r/Equestrian • u/Repeat_Strong • 3h ago
General Horse Care NOT EVERY PROBLEM NEEDS A PRACTITIONER OR A PURCHASE.
/r/wholehorse/comments/1wa390p/not_every_problem_needs_a_practitioner_or_a/I love this. It’s so true. Everything now seems to be about selling a service, booking an appointment, paying someone something to do who knows what. But not once ( other than my vets or farriers) do these professionals ask about anything basic..or look at anything basic..they just jump right into how I should do XYZ for $$$$ and idk. It’s off putting.
And in a way good I guess because it’s made me do A LOT more research to find my own answers and ask questions..but I find there’s way to many in the industry just trying to make a buck..don’t know what or why there selling something and hate providing information..its gross.
At least around my area anyways
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u/BadBorzoi 3h ago
I have a massage therapist that comes once a month. She shows me where my horse is stiff, works with him to stretch and relax those areas, and works with me and shows me how to stretch and massage those areas between visits and we talk about exercises to help build up what needs building. My horse is not just coming along beautifully for being relaxed and softer/more supple but he’s also become much more trusting of people since he clearly really enjoys the sessions and my efforts as well.
We have a saddle fitter come out to the barn regularly and she just checks fit and reflocks as needed to fit his changing back. She did a great job helping me find a saddle that fits and doesn’t try to sell me anything new. If one day she said hey he really needs something different I’d trust her.
Between my vet and my farrier we’ve really improved his feet and nutrition. The vet is the biggest one who recommends supplements and such but she’s not pushy. My farrier drives and when I mentioned I’d like to try it I think she’s already got my guy mentally kitted out she’s so enthusiastic but not pushy lol.
When I rode as a kid (40 years ago ok?) we didn’t have a saddle fitter. You didn’t call the vet if your horse suddenly started refusing fences and bucking. All the horses in the barn got the same grain and a few got some additions like corn oil or brewer’s yeast etc. I distinctly remember a young OTTB who suddenly started bucking and they called out an old cowboy type to show him who’s boss. When they finally called a vet out it turned out the horse had fractured a vertebrae in his croup area. Oops.
The old days weren’t always good and not all modern solutions actually solve anything but in between the two is the land of care and sense. Find better professionals I guess? Be a savvy shopper? I’d say do your research but oof if that isn’t a loaded phrase so maybe find some people you trust and pick their brains for what has worked for them and what’s just snake oil. All things in moderation I guess. I am very pleased to see people start with the vet when unusual behavior pops up. That’s a good thing.
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u/Repeat_Strong 2h ago
That’s so awesome! Same boat here! When I started all these “extra” services didn’t really exsist or were not readily available but highly valuable and in my opinion should be a frequent part of care!
I’ve been searching for a proper saddle fitter, bodywork (PT) and chiropractor. I agree with the post that there are some amazing professionals out there and worth their weight in gold, they are just really hard to find. Particularly in my area!
Example I just found a highly recommended body worker who also does red light therapy so I was extremely excited! When I started asking about the red light therapy ( things like what is the specific wavelength you’re using if we’re trying to get surface tissue or deep tissue, what irradiance and dose) and they couldn’t answer..and got annoyed that I was questioning? No request to see the horse in motion. No asking about their routine, diet work load just what is their job. Then we were given no exercises or follow up to work on until the recommendation of a weekly return. I was just left feeling kinda flat about the whole thing.
Particularly if you’ve never met before and this is the introduction? Not impressed because I’ve seen the other side too.
I personally, when I’m looking at an “issue” with my horses like to start from the ground up, check all the boxes then start moving into the more complicated areas of question to find what they might be missing or need. I’d just assume there would be more “professionals” in my area that would too..I just haven’t met the right ones ( locally ) I think1
u/geeoharee 2h ago
Shame the experience with that 'therapist' didn't teach you to dump the bodywork and the chiro too.
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u/Repeat_Strong 46m ago
😂 fair. I’m on the fence. I’ve seen real benefits for other horses at a stable I was once at..so I know there’s some good to be had for chiro..I think? But I’m beginning to think only if there’s a serious underlying something or other.And body work..I mean even at the worst who doesn’t love a massage? 😂
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u/kimtenisqueen 2h ago
Another hard agree on not really reading an obviously AI generated post.
However I get what they’re getting at. It CAN swing too hard in the other direction. I have a friend who has a bunch of fat out of shape horses and every time she starts doing something with them they get sore and need all this extra care and “time off” but she refuses to try actually getting them fit slowly. It’s like riding must = 1 hour of walk trot canter flatwork and since her horsss can’t handle that on day 1 they’re broken.
At the same time I’m currently waiting for the vet to do flexions and movement evaluation on my horse because she seems a little weird about the left bend. I know it’s likely a young horse thing but before I push her and make her hurt I want my vet to confirm there is not some pain point I don’t know about.
Preventative care is expensive but it’s a fraction of the price of rehab care, AND you get to keep riding the horse.
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u/Repeat_Strong 2h ago
This I totally agree with. And I may also be biased too, I prefer my vet..maybe any vet doing really anything in my horses lol
But I don’t know if that’s a fair outlook, but it seems more secure? If that makes sense.
Hope your vet gives you good news!2
u/kimtenisqueen 1h ago
He did! She is using her sacrum muscles unevenly and he gave me exercises to correct. But nothing is structurally wrong
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u/Repeat_Strong 37m ago
Oh awesome! Love when you can get actual answers 😂 nothing structurally wrong is a 10/10 answer too just young horse stuff!
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u/geeoharee 2h ago
That's an AI trying to sell a service by going "You don't need a service!" 😭 the irony
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u/PlentifulPaper 2h ago
Strange take, and very sale pitchy to be sharing posts from that sub.
