back into riding! i can’t ride super often so i supplement with insta/youtube and i’ve noticed that everyone online rides in tall boots now? i just have a pair of paddock boots, and i might get half chaps, but when i was younger tall boots were only for my IEA shows.
wearing tall boots in a lesson is so foreign to me, im wondering if the culture has shifted or its just a internet thing. one woman bought tall boots after just 4 lessons. they’re so expensive and uncomfortable to break in why would you do that to yourself 😅
maybe we were just broke lol, i’ve been out of it for 7-8 years.
It’s mid October, the boy has gone half wooly mammoth at this point - he’s a paint, so his white patches are thicc but his black patches haven’t caught up yet.
I live in a climate with big temperature swings - we can start overnight in the 20s and land in the 60s by the afternoon at times.
That said, we get consistently chilly and sometimes outright punishingly cold weather for about three months. Then raging blizzards in the spring. It’s lovely. /s
My barn doesn’t really offer blanketing, so I feel like o need to keep him unclipped for the days that the temps swing so badly. But then when we lesson, he gets so hot and sweaty it takes me at least an hour to get him dry enough to send back out (even with more Coat Defense powder than I could or should be able to afford!)
I’ve put a trace clip on in the past, but i struggle with that because i still have to blanket him and he gets hot on his unclipped patches under his blanket. To the point where i think, “what the heck is the point of a trace clip anyway?!”
Someone please just tell me what to do. Please. I hate making clipping decisions. 😂🥴
Driver Robert M. Seitz was charged with violating New York Agriculture and Markets Law § 385, which prohibits transporting or otherwise transferring horses in the state when the person knows or should know they are intended for slaughter for human or animal consumption. However, the law specifically targets the horse's owner; Seitz was the transporter, but the horses were owned by Bruce Rotz, and originated from his Rotz's Livestock in Pennsylvania, according to the Times Union.
[As New York is penalizing a driver who is simply moving goods - in this case, livestock - from one external jurisdiction to another, it opens up legal questions about whether the state law unconstitutionally burdens or interferes with the flow of trade between states and foreign nations. Due to these factors, the local District Attorney noted that the law's ability to withstand a constitutional challenge on interstate commerce grounds is a concern for the prosecution.]
Even if prosecutors secure a conviction, the potential punishment is limited. Although the law classifies the offense as a misdemeanor, it provides only for monetary fines - $25,000, in this case - rather than jail time. Pasqua also raised concerns about whether the law could withstand a constitutional challenge involving interstate commerce.
Another complication is that the law does not explicitly provide for the forfeiture of horses seized during an investigation, raising questions about what happens to the horses once criminal proceedings conclude. The horses were taken to a Saratoga County farm, where the New York State Humane Association (NYSHA) has helped organize their care, with assistance from Dorset Equine Rescue and other volunteers. Caring for the horses has already cost more than $100,000, according to the newspaper, [and is likely to require thousands more].
The Times Union reported that many of the animals were suffering from health problems, despite having been cleared for transport by a USDA veterinarian just days before their seizure. One of the former Standardbreds, Cascada, who earned more than $100,000 during his racing career, has since been euthanized because of a medical condition.
Seitz is scheduled to appear in DeKalb Town Court later this month.
This article was published in 'The Paulick Report' on October 12, 2026.
Looking for fun ideas! This will be his official first horse .
I am a lifelong horse person. I started dating my now husband when we were 18 and broke. He’d never even met a horse before me. In college I volunteered at barns and did anything with the possibility just to ride. My husband sacrificed his own hobby (soccer), to surprise me with my first part lease on a horse I loved when we were 20. When we were 24 and freshly married, he was fully supportive of our first ever horse. My horse dreams would have never been possible without him. And then about 2 years ago he surprised me again by informing me he’d been secretly taking riding lessons so we could go on an equestrian vacation (which was super fun by the way and he did amazing). Basically, I am so incredibly lucky to have such a supportive spouse.
Fast forward a few years, we are financially stable and own 2-3 horses at a time. I have a personal horse and then usually have 1-2 project horses that I get (usually) out of awful situations, keep for around 9 months to a year to recover, build back up, get vet care, and put some buttons on them before finding them homes. He’s so supportive and loves to come along but this is definitely my hobby. He has always talked about maybe eventually us finding him a horse so we can each have our own horse, but then backs down saying concerns about how he knows project horses are a hobby of mine and another permanent horse would decrease the horses I can have as projects at a time. Until, beginning of this year, the horse we got in, my husband adores. Oscar is this man’s whole world. he’s at the barn with me multiple times a week just to see and love on this horse. I’ll look up and he’s just bareback riding this horse all over the property, totally smitten. He got a little choked up a few weeks ago when he asked me when we were selling Oscar and that he respects that rehabbing horses and finding them forever horses is my passion, but this one (in his words) “is really going to hurt”.
