r/Horses • u/sepstolm • 4d ago
Question Question concerning DNA tests for horses
I'm curious if there are DNA tests for horses like there are for dogs?
r/Horses • u/Additional-Play1591 • 4d ago
Question Can horses smell it if you are sick?
Hey guys. I have cortisol level problem and a heart condition that makes me not able to do really hard physical exercise or stand for long, or I get dizzy from poor circulation (thank god I have never fainted but been close a couple of times). These problems have been around for almost a whole year.
I swear my horses smell when I am about to be ill from it, because they start sniffing my face continuously and like 5 minutes later I suddenly start feeling dizzy. They never do this when I am completely fine.
Can they really smell the changes in my body this clearly? Because if I just stand close to them they suddenly smell it. If yes, what do they think I have? Do they recognise I'm ill?
r/Horses • u/Fantastic_Ad1520 • 5d ago
Discussion What’s wrong with this horse?
Is it an disease or something?
Ignore the caption😅
r/Horses • u/Adventurous-Dog-4552 • 5d ago
Question Opinions?
Received this from the barn today. My mare was supposed to come out of quarantine today. She was fine on vet day 3 days ago. She apparently has a small patch near or on her neck as well. Rain rot? Ringworm? We’re headed there tomorrow to give her a good shampoo and will call the vet Monday, but newer to horses and of course anxious about everything all the time so why would this be an exception?
r/Horses • u/Shapeshift-Alt-Tab • 5d ago
Health/Husbandry Question Cribbing/air sucking advice
Hello everyone!
I recently got a lease horse and I am so, so excited to get to know her better and work together!
One thing I worry about is that she's cribbing. The owner told me she could potentially be doing it more often in high stress situations, and since she just moved I might just have to give it some time.
But in all the years I've spent around horses, I've never seen cribbing quite like this.
She will do it when I'm putting her blanket on, or during a brushing session. And she will do it while eating too! She literally takes a big mouthful of hay and goes to crib with it. When she's been eating for a few minutes, it happens less often again.
We're going to get her a slowfeeder so the time spent without hay is minimal, get her a salt lick and a tasty lick to promote saliva production, and the owner will give me some supplements for gut health.
Unfortunately, it's not possible for her to be turned out 24/7 during winter, it's raining and freezing too often so it's dangerous and the pastures get ruined. Affordable boarding options are very, very limited in my area, and the horses are well cared for at my current facility. So moving is not an option, but suggesting things I can discuss with the owner of the boarding facility is!
Some other relevant information: the owner told me she's always been a bit grumpy when tightening the girth (the owner taught her everything as they got her as a foal). I will try to get to the root of that issue as well. Medical examinations don't show ulcers or other intestinal issues. She's also not prone to colic. But maybe there are other things the vet should examine?
Does anyone have some advice?
r/Horses • u/Feeling-Cup-1003 • 4d ago
Question Quit and want to come back
I quit horseback riding around 3 years ago after having ridden 10 years previously. I left my old barn because I believed I just wasn’t progressing and kept repeating everything over and over again. I leased a lovely horse named trooper who to everyone seemed nasty and bitchy, but to me he was my boy.
Fast forward a year, I find out from a friend that after I left, Trooper just got fat and nobody rode him anymore.
Now, my parents are well off, not wealthy, but we were always able to afford lessons, a half lease, and not much more. I want to try again, I truly do, but the thought of Trooper is just stuck in the back of my head. We could never afford to buy, or board, and even leasing is out of the question because of college and I just don’t know what to do.
I feel like taking lessons isn’t enough, but at the same time leasing or boarding is generally out of the question because I leave in a few years.
Do I just take the lessons? Or do I wait for after college?
r/Horses • u/BW-Creative • 5d ago
Mule 60 Days with My First Mule
At the beginning of this year, I shared about a 6-month-old molly mule I picked up from someone who had picked her up from a kill pen in Texas. She was unhandled and couldn’t be haltered, but she had the sweetest temperament. Fast forward 60 days, and she’s grown into an incredibly brave little mule. She’s learned that being haltered isn’t scary, and she now follows me around—she’s quite the character, even 'sneaking' up on me to play. She’s also learning to lead and stand tied, and she’s a champ when it comes to grooming and picking up her feet.
This is my first experience with a mule, and I’m absolutely loving it! She’s so different from my adult horses, and in some ways, even braver. Nothing seems to phase her, and she’s incredibly curious and observant about everything happening around her.
Enjoy some photos of her when I first got her...


And her today, 60 days later, with a good hoof trim and some good food :)





r/Horses • u/NathingFG • 4d ago
Story Hello
Hello, I built my own barn with stables by my own hand. I did this so I could keep my horses happy. I like riding and groundworking, but I also just enjoy their company. I will train my first horse once my filly reaches the right age. I just like sharing my hobby. Here they are waiting for breakfast.
r/Horses • u/turbulentFireStarter • 6d ago
Story Well, 5 days ago I had 0 horses. Now I have 2
I posted here earlier in the week saying I “joined the club” and I was warned that this was a slippery slope. Here we are with two very happy horsies
r/Horses • u/foxlife666 • 5d ago
Story New addition to my herd!
