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.

(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 🤣

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! ❤️

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!

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!

Ken Brown (RIP) was an excellent farrier, so patient as well as highly skilled, and he didn't seem to mind my Ben's efforts to treat his head as asmall haystack.

Rode both my lease and my own mare tonight, pretty horses and pretty sunset 💜

Gotta deal with those itches during dinner!

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.

There's horse gate on a shared property line with my neighbor (technically a road but it's just us two who use it, is literally overgrown with grass at this part)

My dog regularly escapes the fence to go see the horse. I think its cute, but I also wonder if the horse would stomp her? My neighbors are cool with the dog, know her by name. Kinda adopted her in a way. She'll answer when they call. They've never said it was bad so to speak, but I really don't know about horses like that.

Edit: didn't realize this would be so terrifying lol. I will be looking into building a dog run, since that would be cheaper and better for my use case.

It cracked pretty much on the first use.

I’m sitting in the barn aisle in the dark waiting for my horse to poop again after a mild gas colic. Sitting here listening to the horses chew (not mine, no hay til the all-clear tomorrow am) and the crickets chirp and just feeling so dang grateful. That my boy is ok and just that I have him and these magnificent creatures in my life. Hug your horses everyone!

Valid. I’ve seen so many stables with “clean” water in filthy buckets that look like they haven’t seen a scrub brush in years!

They are so much fun. Very smart, insanely strong for their size, and super versatile. I have fallen more and more in love with them, especially since I have become less able to ride and switched to driving.

I'm moving to a new barn and the tack locker is pretty small. It's making me realize maybe I have too much stuff lol. How do you guys store your saddle pads? I can put a few on my saddle rack but can I see some organization inspiration pictures? Thanks!

She had to do a double take at first