This is my 32yo draft cross gelding, toby and he still loves to go. I'm looking for more of a routine than just putting around the arena. Any ideas?

Original Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Horses/comments/1wd2dha/i_have_to_let_my_heart_horse_go_should_i_be_there/

Thanks everyone for your last replies. The situation has gotten more complicated, so I'm looking for suggestions.

The appointment was booked for my horse to be euthanized next Friday. My mother cancelled the appointment.

My horse is on her property at her barn. She purchased him when I was a child, and her name is on his papers, so by legal technicalities he belongs to her. Despite me being the one to ride and care for him for over twenty years, I don't have legal ownership of him.

I scheduled the euthanasia appointment after speaking with my mother, after she agreed that it was time to let him go, as well as booked the burial (not exactly easy things to organize). Now she's backing out. This is the second time she's backed out of a euthanasia appointment for this horse (the first time was in April, when he fell and he couldn't get up for over an hour. She forced him back onto his feet and canceled the emergency vet).

We've been fighting about putting him down all year. I've tried reasoning with her as best I can. He's 34. His body composition is at a 2 on the Body Condition Scoring scale as per our vet. Our vet says he is not eating well, nor getting his nutrition needs. A Midwest winter is coming. There is a frost advisory tonight. He cannot consume hay due to choke risk (he's choked multiple times) only soaked pellets for years, which he is starting to refuse.

The last time the vet came out, she warned my mother that this horse will freeze to death when winter comes. He cannot survive these conditions. There is no other option for him. The most humane thing is to put him down before that happens.

She refuses to do it. She has a million reasons. "He's still walking and eating. I can't handle it. This is too hard. You just want to kill him. You're ruining Halloween. You can do it after your work trip across the country." (This is especially cruel, as this work trip is important to my job and I won't be able to focus if I'm upset about this situation the whole conference).

I get her to agree to a date, only for her to push it back. Whenever we set a day to do it, she pushes for more time. Her time is up. He's going to die a horrible death if we don't do this now. She has allowed her horses to freeze to death before to avoid putting them down so it wouldn't be surprising if she did it again.

I don't know what to do. I figure I've got three options;

1) Sneak onto the property when she and my dad aren't home with the vet, put him down, and bury him quickly before they show back up. Incredibly difficult to pull off, as they never leave the house. I don't even know if I'm legally allowed to do this, or what kind of proof/contract is required by the vet, or if the vet will even agree.

2) Report her for animal cruelty. Don't know if anything will happen if he has food, water, and a lean to.

3) Do nothing. Nature takes its course, and wait for one of the loves of my life to slowly starve to death and or freeze in the middle of the night. This is absolutely not an option I want to take.

Anyone else got any ideas? Is there some way I don't know of that this issue can be solved? Anyone been through anything like this before?

Thanks again, everyone, for all your help. It's very much appreciated.

So someone got busy over night and here she is first foal of the crop

WE HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING SO HARD 😭 she's been a bit ribby lately

Looking at a horse for sale, and the ad mentioned that he "paddles sometimes in front.". Videos don't show anything very obvious to me. How does this front leg confirmation look? Horse is 2yo gelding.

From what I have read, paddling may be a minor issue. I know no horse is perfect, so I'm looking for input from those who have experience with paddling. What did you do with your horse (showing/trails/ jumping/contesting), and how did their legs hold up long term?

Hi everyone! I have kind of a hard to fit Arabian, I finally found a saddle that fits him pretty decent except it’s just a touch too wide in the front.

I have a 1 inch SPH pad and he started bracing a bit when asked to walk/trot/canter and (I know you can’t really judge sweat marks) his sweat marks show a little dry spot by his withers. And he’s a tad sore there. I bought a shim just to try it out and the bracing stopped. But I HATE how the shim looks and want something that’s already built in. I was looking at CSI but I’m a bit nervous to drop that price incase it actually doesn’t work for him 😂 and I’m not sure if I’m ready to pay that much just yet so looking for different alternatives

Must haves are that it needs to be 28-30 inches long
And it needs to be a round skirt pad
Thanks!!!
Photo 1 is sweat mark with just the pad
Photo 2 is with just the pad
Photo 3 is pad with the shim
Last photo is with no pad

I’m in Colorado, USA if that matters

Those of you who have done horse sitting, what are some things you wish you knew before you started? Other general advice?

I’ve had horses of my own for 25 years, kept them at home for 15-20 of those years. Pretty well versed in most things horses will throw at you, including when to call the vet because it’s above my knowledge. Comfortable handling a variety of characters, tasks, processes, etc.

I’ve horse sat for friends as a trade for them horse sitting my horses a couple of times- but thats different than horse sitting for strangers. Not looking to go full time professional, just a nice addition for some extra money

Thanks in advance!

