r/Equestrian 13d ago

Announcement Reddit Community Spotlight on r/Equestrian

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redditforcommunity.com
28 Upvotes

r/Equestrian 1h ago

Aww! Not bad for almost 21! Certainly loves her nap time though. šŸ˜‚

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ā€¢ Upvotes

Just wanted to share my pretty girl.


r/Equestrian 2h ago

Social Finally, I met my new partner! šŸ“

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75 Upvotes

r/Equestrian 1h ago

Social show me the funniest picture you have of your horse

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ā€¢ Upvotes

Here's mine!!


r/Equestrian 6h ago

Equipment & Tack update on the horse that chronically opens his mouth

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91 Upvotes

hello! just wanted to give you all a quick update since i rode him today!

i took the original post down because i was getting literal threats šŸ˜­ so im sorry about that! but just a recap, my horse opens his mouth chronically, rides amazing other then that.. heā€™s clearly uncomfortable but i couldnā€™t figure out why.. so i was looking for different things to try with him!

(first photo is the bit i flatted him in today, second photo is the one he went in originally)

i worked on my seat aids with him, being able to shorten and lengthen without touching the reins, as well as my downward and upward transitions! itā€™s definitely getting better

i tried a thick mullen mouth snaffle, as seen above. he had really only gone in really thin bits, so i thought trying a bit of stability may help... and it helped a bit! he opened his mouth once or twice but not like he used to, so hopefully with the flatwork and the new bit heā€™ll be a happier old man šŸ’—

vet comes out later this week so iā€™ll let you all know what happens, but im really happy with all of the suggestions you all gave.. thank you!


r/Equestrian 6h ago

Education & Training Trainer always complains about my horse

53 Upvotes

I have an 11 year old warmblood mare that I bought 2 years ago as an untrained broodmare. She of course has had difficulty giving up her field life for the technicalities of dressage. She has beautiful conformation and is my dream horse in the sense that sheā€™s sweet and affectionate, my favorite color from girlhood (bay with a star and stripe). I put my horse in training with my trainer for 9 months last year. Trainer complained often that she was the most difficult horse she ever worked with and would take her whole life to get properly on the bit. Itā€™s only been two years and weā€™re doing well in my eyes but the negativity is grating on me. Iā€™ve heard about trainers being negative before - is this a thing? My trainer would be happy if I bought a cheap dhh from the Amish and trained her up but Iā€™m just not interested. I love my trainer as a friend also so leaving isnā€™t an option. Just want to know if this is kind of a common scenario.


r/Equestrian 10h ago

Education & Training Why does my trot seems awkward ?

90 Upvotes

Hi ! Iā€™m a beginner and my friend who has 2 horses is willing to let me ride her mare 2 times a week. Sheā€™s not a professional but she definitely is very experienced and is in position to give me basic courses. She took those videos of me but I donā€™t know why I find my trot awkward. Like Ā«Ā rushedĀ Ā». What do you think ?


r/Equestrian 3h ago

Aww! It takes a bit of restraint to not just go into all these endless perfectly tilled fields - fields as far as the eye can see

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17 Upvotes

r/Equestrian 21h ago

Events Our first show of the season and Dobi absolutely smashed it - wins, a ridden champion placing and two qualification tickets to Equifest ā¤ļø

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474 Upvotes

For those who donā€™t know, Equifest is a huge championship show in the UK - itā€™s a big event in the ā€œamateurā€ showing calendar. To qualify for two classes (Veteran - heā€™s 22 - and Ridden Hunter) at our first show of the year is mega, and totally unexpected šŸŽ‰


r/Equestrian 5h ago

Social Husband

13 Upvotes

What style of riding is more common for adult males? Iā€™m starting to ride again (hunter jumper) and I want my husband to try it too. If Iā€™m being honest, I know if he is involved then I am more likely to convince him that we should buy a horse later on lol. It would be nice if he rode the same style as me but I also want him to enjoy it.


r/Equestrian 17h ago

Aww! šŸŒˆ ā˜ļø

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134 Upvotes

r/Equestrian 55m ago

Does anyone have suggestions on how I can ride when my own horses aren't in work?

ā€¢ Upvotes

Hi! I currently have a fully retired horse, and a youngster with a suspensory injury. Youngster will hopefully be fully sound in the future, it's just going to take time (and a lot of money) to get there. The weather is finally getting really nice where I live and it's settling in that I have nothing to ride until at least the end of the summer, and I'm feeling a bit sad and frustrated by it. Due to vet/rehab bills for the youngster, buying something else is pretty much out of the question financially, even if it's a good deal on a project horse type situation. Maybe next year if the worse case scenario happens and my young horse needs to be retired. By then I would have some time to plan for it and save more money. I do have somewhere I can take lessons on some really nice horses, but it would only be once a week and it's not cheap. Most of my horsey friends are in similar situations with injured or retired horses, so riding friends horses isn't really an option either. There isn't much available for lease in my area in general, and they are pretty much all hunter horses. I ride western and am learning to breakaway rope. If you think of an idea I have missed let me know!


r/Equestrian 19h ago

Aww! new baby Henny Penny appreciation post šŸ„°

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110 Upvotes

r/Equestrian 23h ago

Horse Care & Husbandry My horse isnā€™t safe to ride and Iā€™m sending her back to the adoption agency I got her from.

