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 :)

His paperwork says sorrel but I thought he was chestnut, what color is he?? (One pic on a cloudy day and inside with lights)

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...

It’s the hardest choice really. My horse is a 24 year old Arabian with severe arthritis due to an old injury in his front right. Today he struggled after putting down his hind right and even stood on three legs for a little. I saw him struggle to get up after a roll in the summer and now this.

For a long time he was hesitant to give me his front right but today he stretched it out faaar to the front and moved his hind around? I didn’t even understand. Is that also a pain response? Picture is from right after.

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?

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.

New York's first attempt at prosecution of its expanded horse slaughter law may prove more complicated than lawmakers anticipated.

A truck driver arrested in September 2026 while transporting 25 horses, including 13 former Standardbred racehorses, toward a Canadian slaughterhouse could be difficult to prosecute because of the way the law was written, St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua said.

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.

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?

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?

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?

Hi all, any recommendations for saddles to skijor with (towing a rider) that won’t make my wallet cry? And/or what kind of rigging is required?

(Pic because it’s ba, it is not me..yet!)

I’m out of riding for a few months as I’m recovering from knee surgery, but I obviously still want to be around my horse. my trainer and a couple friends have been riding her.

any ideas of what I can do with her? I’m just getting back into walking without crutches.

With our local weather it gets cold and wet. It was 40 today but so moist when I went out this morning to check my horses both were soaked and shivering. Both my shoulders are bad, normally I towel dry and use fleece coolers but it takes HOURS. And i obviously won’t blanket wet horses. I have never used a horse dryer, I know no one who does. But tomorrow I’m picking up a used heater horse blow dryer. I don’t know what the horses will think of it. Am I nuts or is this a good idea lmao? We’re expecting a gnarly winter and I’m having major hip surgery that’s leaving me non weight bearing for 3 months in a few weeks so someone else is going to need to be able to dry and blanket my horses and towel drying is just a bitch. I figure it would be good for that too. It’s a Circuiteer II Hot Blower-Dryer at a terrific price. Someone give me the good bad and ugly lol! I do feel a bit crazy.

Asking for a friend on this one!

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!

Hi! I just purchased a used (2024) CWD saddle. I just picked it up from the post office yesterday, and opened it to discover the seat has pretty heavy streaking. I’ve never experienced this, nor seen it on anyone else’s saddles in any of the barns I’ve been at (CWD or otherwise)

Is this something temporary? Caused by uneven absorption during the final conditioning before they sent it out? Will it be a pain in the neck to get rid of?

The saddle is 2 years old.. and seems barely used. The sale photos from the website don’t show this streaking 🤔

Just wondering if this will be a pain to get rid of or not? Already on the fence about this saddle as the rep insisted that I try this flat seat model instead of a half deep seat I originally intended to get- so I’m pretty disappointed that not only is it not the seat I wanted.. it’s also got these ugly streaks lol.

Will this be a whole process trying to get the streaks out of the leather? Or is it pretty straightforward?

Attaching photo of the streaking, as well as a copy of the only photos the rep sent me of the ad showing the seat

Like calm down my guy, we already know you’re strong and handsome and brave and clever 🤭❤️

And before anyone says anything, there is a back strap on his bit, and his bridle is loose enough that you can get your hand underneath every part of it (and actually see daylight). He has a damaged nose from a previously too tight headcollar before I bought him and the thick pad on the grackle protects it.

Hi! I just bought a pair of used Ariat tall boots. This is my first pair, so I’m not 100% sure how they are meant to fit. Please let me know how these look! Thank you!!!

For an idea of how they feel:
- the area around my upper calf is snug, but around my low calf is not (not loose, just not noticeably on my skin)

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. 😂🥴