My horse had this exact blanket on during the night. My mom went and fed her horses in the pen at around 8 in the morning, and then I left the yard at about 9:20 and drove past him and his crew while going down the road, and he still had it on. He is a big pasture beside the road, and it only has two very small patches of bush to even snag on. Anyways, I come back home at noon and the blanket is gone. Like literally disappeared without a trace. He has no marks on him at all, and I walked the pasture and bush and didnt find it anywhere. Could someone have stolen it? 🤣 I dont know how its even physically possible for it to rip fully off. Idk who the hell would have the balls to walk through 3 strand electric fence and steal it in broad daylight but 😭😭 I can't find it anywhere, or even sign of struggle on him.

I don't know much about sports in the horse world, I don't know a ton about ponies besides the fact that I had a miniature horse most of my life, but this cannot be okay can it? It's called "wild pony racing"

Basically a bunch of kids hold on to the leash when they release the Pony the pony usually drags them a bit they restrain it get on its back and basically see who can hold on the longest.

As you can see in the screenshots of this clip the pony is clearly agitated rearing up fighting flipping over which seems to be fairly common, in this video specifically the pony does get away so they don't get to get on its back but they did try although in other videos on the channel they did jump on the ponies back and it takes off bucking.

Personally I don't think this is okay, but I want to know you guys' opinions since I don't know much about this sport since I just learned of it when I came across this Channel and looked up what it's about, but I can tell based on the actions that at the very least that pony is not having a good time

I made it with colored pencils on A4 sized paper.

I have two saddles for my horse, a jump saddle and a Western saddle. The jump saddle has been professionally fitted and modified to his back multiple times and should fit like a glove. The western has been checked by a more experienced Western rider but not a saddle fitter. The issue is that whenever I ride in the jump saddle for flatwork he feels slow and stiff and it is hard for me to get him moving correctly. However, when I put him in his Western tack it is like I have a Grand Prix dressage horse under me and he goes like a dream every time. Seriously, he is like a different horse. I would suspect the jump saddle doesn't fit right, but other riders seem to have no issues when riding him with the saddle. Granted, he is ridden by others (professionals and near professionals) once or twice a month, and other times it is just me. Is it me and my seat or does my horse just prefer Western tack? I have become to dislike the jump saddle because it seems that we both struggle somehow with it. Something to note also is that he went through some schooling with a professional earlier this year as he had some issues with cantering and they used only Western tack and I saw the biggest progress in him only after that period of training. Before I bought him he was in light work and had some issues that came with it, he was undermuscled and had a sore back from a bad fitting saddle. He has been in full work for only the past year.

A painting for u/Glad-Attention744, of their horse Johnny and his best friend Fireball. I've just realized I forgot to post it here. I really enjoyed working on this and am manifesting that these two find their way back to each other.

so this is my paint horse Whiskey, i've owned him for a year and he's my baby anyways, i love
going on trail rides and i want to desensitize him as best as possible so he doesn't spook and throw me off when we're not at the barn.
i gave him a quick lunge then went for an in hand walk which lasted about 30 mins, he was an absolute angel except a very minor spook. i tried hanging a plastic bag on him and attaching another one to a lunge whip, he really didn't give a damn tbh.
what do yall personally use to desensitize your horses? i wanted to try pool noodles and umbrellas, but if you have any other ideas feel free to comment :)

I haven't posted in a while, but here's a pretty one of my girl!

Quick Edit here. Thanks everyone for the reasonable and kind feedback in both directions and who understood my intent. I'm not a nightmare boarder with long lists of demands, and I give back to this barn as well with my own time and efforts as I genuinely feel it shows appreciation more than just my monthly board payment. I know my judgment is a little skewed with prior issues, and it's why thought to post. I think it's ok for multiple circumstances to be true in this case.

I have my horse at a full board facility. I visit 1-2 times a week (I'm not looking for comments on my work/family/home/life schedule). In a recent visit, I discovered this nasty little scabbed up cut and scrape below his ear that had to have looked kinda gross whatever day it happened.

Obviously he's fine, and I'm sure if it was grotesque, I might have been contacted. But would anyone boarding have expected at least a quick text about this, like "hey not gushing blood, but just wanted to let you know.." or is this a non issue to you so long as the facility is knowledgeable? I try not to be over bearing and to manage my expectations, but also in my time as a teen working at a barn, I myself would have sent that quick text. It says moreso that the staff is attentive and provides the opportunity to at least come rinse it off and slap some ointment on it.

