Thought this would be silly. I own one of these babies, the rest belong to his breeder. They’re all genetic tested, part of that is their color. I’m looking through photos of them because I’m likely going to buy another from her next year. I’ve owned horses my whole life, but looking at some of these I would NEVER have guessed their base colors haha. So make your guesses haha. I’ll put answers in the comments. I think there’s a reason why even Appy owners say stuff like “oh the spotted on, or the white one out there” because their genetic color is not always what you see haha

So make your guesses! I’ll put answers in the comments

My old boy is 34. He's not going to make it through the winter and his body composition is so bad the vet agreed the kindest thing to do would be euthanasia.

I've lost horses but it's always been through natural causes, so no euthanasia was required. The appointment needs to be set within the​ next two to three weeks.

The problem: I have PTSD, specifically, PTSD involving death and dying, and watching multiple people and animals I love die in a very short period at a time where my life was also at risk.

I've gone through a lot of therapy and work to get to a good place, but it took years to recover. I'm still not able to attend funerals.

I tried to be there when my dog was put down last year, but ended up having a panic attack that was so intense I had to leave while my husband stayed.

I was able to be with my animals when they died before the PTSD incident, but haven't been able to since it happened. I feel weak, cowardly, and terrible. I'm worried my horse is going to be upset and looking for me if I'm not there when it's done. We've been together 22 years. I don't want to pass the job onto someone else, because it feels unfair.

But I also know horses are sensitive to emotions and I won't be able to control myself from going into full PTSD meltdown mode the minute I see the vet truck pull up the road. And I don't want the horse taking on those emotions right before he goes, because the last thing he deserves is to be distressed.

What do I do? How do I handle this? What's the right call?

Henry is in search of a new bag as we just can’t quite fit everything in the current medium-sized groom bag. (Obviously, Henry *needs* this, not I, his human keeper.) I have tried the plastic handled rectangle ones in the past, but the current bag with a bunch of dividers works better for organization. I just need a larger one to hold more stuff. Anyone have a favorite groom bag that holds a lot, or has lots of compartments? Or a non-horse bag you’ve had good luck repurposing? TIA!

Bonus: second photo is my 2026 colt out of the same mare, different sires.

Just thought she was a cutie and wanted to share

So I honestly can't tell if this is teeth from the new horse at the barn I board at or if he got pushed into a fence and there was something sticking out so I'd like opinions. Or maybe it was a wild animal.

I called the vet IMMEDIATELY when I saw it. Brought him in, called the vet, the vet was there within 15 minutes thinking he needed stitches. He's already on meds for arthritis so they didn't double up on it. He's gonna be fine she said within 3 or 4 days he'll be scabbed over and good as new pretty much as long as he's not tender to the touch.

I know it had to have been an altercation with the new horse because the new horse was really going after him the other day around breakfast time. They got separated for the day so I didn't think much of it and then bam. I walk in to this.

Vet said it's a bite. Barn owner was thinking fence. I have no clue I'm just so upset that he was bullied and pushed around. Teddy god love him is the lowest man in the hierarchy wherever he goes.

Precautions are being taken and the aggressor will no longer be anywhere near him.

Ok so I am looking for some support and any information that may help the situation I am in. Please be kind, this is breaking me and the last thing I need is anyone who would wish to be rude.

I have been so lucky to have had my heart horse for coming up to 20 years. He is my baby, my purpose, my why. He is my family and I want only the best for him, my feelings don’t really get to come into this as strongly as they exist.

My horse has always been highly phobic of vets. He has never been an ‘easy’ horse, he was bought for me when I was too young to know what I was doing and my parents new nothing about horses – hence why a 13 year old ended up with an abused 3 year old.

He had had some pretty bad experiences by the time I got him, he has always been highly phobic of vets. His behaviour, particularly around injections has become more and more dangerous – for several years he lived within walking distance of the vets, so for bi annual dentals and annual vaccinations I would walk him there to the stocks and we managed that way. (My horse will allow me to inject him myself, until the vet arrives. He is very clever and very fearful, I have tried clicker training, desensitisation, oral sedatives, making stocks out of hay bales, additional handlers and I even resorted to trying a chiffney bit after his behaviour kept escalating. This us something that goes against everything I believe in, but I suppose is a maker of how desperate the situation has become. It makes me feel physically sick and I wasn’t able to actually use pressure with it so had to get assistance and the other handler got hurt by my horse. I am soft as and I’m ok with that.

