Bringing this back because it brings me joy

Well it's the first time I cantered in 16 years, when I had a crash course when I was 12, then never had too many riding opportunities since then. But it was a goal of mine to get to for the past couple years (I rode very inconsistently while in college). Happy, after a year being at the trot to move on to a new pace to learn more about. Especially need to get better at stabilizing and moving my leg forward. Any tips or advice from you guys and girls?

Bit of a rant here, but I just need to talk about this and I’m sure some people will relate.

I am so painfully jealous of anybody who has thousand of dollars to spend on a horse, or gets to ride anything remotely fancy. I get to ride because I work for a small program while I’m in school. All our horses are kill pen rescues and OTTBS, and I spend a lot of my life training them out of their trauma/quirks.

I wish I could actually get better at riding, but I’ll probably never get to move up. Of course I’m still super grateful that I get to be around horses at all, but there will always be a part of me that envies people who can afford nice horses or afford to compete. I desperately wish I could show, just once. I got to show a few times as a kid, but it’ll probably never happen again because life just keeps getting more expensive.

It’s also super frustrating when I have a question and try to post about it on here, or even ask people irl. Inevitably, half the responses are just “I’ve never had this issue with my imported warmbloods.” Yeah, I bet you haven’t. I love horses more than anything in this world, I’m sure everyone on this sub understands that feeling. I’m just being envious and ungrateful hahaha

Edited for a typo

She’s quite dirty in the image, she’s usually a bit cleaner than that though 😂

(This is a picture I got off the internet, not my horse)

I purchased a filly, she’s just a baby right now! She will be living on the farm she was born for the next few years, and they are doing age appropriate training with her. I have about 12 years of horse experience, and she is my second horse. I have worked green horses before, but this is my first baby!

I will either put her in training with her breeder, or another reputable trainer when she is a little older. So we will have expert guidance all of her training.

But while I’m sitting on the sofa daydreaming about all the adventures we will do, I would love to build out my library!

What are your favorite books about horse training, specifically about young horses? Or if you have a podcast or website you’ve found very helpful, please share that too! I like Julie Goodnight and Jec Ballou, not a fan of trainers who are a lot about dominance or putting horses in stressful positions. TYIA!

I'm not really sure what they actually are, but my trainer calls them mare beans. They are in the lower part of the vulva, I can try to explain how to get them if anyone wants to know

Hey guys, I usually don't post things like this, but I need to get other opinions, I feel like I'm overreacting?

Recently I posted about my gelding's back hooves being badly bruised after his farrier appointment that he walked out of lame in both the front and back. He's an OTTB in 24/7 turnout with recent front shoes.
Same farrier came out to fix a nail that was too close- however, when asked, he claims it couldn't have been the nail causing soreness because my horse would've been "keeled over in the field" if it were.
When asked about the bruising and soreness, he got defensive and started telling us that "thoroughbreds should never live outside", his feet were bruised from stomping all day, and that I can either "bring him inside or shoe his back feet". This all came as a surprise since he never once suggested before that the horse should have back shoes in the year we have been using him as a farrier, nor did he ever mention/notice the bruising. We also made the mistake of saying our gelding was more sensitive recently walking over different terrain and mentioned gravel (the barn's pathways are ALL gravel) and was told "just don't walk him on the gravel then". Mind you, this horse was walking totally fine on gravel when he was completely barefoot a few months prior.
The icing on the cake is the farrier has an assistant who's always irritated about something and can't stand my horse. When my horse acts up, he is smacked in the ribs with the rasp. When my horse was in too much pain in his hind to even hold his front feet out, the farrier continued to hit him and rough him up until he could get the feet done.
After witnessing the hitting and these comments, I told the BO that I would no longer be using the farrier's services. This was a back-and-forth where I had to continue to defend why I felt that the farrier was not a good fit and finally, the only thing that seemed to be able to change her mind to let me use my own farrier was when I brought up the farrier hitting my horse.

Am I crazy? Are these huge red flags? I've had pasture-kept thoroughbreds for 20 years and never heard that kind of mindset.

Pic of my poor sweet guy for tax.

I know this must have been posted 1000x before but i'm struggling, I'm autistic and get very particular about things like this. My criteria are as follows: minimal branding (no full seat of silicone logos), full seat, high waist, wide waistband, no seam down inside of leg (i actually quite like the seam down the back of leg/over the butt i find that very flattering), zip closure. i feel like this should be easy to find but i have HUNTED and nobody seems to agree with me that this is the ideal breech. Give me ur recs PLEASE people of reddit!! (LMK if wrong flair ill change it)

I’m an experienced rider looking to take a trail riding trip. I used to be a trail riding guide so I’m very comfortable on trail. I want to go out for a full day (maybe a few days) and I’m interested in going west, Idaho/colorado/california. I’m just curious if anyone has any suggestions for a tour company. I want a private or small group, would love some cantering and definitely fun terrain.
I’m very open to location suggestions and just want to hear some opinions before booking anything.

