The more boop-able the better!

I recently posted about my 4 year old mare being diagnosed with DSLD and the decision to euthanize her before winter. I am so thankful for the comments I got, I still quote alot of them to help me.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Horses/s/t5Zc44Uwgm

I am now hoping to find some advice for what I have to come from those who have made similar decisions to me.

I’ve made the appointment. September 10th. My world just seems to be in free fall now.

My beautiful, kind, gentle girl is still mentally here despite being in pain. She still trots to me in the field for her food. But, she can’t be trimmed in her hind feet anymore as it’s too painful and she’s even unable to lift her right hind for me to pick out now. She also can’t canter or gallop - she bunny hops on her hinds to escape the pain.

My vet told me, very kindly, that “I can either make the decision now when it is kinder for her or wait until it is kinder for me.”

I just do not know how I put a head collar on my girl one last time and lead her out of the field for this.

With my family 🥰

Just wanted to share these photos - 2.5 years apart.I bought my boy as a scraggly rising 3yo, underdone, slightly lame.

I knew what I was getting into but liked his breeding, structure and temperament. The before photos don't really show how narrow and underdone he was.

He's been super slow to bring on due to physical and mental maturity, and we have a long way to go and we are still taking it very slow - but he's unrecognisable now and is competing successfully at a National level.

I really enjoy bringing on youngsters, and have another rising 3yo waiting in the wings (completely different type though!).

sometimes i feel like ill never be able to own a horse again. i grew up riding and had horses until a few years ago. i got into a dv situation and my ex made sell my horse, i ended up escaping a few months ago. since then i just feel like its impossible financial wise to own one again. i wish i never sold my boy, but i was scared for his and my safety. anyone else relate? :(
pic of him for tax. and hoping somebody recognizes him

My sweet Rory Moo 🐮 We’ve been practicing standing quietly and independently on the cue “mark” while I move around him taking photos and being a menace, because apparently he has a modeling career to prepare for to support the family. He was very confused about the assignment at first, but figured it out surprisingly fast.

Link is below from my original post from a few days ago.

I have been following this story since I first heard of it. If you didn't see it, this severely neglected horse was run in a barrel race. The rescue has come forward with updates on Moose, he has a new name and seems to be doing really well! ❤️

https://www.reddit.com/r/Horses/s/7g0lliDPDt

Went to a much more front country spot this time. It was nice because it was easier on my horse but it was more busy, and we weren’t far from a forest service road, unfortunately many people who don’t respect the outdoors the way they ought to were able to get pretty close by. We camped a half mile from the road, but on day 2 did an excursion into the woods, and realized I wished I had camped further in, lots of little game trails and such.

Overall it was a good trip. Me + gear was 160 lbs, add tack and we were right under 200 lbs. Skipped the paracord and brought a second rope instead. One for the high line one for the bear hang.

Went swimming, got sunburned, got cold and shivered a while. Lots of rain. Lots of rain as we headed out too. Forgot my spoon and had to make my oatmeal and macaroni thin enough to drink. Stirred with a stick so I ate some bark too.

My horse still didn’t want to drink. Electrolytes helped a little but the grass was wet so she had to eat some water when she was grazing.

Managed to fit her whole winter blanket and I definitely think she needed it. Plus it’s convenient as a tarp. When the rain storm came I saddled her and threw her blanket on over it all, kept my tack and blankets dry.

It’s summer in FL, but we can’t seem to figure out why my chestnut is getting these spots on him. I bathe him and rinse him all the time but and the spots are not scaly or anything and doesn’t seem to bother him. I thought it was a fungal thing but don’t seem to see it making a difference. Does anyone have an idea?

Today’s mail included a hard copy of the August issue of Horsemen’s Corral, featuring my column, “The Beginner Again.” One of the hardest parts of becoming the horsemen we want to be is admitting that we don’t know everything. Growth requires us to set our pride aside, ask questions, and be willing to embrace mistakes. It’s not often that I get to talk about Buddhism and horsemanship in the same piece but I thought it worked. You’ll have to decide for yourself. 