Others have had issues in the past as well for not being contacted over deep cuts requiring stitches, no hay/water, missing shoes (noticing and being contacted a week later as they had only just seen it themselves), so I'm biased towards staff negligence, but I don't want to come across as "THAT boarder" either. I'm just curious to others' thoughts on what that line of contact should look like. I don't need a text for every little ding since he's a bit of a playful one, but that one, to me, feels like it should have warranted SOMEthing..

Light pink skin is the one on my foal’s hindquarter and the dark skin is on my mare’s chest. Appeared overnight. No dried blood and neither seem to be bothered by touching them. No other signs of any kind of skin issue. Can corrective bites rip hair off like this clean?

I only recently discovered I have a fear of horses. I think they're absolutely beautiful, so kind and so so wise, but Jesus Christ they're huge!

I can appreciate a good horsey despite my fear. I just don't exactly enjoy knowing they're basically living finicky tanks that could take me out in a second. Which, of course, means more power to them! Immediately respected!

Two police horses were walking behind me one time, and that's when I realised my fear. The idea of them approaching from behind with their big ol muscles just freaked me out. I was no better than a finicky horse myself!!

Please show me your horses. Tell me fun things about them, their personalities. Do they have horse hobbies? Horse friends? I'd love to know. And I know there's no greater joy than to talk about something you love, so please go all out! I even have some horse stories from my grandmother to tell, if that's of interest :)

Exposure therapy is the only way through for me. This is step one! Step two... Potentially horse riding. Who knows! I might become a horse person afterwards. Let me into your world!

Edit: WOWOWOW I am enamoured with the amount of friends you've all shown me!! You all truly do have beautiful babies!! I wish I could respond to each individual one, but I get veeeery overwhelmed very easily, so I'll just say it here, collectively, to all of you: Absolutely terrifying, I love them and wish I could feed them all a little sugar cube (with shaky hands, but an effort nonetheless.) I've read each comment and story individually, and I find myself coming back here to have another little look to cheer myself up. I think I'll be visiting some horse friends in the future for definite. How incredible is it that we as humans are so lucky to be on the same planet as such beautiful creatures, and how incredible is it that we can form bonds with them too. I wish you all long happy lives with your long happy creatures!!!

P.S ... keep em coming. They're very fun to see. <3

I bought this saddle pad and its liitle bit longer than the horse back any idea what do i do ?

Hi,

I bought some linseed oil from an eBay seller some years ago and it had that linseed oil smell, the oil painting, furniture varnish smell. I've just bought some more from the same seller and it's darker and doesn't smell at all like linseed oil. It has a mild nutty scent.

Can that happen with linseed oil? The seller is claiming it's legit and should smell 'earthy'.

Hello all! I recently found this thread and thought it might be a good place to seek some advice. For some context, I started riding around 8 years old until I was 18 when I left for college. I only rode 2-3 times during the college years. My experience is mostly hunter, equitation, and some jumpers.

I also have a teaching background, having completed 2 semesters of a master's in secondary Ed with a little teaching experience.

After ~5 years, I finally decided to return to the farm where I had ridden my whole life. The folks who own the barn practically raised me, and they are all around amazing people. When I opened up to them about struggling to get a job post-grad, they offered me a job running the summer camp in July and August. This went really great, working with beginners but also doing crafts, scavenger hunts, etc. Kiddos and their parents were so delighted with the camp, and when my bosses caught wind of this, they offered me a permanent position as a riding instructor at the schooling barn - which is mainly separate from the boarding/competition facility. For the last few months, I have been teaching once a week, 4 lessons. I have one private w/ a 7 yr old w/ 2 years experience, two lessons with completely intro kids (some who i met/taught in summer camp), and then one lesson with B2 intermediate-ish kids who are doing like 18in.

All in all things are going well, but the imposter syndrome is real and sometimes I feel so incompetent as an instructor. The major difference betw this and summer camp is that I really want to see progress from these kids over the course of the several months I'll be working with them. Plus, I know that this point in their riding is essential for developing strong foundations. I have trouble sometimes with stuff like if I'm setting a line, making sure I counted the strides right. Did I leave enough for take off and landing? Is it every 3 steps or every 4? Then, how do I teach posting "from scratch"? Since I took so much time off, sometimes I completely forgot some riding concept like, last week I saw someone lean up the neck and was like "woah I forgot that people do that". I find it sort of difficult to articulate things that come naturally to me, or that I learned 13 years ago. I do a good bit of research, watching videos, reading books and articles. But obviously there's a LOT, and it's hard to do that research preemptively, yknow?

My number 1 priority is always safety. I also worry about other people around the barn hearing me give an instruction that was incorrect or something... So, what do people do when they're learning to be a riding instructor? Is there like, an online master class or something? Any other advice that comes to mind would be so appreciated. I really love this job, I feel like I am learning all the time, my students love me and it is so important to me that I do well, and do right by them.

Thank you in advance🐎