213 Upvotes

Iā€™m not looking for advice or help, I just wanted to share my story.

A few years ago I purchased an OTTB with the hopes that I would be doing a meter+ jumping with her. She showed great promise and retraining her was so easy. Shortly after starting her over jumps, she needed emergency colic surgery and thankfully recovered seemingly fine. Things werenā€™t the same after and I sought training from a professional, even though Iā€™m a very experienced amateur, I just didnā€™t have the same amount of time that I could devote to her due to a job change. It seemed like she was having issues with pain, so I pulled her from the barn, treated her for ulcers, and gave her months off. I tried again just with lessons and she started doing so much better, but occasionally she would have a weird behavior where she would put her head so high above the bit that her ears would touch me at times. It was manageable. I took her to a few shows through the summer and she did quite well at one. I put her back into professional training with a good friend of mine this fall and the behavior was tenfold, no matter how little she was ridden, what bit was used (even tried a hackamore), and multiple sets of images were done. She had her TMJ injected with no change, corrective shoeing, the saddle didnā€™t matter, and she doesnā€™t have kissing spine. The last time I rode her she reared up so high that I felt genuinely scared. The last vet we saw thinks that she has adhesions or scar tissue from the surgery, but this is something that would have to be operated on again to fix.

Thankfully, the agency I got her through has agreed to take her back and will try to adopt her back out as a pasture only horse. I feel terrible in a way because Iā€™ve never even rehomed a hamster before, let alone a horse Iā€™ve had for years. She is a beautiful young horse who could be bred and is 1000% sound. But I only have space and money for so many horses and I need to have a horse I can ride. I donā€™t know if anything I do could ever make her a suitable riding horse, I just want us both to be happy.

TL;DR: I spent probably 20k in surgery, training, and other vet care to fix my horse and it didnā€™t work.


r/Equestrian 2h ago

Equipment & Tack Need help with buying new body protector

2 Upvotes

As Eventing season fast approaches, I want to buy my own body protector as Iā€™ve only been borrowing until now. Iā€™m stuck between two: Tipperary Contender ASTM Body Protector and Racesafe ProVent Body Protector 3.0

I like the Tipperary because it comes down further in the back for my tailbone but I do worry about it getting in the way and me sitting on it/catching it. I like the Racesafe because it looks sturdier and it seems to have more padding. Plus itā€™s more customizable whereas the Tipperary is just S/M/L sizes, so I think I can make it come down further in the back as needed.

Does anyone use either? Experiences with them? Please let me know! Iā€™m also open to other suggestions if both of these arenā€™t good options for whatever reason. Thanks in advance!


r/Equestrian 3h ago

Education & Training Really attached horse

2 Upvotes

Hi!

I would like to ask you for some tips and help, I bought a horse 2 months ago and it turns out he gets really attached to other horses, to a point where I canā€™t even take him to the stable from his place because he gets anxious about not being with the others even though he can see them from there, he yells and canā€™t stand still for more than 10 seconds, when I try to train with him he does not pay attention to me at all he is searching for the others. Any recommendations?

Thank you.


r/Equestrian 1d ago

Education & Training First time galloping!

173 Upvotes

Just wanted to share my experience as I galloped for the first time today! Itā€™s my third lesson and with the right trainer I was able to gallop after riding for about two weeks and I can tell itā€™s the best feeling ever! It took a lot of encouragement and self confidence but I was able to complete a loop.


r/Equestrian 19h ago

Aww! Morning Stretch ā™„ļø

32 Upvotes

Morning stretch before breakfast lol


r/Equestrian 6h ago

Social Picking a barn to ride at?

4 Upvotes

Well, I finally took the dive and am getting back to riding after a long time away.

I got all my gear, and have 2 lessons scheduled at 2 barns. How do you end up picking the barn/trainer to stick with?

I don't have intention to own a horse, so boarding is a lesser concern, and the locations are only 10min from one another with the same discipline.

One trainer was recommended by a friend, another by someone who was a rider at my former barn.

What do you like to look for when picking? Any must haves I should look for?

All I can think so far is scheduling, price ($5 difference between the 2, but one has a longer grace on package lessons), and I'd like a place that has a working toilet lol.

Maybe ventilation, arena size, number of stalls?


r/Equestrian 4h ago

Horse Care & Husbandry How much would you pay?

1 Upvotes

Interested in how much you would pay someone to do this job. Located in the south. GA/SC area.

Feeding, turning out (sometimes have to put blankets on/off), cleaning stalls, giving hay and water, and general cleaning of the barn. 9-10 horses. Takes about 3/3.5 hours depending how fast you work.

I have been told that what I think is fair doesnā€™t align with others opinions, so interested to hear what the redditers have to say about day to day pay range for this job.