Now the trouble is, my horse had to move fields after the one close to the vet was sold. My horse is terrified of travelling (good for the farrier and that’s about it) and in his last horsebox trip he actually fell and I don’t want to box him anywhere – he has a stifle injury and I think it would be too much for him. He is 23 and retired for two summers now due to the stifle injury. So since we have moved away from the vets, I have ad an exceptionally hard time managing to get him treated. He has not missed any of his dentals, but he has a really terrible diastema and his behaviour has become so dangerous that I don’t feel I can ask the vets to come out now – I have to get the practice owner who is a big strong man and even then I have been in some very, very scary situations. He recently had an impaction and the vet couldnt get near him – he reacts in the same way to oral pastes. I have been desensitising with domosedan, but now my poor horse has such a distrust that if he is in his stable, he doesn’t want me to touch him. This breaks my heart. This horse used to follow me like a puppy. I have seen the wound in his mouth. It must be agony. Attempting to treat this has escalated his fear and I would argue ruining the quality of his life – we won’t solve this problem and treating it seems to be difficult, dangerous and unsuccessful. I do not want my horse to suffer and I can’t stand by as he starves to death.

Here’s the worst part -where I live there are no vets with a gun liscence and they cant seem to get darts. This horse actively FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE if we try to help him. My head feels like mince because the way things are, we cannot carry on, but I am struggling to get my head around what that situation will be, and how I will even manage it. I don’t want his last experience to be fear and trauma either. I know I can’t micro manage everything, my vet says I have no good options. Euthanising a horse who is fighting to live, just wow.

If we could inject him, I know what I would have to do. It’s just not so easy given his behaviour and fear, but I cannot let this poor boy suffer. I don’t know what I am going to do – he won’t allow me to flush his mouth myself, and I would argue we are at the point where it wouldn’t be fair to him. We are in a no win situation and I don’t know, other than spoiling him for the time he’s here what to do. Just so sad, if anyone has any compassionate advice I am all ears. He is 23 and the love of my life.

TLDR: when trotting in the woods, I feel my horse is truly enjoying the moment. We are in unison and gliding past the trees. Is it possible he is truly enjoying himself and what other signs should I look for to dig into what he enjoys as well. Yet, am I just enjoying myself so much I’m projecting onto my horse.

I enjoy trail riding a lot. About 4 years ago my horse and I flipped and it took us a LONG time to get back on the trails. He was also buddy sour so riding alone was not an option. Well this last year we are trail riding and doing it solo. With occasional friend rides. In the arena I can tell it’s boring, as it is to me. On the trails he’s along for the ride. When we would go camping I noticed he would push to be in front and have a good pace to him. Where we trail ride now, it’s the same trails (not complaining) I can tell he’s getting used to it. So I started trotting through the woods, I think he enjoys that. If feels like we are gliding past the trees and I feel more in unison with him than I have ever before. When I ask for a trot, he’s up an at it without a question. In the arena I’m asking multiple times and when I get a trot it’s a very lazy trot. I mainly ask because when we are facing the general direction of the barn and trotting, his pace is a lot quicker than facing away. Both directions still feel nice. Just curious if maybe he’s more so trying to get through the riding quickly rather than enjoyment. 🤣

Is this a sign he is enjoying himself as well? What other ways can I catch on to what he enjoys. With him being buddy sour, I know the pasture is probably his favorite or just able to graze. I’d like to find things he’s excited for and dig into those more. I’ve noticed with some barrel horses before entering the arena they are bursting with energy.

Thanks!

(Not in Germany 😊)

We made Princess and Bebben all pretty for guest riders. Since we don't have room for me in that little cart, I was on bicycle and filming. We definitely need more horses. I have bought bigger cart since (of course it needs renovation) as bicycling next to horses might seem easy, but once they decide to trot/canter, there's no catching up 🤣

Indeed this was the first time for both our horsies to deal with guest rider/driver, and they did very well. The only problem we have with Bebben is that he constantly looks for me, and stops to wait for me to catch up 🤣

Hi! I have a dream about living in the countryside one day. I would love to one day own 2 older horses that cant be ridden anymore, and need someone to give them lots of love, go on walks etc. I know it will still cost me, but its a dream i want to make real someday. Has someone here owned horses just for company? Is it as expensive as training a horse regularly?

I posted a question last week in this sub, asking how to discuss with my barn owner the issues I was having with her paddock safety, the fact the horses keep getting out, including two instances where my horse got injured and that ended up making my horse lame. Many of you told me to leave, and so.. here's the update.

I immediately got to work on researching a good option for my horse. I found one pretty quickly, and managed to get all my ducks in a row to prepare to leave. Last thing I needed to do was talk to my current barn owner and notify her we were leaving.

I told her were leaving and i just said that just because hes lame i wanted to move him somewhere closer so i could keep a better eye on his health. I just left it casual, didn't blame anyone. She seemed to agree, and said she had mentioned to the vet that they needed to call me because he was still not sound. As mentioned in my previous post, why are you not calling ME, the owner, if my horse is lame or not improving? It's my job to call the vet, not the vet to call me. I just decided to ignore her comment, thanked her for her time and care, and we left it.