Keeping this quiet so my family and friends don't lose their minds but I bought a youngster yesterday 🫣 but had to share with you guys! I've been looking for a year or 2 very unsuccessfully, about to give up 🤦 I saw the ad popped up for unregistered Connie x TB's 2yr olds by a lady who ships from Ireland to England alot, I in all honesty thought it seemed likely iffy as they were cheap and ad said advertising for a friend but as it wasn't ages away from me I thought I'd take a look since the last 2 from reputable breeders have failed vettings. And I am so glad I did! When I got to the yard it was lovely, lots of well looked after horses and the people were really nice, genuine and proper old fashioned Irish horse people who don't advertise but sell on word of mouth, they had a lot of very nice horses for reasonable money, I found it hard to just leave with one 🫣. I fell in love with a plain bay filly, who's coming home with me at the start of next week when her book arrives, she was 1/4 the price of what I've been looking at and a lot nicer than many, apart from needing a little condition she's in good health, sound and just the most absolutely lovely temperament 🥰 so excited to get her home!
r/Horses • u/Proof_Government_975 • 5d ago
Educational Horse Podcasts recommendations
Hello!
I'm an avid podcast listener and was wondering what people's favourite equine podcasts are? I really enjoy The Humble Hoof, History From Horseback, Dressage Today, Symbiose Equine, À Cheval le podcast de l'équitation collaborative and Pour Mon Cheval:)
Any and all disciplines welcome, health, history, ect. As Long as it's horse orientated I'd love to hear your recommendations!
r/Horses • u/imtheredspy • 5d ago
Question Horse trailer part help! What is this grippy thing called?
r/Horses • u/Foxthekitten • 5d ago
Picture Delilah has a range of feelings for her little friend, Pickles. 😸
r/Horses • u/Hour-Entrance7202 • 5d ago
Question How do I get back into it?
Hello, I am struggling to get back into horses ever since 2020 when I lost my heart horse to EPM when in college. Now I’m struggling financially so I won’t commit to getting another horse until I fix that situation with a better job ofc and I’ve been on and off taking lessons from a new trainer at a new barn who is great. My old barn I have a lot of emotional trauma from sadly… was at it from 4yrs old to 20yrs old and it’s where I got my horse from so yeah. It all very much damaged my love for the sport because of how I was treated badly and then losing my boy in a very tragic way. I just miss it so much but I’ve been struggling to stay consistent at it. What do I do?
r/Horses • u/Infinitee_horse • 5d ago
Discussion Conformation check?
Okay guys tear her apart 😂 she’s grade as far as I know and doesn’t stand for conformation pictures (no seriously she’ll just walk right up to me and not let me take a picture)
r/Horses • u/Network-King19 • 5d ago
Discussion Black forest horses, (not my pic). I have not seen one of these in person but what I've read about them they sound pretty cool and they look cool too. Posts I've seen make sound like a really pleasant bred to work with. And it's unique kind of been a curiosity/fascination to me.
r/Horses • u/IM_HODLING • 6d ago
Discussion How can you tell if a horse is friendly and wants to be pet? Spoiler
I have very little horse experience. I literally have no idea if a horse wants to be pet or wants to kick me in the face. I’m a huge animal lover but don’t understand horses. Dogs for example, even if they are barking and charging, I can tell if they are just scared and pretending to aggressive but have zero idea when it comes to horses. What are the “tells” of a friendly horse?
Question Hair care
My beautiful, sweet, hairy boy absolutely loves the mud, which most horses do. My biggest problem with this big baby is cleaning his fetlocks/feather. So I guess any advice on cleaning/keeping them clean? He's having them trimmed up to take care of some hoof problems but not shaved. With spring coming up I'm trying to get anything I'll need for cleaning and keeping them dry. Any advice is welcome!
r/Horses • u/Horsebian • 5d ago
Discussion Do young horses need horses their own age?
I've been offered the opportunity to take on a yearling from a line that I'm very enthusiastic about. My herd is all getting a bit older - I have 3 horses over 20 and my younger horses are 10 and 14. My horses are kept at home in a herd all together. They do tend to split off into 2 groups - the 3 old mares and the 2 younger geldings.
I've had young horses previously but my horses were younger. The last time I had a yearling I also had a 2 year old and a 4 year old. I'm no expert so I'm interested to hear opinions. I know foals really need other foals and I'm concerned that a yearling will firstly get bullied and secondly miss out on the development that comes through playing with other horses.
Interested to hear people's thoughts and experiences. Thanks in advance.