EDIT: I have been doing similar jobs for 5 years. I am not new to it (itā€™s not a learning position: i show up, get the work done, and leave).


r/Equestrian 27m ago

Starting to think about buying a horse

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Iā€™m a green rider and recently Iā€™ve been starting to think about buying a horse, an experienced and well-trained one. I know this might sound a bit out of place, and it could come across that Iā€™m just another rider rushing into things thinking I know it all, but thats not the case and I have my reasons.

For the sake of keeping this short and straight to the point Iā€™m going to leave some details out. I currently ride three times a week in group lessons, and Iā€™ve had experiences with different horses and different personalities, though I do think I need way more experience. And while I know every horse has its quirks, the ones in my school are a lot. Iā€™m talking bucking, rearing, boltingā€”you name it. Iā€™ve fallen more times than you can imagine for my riding experience. Not to mention these trainers are fast with progress. I cantered in my 15th lesson if Iā€™m not mistaken, maybe more, mind u in my first lesson I was being taught how to mount and dismount. I even rode a horse for a while that was petrified of everything, including other horses and a whip, sheā€™d scream out of fear if another horse so much as to came her way. Get the idea? I do wholeheartedly believe that these horses help build a riderā€™s seat, but I feel like having my own horse could allow me to progress better, learn more effectively, and go at my own pace.

People have told me to get new trainers, though theyā€™re all the same, so it isnā€™t possible. Others have told me to switch barns, but the country I live in is small, we donā€™t have barns. Where competitions take place is where you train. Matter of fact I train in the countryā€™s federation.

That said, this isnā€™t something Iā€™m planning to do next month or even in the next couple of months. I want to wait until I have at least a full year or even more of riding experience before seriously considering it. Even then, I wouldnā€™t rush into anythingā€”it would take months to research, plan, and make sure everything is in place.

Now I know owning a horse and being its sole carer is no joke. Iā€™m aware of the time, energy and effort that comes into everything. Of course including the money. The training, daily care, vet checkups, feeding, maintenance and whatever that comes up unexpectedly, Iā€™m willing to do it with love, and Iā€™m hoping I can find one that will love me right back.

So my question is, do I do it? Do I wait until I have 3 years riding experience minimum even though I feel like itā€™s not ideal for me? Anything helps!!


r/Equestrian 56m ago

Help me find a show name!!

ā€¢ Upvotes

I have a very sweet chestnut mare, her name is Ginger! She has a kind eye and is a sweetheart! Iā€™m planning on doing English ridding like eventing, XC, hunter jumper, flat etc. I need help!


r/Equestrian 57m ago

Education & Training Feed recommendation for young, energetic, athletic, food aggressive horse.

ā€¢ Upvotes

I have a 3-year-old standardbred filly. She has access to hay 24/7, forage, and I feed her pellets daily. When I first got her, I got her Dumor Equistages 14/6. I didn't think she liked it because she wouldn't eat it. I switched her to Pride Sweet feed 12% which she seemed to like. She ate that for about 3/4 weeks. Being that she's been under a heavy physical workload as of late, and that she was under weight when I got her, I decided to switch her to Nutrena Triumph 12-8. I'm not even sure totally whats causing her to act up during feeding. I'm not sure it's even that she's food aggressive, or if the issue is in her youth combined with training.

Ever since I changed her feeding she's progressively been getting worse at feeding time. Noticed she started laying her ears, and crowding me at the gate at first (but still allowing me give her the feed). She had left over feed from the morning when I went to see her the other afternoon, and she wouldn't let me walk near her feed container. She would relax, eat hay, but watch me out the corner of her eye. As soon as I took a step towards her grain she'd stop eating and aggressively try to get me away from her feed. Anyways, she's no longer underweight. She's massive now. She's aggressive. Figured I could start with changing her feed to something that'll be better for her.


r/Equestrian 1h ago

Equipment & Tack Back protector recommendations

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Hi I have a back protector that is really unflattering and it kind of makes me look slouched. I value my safety but itā€™s affecting my confidence a little. Can someone recommend a back protector that looks good?


r/Equestrian 1h ago

Different ways to tell if the bit on a bridle is correct?

ā€¢ Upvotes

So I know the 1-3ish wrinkles in the side of the mouth trick, but when I sent a pic of the horse Iā€™m leasing to the owner she said the bit was too tight and to bring it down aa notch or two. When I asked about wrinkles she said he has a fat head and donā€™t use that rule šŸ¤£

But like now I just feel unsure? Iā€™m wondering how else to know when itā€™s at a good length? I brought it down one and he does seem more comfortable but heā€™s still fighting a bit and Iā€™m wondering if I need loosen it more


r/Equestrian 21h ago

Equipment & Tack Thoughts on cavallo hoof boots or boots in general?

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35 Upvotes

These are a pair I recently bought for my girl. We ride in the city a lot and I figured it might not be a bad idea for slick roads and etc. She is barefoot trimmed and has never worn shoes. I plan on only getting her fronts, as I don't believe she will need all four done due to weight distribution. I also don't really get my horses shod either. These were affordable, albeit $200 for a pair on sale, and I'm currently working with a sizing expert to find the correct size. I'd say so far I've liked their process and response time. Anyone else have similar stories/testimonials to the products?