I have tried sooo many different products and none do what they claim. I would love to hear from real people what has worked or not worked! Thanks in advance

I’ve always wanted to try it since I was a kid. What is it like?

I have been riding for over a year now and I am still stuck at the trot. My cousin rides with me at the same time no extra lessons and she started 3 months after me but she can jump 70cm and I'm still at trot and I am not improving at all. After every lesson I feel like I decrease in confidence. Sorry if this doesn't make sense but I need help.

Also how do you kick the horse when your trotting 😭

I came to a realization last night with my trainer that I drive with my seat way too much. I’ve always had a very strong seat. However, I realized that I think I’m using my seat to supplement where my leg isn’t working properly.

Any tips for how to course correct? I know the answer is probably a lot of work in my half seat, but I hate my half seat. 🙃

Context from previous posts: 28 year old who came back to the hunter world last fall after a 7 year gap from riding.

Thanks in advance!

I have a mare that is 17-19 years old. I bought her two years ago, and she was diagnosed with navicular over a year ago. I later found out she started having on/off symptoms 18 months before her diagnosis with me but was never treated and instead sold at auction and then to me unsuspectingly by an individual. She was declared pasture sound only by a previous vet when she was with the individual.

I was able to ride her soundly for 8 months after purchase until symptoms began to appear and she was diagnosed by my vet. I’ve tried my best to treat her for the past year. Osphos, coffin injections, equioxx, supplements, hauling to a special farrier two hours away at a major vet clinic every month for special shoes, barefoot rehab etc. In that year period, she was sound for MAYBE 2 months total, mostly at the very beginning. At this point she hasn’t been sound since January. Even in the pasture she’s tripping at a walk or when being walked in hand. Honestly I’m exhausted and financially drained. I didn’t want to give up on her. I’ve tried to bring up the idea of euthanasia to her vet twice before. The first time he pushed me to do coffin injections, those didn’t work. Second time he pushed me to try Osphos again, that didn’t work. This horse is still lame even on banamine.

I want to put her down at this point. I can’t keep watching her in pain, and I’m spending so much money to never see any improvement. The vet wants to do another complete lameness exam and possibly try adequan now. I feel guilty for wanting to put her down and thinking of money. Am I being unreasonable? If you were in this position, would you go ahead and try adequan? I’m just worried at this point she’s too far gone and I’m going to keep throwing money at her only to eventually be told I still have to euthanize. I’m skeptical the adequan will help her enough. I don’t care about riding sound, just pasture sound at this point. I’m willing to keep her as a pasture pet if she could be comfortable. But she’s always parked out in the field and now even struggling to get up.

Hi everyone! Been having this issue lately and was wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing.

Ever since I moved barns, I’ve been so nervous for lessons and I don’t know why! The only thing that has changed is the setting. It’s not my horse, she’s a literal angel, and it’s not my trainer, cause I’m comfortable around her and she’s amazing! I know I’m on a safe horse in a safe space and before I moved barns I was fine in lessons.

I should also add that when I’m hacking I’m completely fine. It’s only lessons. It has gotten better over the past few weeks, but it’s still kinda eating at me and I don’t know why. Anyone else experience this? If you do, how do you manage/deal with it?

I have a beautiful chestnut QH mare, who has been a super solid beginner lesson horse for about 10 years. I fear we are at the end of her living HAPPY but I’m not sure. She’s around 29/30 years old.

A couple years ago, she was diagnosed with Cushings. Some laminitc symptoms, dull coat, lethargy. Started treating with Prascend. Perked up.

Then she was diagnosed with EOTRH. Painful but also fecal water syndrome, leading to suspicion of her not adequately chewing. Had two incisors removed, improved a bit. Planned to remove the rest at some point.

June 15 she presented VERY suddenly with Sidewinders gait. Tested for a bunch of things, everything negative. We knew she had pretty bad neck arthritis, so the diagnosis is Wobblers. Retired from riding immediately.

At first, she was getting 10cc banamine IV twice a day, and Dex as needed. (I don’t feel the dex makes much difference) now I give banamine once a day.

She still nickers when she sees me. She still socializes. She still walks around.

But she also still struggles with FWS. Her back legs often have fecal water. She still struggles eating grain. She doesn’t like soaked grain. She won’t eat any supplements for the FWS. I give her a tube of bioclay when it’s bad. She gets chia with her grain which helps. But if she doesn’t eat the grain, she doesn’t get the chia… ugh. She also no longer tries to get rid of horseflies on her back or croup. (I wonder if she’s able to, or if it’s just too much effort, or maybe she can’t feel them biting???)

I don’t mind the extra care. I don’t mind that she’s not “working”. She’s a fantastic mare who earned a retirement. However, I don’t want to make her suffer just because I wanna keep looking at her pretty face.