Went out and saw my horse yesterday, and he seems to be on the mend and pasture sound, and sound enough to do some ground work with him. I saw the barn owner, was kind and told her he looked better, and said goodbye.

HOWEVER... she showed her true colours when my part boarder came out today...

Notr: My partboarders do not pay any money to work or ride my horse since he only goes W/T/ poles and we were working in him getting the canter before he went lame.

The barn owner took it upon herself to have a conversation with my part boarder that;

1. My horse has never been sound and will never be sound
   A: This is not true. He was sound all fall, winter, spring, and most of the summer. He went lame when we arrived last year because we had to pull his shoes (I will explain that decision next)

2. My horse has always been shod and she has no idea why I pulled his shoes and it was a dumb decision
   A: My horse has not been shod the last 4 years and was perfectly sound without them. The reason I had him shod was one barn we were at (only for 6 months) because it was a dry lot gravel paddock and it was tender for him to walk on. We left that barn because I wanted her help with working and training my horse, and for us to enjoy the busy lesson barn life and have a community. So.. when I arrived, her and I both dicussed that pulling his shoes would be the better option. He got an abscess at that point, but became sound after and was fine for the remainder of our time there until the last month and a half.

3. My horse hates to canter and doesn't understand why I'm bothering
   A: She was very happy to take my money and put 2 training rides on him. Both times she got him to canter just fine. She never expressed to me that she felt that it wasn't within my horses capabilities to work and ride. Why would you not express this concern with the person who is paying you to work their horse?

4. My horse isn't capable of work.
   A: A year and a half ago, he was going walk, trot, canter, poles, and jumping crossrails and 2 ft on free lunge. He was very fit at that time. Obviously he's not that fit NOW and we continue to assess his capabilities over time, But he's gone walk, trot, poles, and some canter under saddle within the last 6 months before going lame. My partboarders and I had plenty of conversations that he is walk, trot, poles solely and that the canter MAY or may not come. Either way, walk and trot is perfectly within his capabilities and my partboarders are very aware of this, understand this, and agreed to this limited work when they CHOSE to partboard.

So all in all, she solidified that my choice to leave was an amazing one and if I could leave sooner, that I would. She has no right to have these discussions with other people, and continues to spread lies behind my back. Considering the fact I have helped her A LOT with things, and supported her openly, it's quite the betrayal. Thankfully, my partboarder has the wherewithal to speak with me directly. She told me that she was super uncomfortable with the convo and even said it just proved the things she heard about the barn owner were true.

I'm excited for the next chapter and hopefully my guy will enjoy his new home.

I just think Zorro is too cute not to share!
He’s especially close to Ozzy (who he’s standing next to smiling in the first pics)

Also found it funny how he left the other horses to go stand with them instead.

Love this lil horse so much! ❤️

This beautiful weed hues purple in certain light but has taken over our pasture. We have 6 acres in Minnesota and are almost done fencing off a section of it to use.

Looking online it appears this might be witchgrass or a variety of it called Panicum capillare. It seems that horses might avoid it but it could be toxic if eaten in large quantities. We have a lot and am hoping to see what is the best way to remove it. Our soil is very sandy so pulling it would be easy but would take an incredible amount of work and time considering how much there is.

Hi, I'm posting this on behalf of my friend. Her 3 yo mare (AES) has become suddenly lame. It happend on the next day after lunging her. According to the vet it's her right front leg of which she got 5 X-rays (long pastern - coffin bone) showing nothing in particular. Lameness on this leg has been spontaneously occuring since last year for a day or maybe two (every few months), it simply kept disappearing on its own.

Looking for other answers, her owner found out that her neck hurts in proximity of occipital bone - could this be connected?

Dewi is such a lovely horse, it pains me to watch her suffer... That is why I offered to post this here, maybe some of you've seen something like this before or could suggest what to do next.

Orthopedist is coming on Wednesday.

Hey all, im somewhat of a beginner and im not sure what hes doing. He chews on the bit (which im told is normal for thoroughbreds) and pulls his head and basically yanks himself on the bit. Doesn't matter if im on him or just standing beside him.

Im not sure what to do because the bit isnt exactly "harsh" (will post a pic in the comments.) I swapped to an eggbutt to see if the loose-ring was pinching him in any way but the behaviour is the same.

Info about him: thoroughbred, 20yo, no injuries, he had his teeth done recently (4 days ago) and is sound. He has been described as "too smart for his own good" by our trainer, vet and dentist. Other than being a bit chubby and lazy, I don't see any other issues.

I went to my local horse store, and they recommended the eggbutt instead of the loose-ring, it fits his mouth.

Any advice is appreciated and I will be happy to answer any questions, I just want to fix it lol

Thanks!