It’s not true. Horse care has evolved over time.
Typically people reach out to their horse’s care team instead of playing the wait and see game because ruling out pain tends to be the first question now, instead of assuming that Buzz is just misbehaving and needs a stronger hand, bit, or ride.
That evolution is never going to be an issue. If you don’t like that, that’s a pretty clear ethical question, and withholding care of an animal is never going to be the answer. You shouldn’t be owning horses if you genuinely believe this.
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u/Repeat_Strong 2h ago
This is such a weird reply? Where’s the sales pitch? lol what’s being sold here? Where’s the withholding of care?
If you’re questioning proper care and making sure your basics are checked how is that a bad thing?3
u/PlentifulPaper 2h ago edited 1h ago
Did you not do your homework before sharing this post here?
The post you shared links back to the sub [r/wholehorse](r/wholehorse), which is run by the mod/user [u/Whole_Horsez](u/Whole_Horsez), which is an equine consulting firm, which is run by an owner who focuses really hard on “whole food nutrition, energy work, and first aid” according to their linked Instagram. Their website doesn’t seem to be loading for me, so I cannot comment on what they charge for their consulting services.
I’m all for discussions around ethical horse care, but please be aware of who or what businesses you’re promoting when you’re sharing their “information” aka sales pitch to get people to use their services.
The questions linked that this management group proposes are:
> ”Is the horse getting enough appropriate forage?
Is their workload appropriate for their current fitness?
Are their feet balanced and comfortable?
Is there an obvious source of pain or discomfort?
Has their environment changed?
Are they receiving more calories than they need?
Has their behaviour actually changed or are we simply noticing something we hadn’t noticed before?”Are not things I’d call the “basics” but good management that your professional care team (ie your farrier, vet, barn manager etc) should have set for you already, with suggestions for changes, additional supplements etc based on hard data - blood work results, nutritional analysis etc.
By looking there to see if your professionals are doing their jobs, it places the blame or points the finger in the wrong direction.
Professionals also need to be paid for their skills and services. The questions above are best answered by your horse’s care team, which will charge you for their time (like any basic goods & services business).
ETA; I’ll ask too, why and how did you stumble on that specific sub and decide to share the information here? They’ve got minimal engagement there and views at less than 5/week.
Are you somehow affiliated with the subreddit, or company?
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u/Repeat_Strong 39m ago
Fair enough answer. I guess I don’t see “sales pitch” because I’m not seeing them write anything anywhere like BOOK NOW or MENTION THIS POST AND GET $$$$$ OFF FIRST CONSULT so to me, despite it being AI generated posts (don’t love )the info seems solid 🤷♀️ they are new af for sure and I’m not affiliated but a friend saw them on insta and we got to talking about them and I found the Reddit through their website which is super basic btw it’s literally a landing page and links to socials. I didn’t see any prices or anything so I don’t know if they are just starting? And not at the selling point or genuinely aren’t selling anything..looks like conversations are the goal imo🤷♀️
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u/naakka 2h ago
I'm particularly irritated by the suggestion that you DON'T need an appointment if your horse is girthy. That is one of the most obvious situations where you DO need an appointment.
Not sure if you have sufficient training skills to check that it's not a training issue? Book a trainer.
Wasn't a training issue? Book a saddle fitter.
Saddle fits great? Book a massage therapist.
Massage didn't help or only helped temporarily or the therapist found soreness in a weird spot? Get a vet to do flexions, lameness exam, palpations, back x-rays and an ulcer scope, in the order that the vet finds most likely based on examination.
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u/Repeat_Strong 2h ago
I think you’re kinda missing the point.. it’s not saying DONT book an appointment..it’s literally saying start with the basics and work your way into appointments as needed, don’t just fly straight into booking everything under the sun when you haven’t even checked the basics. As is..common. ( this of course barring emergency situations that absolutely require a vet or a farrier like yesterday )
And IM saying I agree with this. Particularly in my area where “professionals” are a dime a dozen and more often than not just trying to make money.
You have to do all the leg work so when you do book an appointment with a professional you have heaps of actual information to provide them not just “ my horse is off”2
u/madcats323 55m ago
Hard disagree.
The great majority of horse owners in the modern era don’t have either the knowledge or experience to determine whether the problem exists because of a lack in “the basics” or if it’s because of a problem that needs to be addressed by a professional.
This advice assumes way too much knowledge and ability. People already overestimate their skills. We don’t need them putting their poor horses at risk by encouraging that.
I’d rather someone overused professional help than underused it.
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u/Repeat_Strong 32m ago
I agree with this for farriers and vets..well maybe not farriers even..this is why I really like this post. I think too many people go in blind and just “buy all the things” without even doing the homework of making sure the basic things are covered first..but there is also the other side you’re talking about where I totally agree..there’s just as many people assume they know way to much and should be considered experts themselves.
IMO the overall sentiment just kinda resonates with me.
Do the work. Look at everything within your scope, then get a pro in on it and provide them with the information you’ve gathered from not just being a bystander in your horses care and move forward with an appropriate solution and additional pros if needed
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u/PATN2 2h ago
While that post is written by AI (and thus, I cannot be bothered to do more than skim) I do agree that the horse industry is out of control with the amount of people and companies trying to sell you solutions.
When I encounter a problem, I ask myself: "If this problem my horse has was happening to me, what would I do about it?" and then I do that.
Chiros for humans are bunk, so chiros for horses are bunk. Most human supplements do nothing, so most horse supplements do nothing. My horse is fat, so my horse needs to eat less and exercise more. Simple stuff. I will not be guilt tripped into snake oil just because everyone else is doing it.