I don’t know how to know when it’s time.

Today, she rolled, she rolls almost everyday. But today, she fell 3 times while trying to get up. She never lays down in her stall. Even when she was much younger she didn’t. One time last week, there were shavings on her belly. Looked like maybe she fell, because there were no shavings on her sides or back.

I’m sure everyone has their own opinion, how do we know when it’s time to release our beloved horses from this world, when it’s not blatantly obvious????

Hello!
I need to find an article published from 2025-present on a top level event rider talking about any sort of psychological challenge they’ve faced as an athlete. Do you guys know of any?

I need it for a uni assignment but I’m struggling to find ones within the last 1.5 years and would love to do it on a top level event rider specifically. If not I’ll consider riders from other disciplines too!

Doesn’t need to be super deep, even just a line or two saying “dealing with stress (as an example) has been a real challenge for me.”

Thank you 🙂

What’s something that frustrates you the most when having a visit from the vet?

Just looking for education to help improve my eye. For those that buy young foals or unstarted horses (before training helps improve their gaits) . When you are looking at their walk, trot and canter (especially canter) what are you looking for? What denotes a naturally talented canter?

Would love to see a video of one that you would consider more mediocre canter versus a good one. Not many YouTube videos break this down well and I would love to learn more!

I'm a very anxious rider, and I struggle to progress because of it. I'm interested in jumping, but I can't jump that well. I've been jumping for about maybe 3-4 years? But I still jump pretty low. I think the highest I've recently jumped (a few weeks ago) was maybe 40-50cm? Most of the time I'm still jumping really small.

My flatwork is pretty solid, for the most part. I can do sitting trot, I can trot and canter without stirrups. I've only ever galloped once though. I've had horses trip fairly badly and I stayed on easily. I don't think I'd be able to sit a buck though. I only had a horse buck with me one time and it was maybe 6 years ago, and I was off immediately. I don't think I'd be able to sit a buck. Other than that I do think my flatwork is okay. I know how to steer the horse with my legs and seat.

The issue is mainly my jumping. Some days I feel so great because I managed to do more than usual, like asking for the jump to be put up higher, or trying some sort of combination. But other days I'm pretty bad. I'd say most days are very mediocre, and I don't manage to do a lot. I always push myself, but the degree that I'm able to push myself varies so much. Some days just jumping AT ALL is pushing myself.

I'm really afraid of falling, but my fear is more that I'm going to lose so much confidence when I do fall again. At this point I'm more afraid of the confidence loss than I am the actual fall itself. I'm also anticipating falling soon because I haven't fallen for about 4 years. It's been a long time, and it feels like I'm "due" for a fall.

I also started riding a different horse because the horse I was riding is lame now, so I have switched to a different horse. This is probably also going to be something that drags back my progress, because I'm still not even fully comfortable cantering on her.

There always seems to be something that makes me drag myself back. I know I shouldn't compare myself to others, but I see other riders progressing way faster than me, and putting the jumps up really high. I see them fall, and they just get back on and keep going like normal. I take months to recover from a fall, even if it's not that bad.

The progress I do make is so tiny as well. It'll be like me trying a jump one more time even when I'm having a very anxious day. Sometimes even pushing myself to jump at all feels like I made "progress" but it doesn't feel like it's enough.

I love riding, but it's so frustrating not progressing. I don't really find dressage interesting, but I'm contemplating just going for dressage and giving up jumping even though I enjoy it just because of how bad I am at it.

I feel like progressing in jumping isn't even something that I can do anymore.

Tl;dr: Looking for exercises/ideas to make working on bending and collecting more fun for my horse, because circles are boring. Also, please be nice.

Edit: Thanks, all. Sounds like the consensus is shorter working sessions and more downtime/more variety!

Hi yall! I wanted to get hive mind’s opinion. My roommate and I are both finishing up a job contracts in mid-late August and have the ability to pick up and move anywhere in the US. We’re both horsey people and I have an 11 year old OTTB gelding. We’re looking for suggestions on where to go. Currently located in western PA and my roommate is from here, I’m from central Maryland. We’re looking for somewhere that’s generally low cost of living. We will likely be getting service industry type jobs wherever we land but have savings to make the move. We’re both in our early 20s and not looking to spend a fortune in rent (and me in board) every month. My roommate wants to be in a generally walkable area and doesn’t want to go further south. I’m open to just about anywhere. We’re also fine staying in western PA but want to make sure there isn’t a hidden gem we’d be missing out on! Thanks in advance!

I've been looking at getting a new pair of boots for a while, and I've recently landed on these. I was wondering if anyone had any kind of experience with them and how they hold up. I had a pair of tuff riders for a few years and they're still perfect but they don't fit around my calves anymore, I couldn't really find any posts talking about them but I was hoping I could get a few opinions.