On reflecting on it, I’ve decided to keep Oscar. We financially support 3 horses at a time generally, and going from 2 project horses to 1 at a given time is fine by me. I also enjoy Oscar, but I see just how much he and my husband have bonded. So, I want to do something cute to give him Oscar. Oscar is papered, so maybe signing over papers? A name plaque? A silly giant bow? We are taking Oscar and my horse trail riding to the river with friends next week, maybe something there? Any ideas I’d love! I know he’s going to be so tickled about the whole thing. This is his first horse and a hobby he’s supported me so much through and I want to make a big deal about this :)
Horse has chronic sd (longggg story, pain ruled out. interested in personal experiences, but have a big team of vets and no solutions so far) so want to get a camera outside to see if he's laying down at all. He'll be solo in a round pen at night per vets current plan.
Does anyone have reccs for something on the cheaper side that will be pretty easy to set up (battery, doesn't need wifi). Was thinking of picking up a trail cam or something like that but wanted to see if anyone here has anything they have used!
I am just barely hanging onto my sanity. I have one horse, and I have to provide my own hay. I can't afford to keep her anywhere that includes hay, but I keep dreaming of being able to move her. In my area, it's becoming less and less common for boarding to include hay, and the ones that do cost almost as much as I make in a month.
After years of having my previous horse I finally got ahold of someone who reliably has hay so that I don't have to scramble to find some stranger on marketplace every time. I used to get a month's worth at a time, but now I get 3 months' worth at a time, and I'm about to start getting 6 months' worth just to avoid the stress of trying to order and taking out the money and hoping the weather holds out while I use my little truck to make like 10 trips to move it all out to where I can store it.
First cut went up to $10 a bale this year, not counting delivery, and now even securing delivery from my regular person is harder and harder. I've been reaching out with a month or more of hay left to make sure I can make it until they can come out. I feel like I have to follow up more each time before they actually come out. And I help stack and I tip, so I don't think it's a problem with me.
I just kind of came here to rant and see if anyone else struggles with this. Having enough hay is a huge stressor in my life. Once I get down to like 20 bales, I start to get worried. I have to set up an automatic text to send to the hay guy when I won't be thinking about it because othwerwise I'm starting to get too anxious to reach out. I feel like my life with my horse just revolves around making sure there is hay. Sometimes I even consider selling her so I can just breathe, but I had a bad experience last time I sold a horse, and selling would be like me officially giving up on the life I thought I'd have as an adult. Has anyone else ever been in this kind of predicament?
She is a Lourens X Paradiesvogel mare, one of the best horses to ride in. Her outstanding willingness to work and quick trainability is out of this world. I loved to work w her...
I'm a first time horse owner and today my horse was straining to poop for around 10 to 15 minutes. Im not very good with time so it could have easily been less then that or more then that though.
He had his tail up and was lifting his back but nothing was coming out but a few farts. He's very good with pooping during rides and he started straining after i had him tacked up for a ride so I went ahead and had a ride on him and he did eventually end up pooping. The poop was moist and fairly big. He was a bit behind the leg during the ride but he also had very hard rides both Sunday and Tuesday. He has been behind the leg after hard rides in the past, and its quite usual for him.
He ate right before the straining and showed interest in food after and ate his supplements and hay. He has very loud gut noises like usual. Has not tried to lay down, paw, or show any discomfort. He was also acting like his usual goofy self. Only strange thing he did was not call for me when i greeted him today, however he did still very happily come right to his gate.
Since I board him and it was late I couldn't stay long enough after the ride to monitor him but I did message the barn owner when I got home and she said she'd keep an eye on him.
Someone who knew him before i bought him had told me that he has become constipated and had trouble straining to poop during fall for the past few years. This is my first fall with him though so im not sure how worried I should be.
I've had a lease horse die from colic very suddenly. I know that colic can become deadly very fast. I can't call the vet beacuse my mom is the one who owns him and is the vets client, not me as I was a minor when he was bought. I will be checking on him in the morning though.
How worried should I be tonight? Does it sound like an emergency?
Update: he has since drank water, ate hay, pooped, and is standing comfortably
Hey all! I’m new to this sub but am seeking advice! I rode horses for 9 years before having to move to college, and the first year I did miss it but it didn’t weigh on me very much. However, just before moving for my second year of Uni I had to put my horse of 4 years down. Now more than ever I am missing both him and the sport. Unfortunately it would be incredibly difficult to get back into riding while in school for financial and logistical reasons. Does anyone have any recommendations for hobbies that are similar to the rush of competing gymkhana, but aren’t going to cost two arms and a leg?