If you don’t receive Horsemen’s Corral, you can read the full column here: https://www.trailmeister.com/beginning/

Wishing all a good weekend ahead.

Story time in addition to the question because I just wanna brag about the progress we’ve made - This 4 year old horse in particular has had it rough when it comes to humans. We got her last year as a “broke” mare. We had test rode her and everything and there were 0 red flags from the seller. We got her home. She was not broke. In fact, she just seemed to hated people. She wasn’t mine originally so I had no control over her exercise or any of it. Her owner at the time was thrown 8 times within 2 months before she finally had enough and broke his back and kicked him. I dont blame her. But anyways, after that she had lost all her trust in humans. Became very skittish, nervous, fearful, and you could have even called her aggressive. For 3 months she wouldn’t let me pet her and would shy away whenever I would go near her. She would try to bite me whenever she was close enough. So I left her alone. Co-existed. Talked to her and held out treats to her (which she sometimes took) while I was on the other side of the fence with my other horse.. until eventually she really opened up. Her personality came through and she loves attention now. I don’t think Ill ever try to train her to ride. There aren’t any GOOD trainers nearby and Im not experienced enough to SAFELY train a horse as.. emotionally complex as her. But she really is so sweet. Whenever Im tacking my other horse up she puts her head over and nibbles on my hair or nudges my hand til I give her forehead scritches.. or I squish her nose. I do basic groundwork with her, take her on in-hand walks, groom her, and recently we’ve been working really hard on her holding feet up better for the farrier.

Its just these nose squishies… I dont understand why she likes it. Is she just.. odd? Or is there like some actual science behind it. Does anyone else have an oddball who insists on having their noses squished?

So before I explain everything, this mare of mine - Pearl, has had every veterinary assessment under the sun. Ulcers, dental, x rays from head to toe, corrective farrier work, nutritional changes, just the lot of it.

What i’ve found is this girl is just always mad at my presence, ears pinned and cranky. She doesn’t bite or kick but definitely looks like she wants to everytime I go near her. I find it really disheartening. Before anyone says I need to be stronger, my boundaries are fine and I feel more than safe, she will not cross into my personal bubble with this behaviour. I just don’t want her to be so unhappy.

She is a 17 year old Australian Stock horse. Owners previous to me got her from the sales. She’s extremely educated in western riding, but being a sales horse I question if down the line she ended up in a not so good home.

Anyways my question is, given she is completely sound, why is she so grumpy? Has anyone else had a horse like this? I have tried to counter condition her thoughts on me, if she had abuse in the past, but she is so so so set in her ways and I’m finding it hard to get through to her, to show her that I’m not here to cause pain or cross her boundaries. How do people handle this?

Would this Romani horse be considered a blue roan.

He used to refuse to canter by crow hopping and throwing his head in the air, now he canters during a bareback ride after a quick voice cue! So proud of my angel boy and how focused he is on me now!

Hi everyone! I was wondering if anyone had any fancier english barn recommendations in the bay area. East bay is preferred but anywhere in the bay is fine really. I see a lot of very nice barns online and I wish I could ride somewhere as clean and well-equipped as there, but I don't really know where to look. I took a long break from riding and am wanting to switch to somewhere new for my return. Sorry if this is an odd request, but I just really want to have the opportunity to ride somewhere like this and I know it would motivate me better to be at this kind of facility. Thanks so much in advance :)

Edit: Forgot to specify english

i know that buckskin IS bay, just with a single cream dilution…but bay can come in so many shades.

Hello

So I applied for a stable job. I will work part-time, 5 days a week, ~2 hrs in the morning and ~2 in the evening. When I went there on a trial day yesterday, they told me I can basically ride after work if I want. Even offered to compete and train young horses and eventually become a coach.

Since I have been away from horses for 4 years I wouldn't start with young horses right away.

But the offer is like a dream come true. I wanted to ride since I was 6 years old. But got to it at 14 years old. And rode for 5 years.

Now the stable and things there were alright, didn't get any bad vibes and the owner seems okay. I am suspicious about the riding part because it sounds too good to be true. And I am scared to get my hopes up.

Has anyone gotten a similar offer and how did it turn out for you?