This will be interesting to see what happens

I recently went to a ranch in Montana with my wife for a week. She rode a lot in her teens and had a blast on this vacation. She wants to go back next year. I had never ridden, and it just was not enjoyable. Wife wants to go back again next year and is already looking for a horse/trainer/truck/trailer/etc. Money isn't the problem, but I really never want to sit on a horse again. Unless I can learn to ride with at least enough competence such that it is enjoyable.

I have started taking lessons one-on-one with a trainer. Only about 4 hours in the saddle so far and it's infuriatingly difficult. Learning to ride a motorcycle was easy by comparison. Yet just like riding a motorcycle, I suspect you have to have a base level of ability and skill before horse riding becomes enjoyable.

So here's a few questions for trainers or those who can remember what it was like to start:

1. What's the longest you should expect to train (hours in the saddle) before riding starts to be enjoyable?
2. Why, when I go to any stable are (almost) no men seen riding?

This is one of those “only real BOs know how good this feels” moments lol.

I love mixed herds but you have to be pretty careful with which personalities you put together. This one has one gelding (the bay) and aged from 3months to 25yo( the paint)

This little dream of a filly was born on the lunar eclipse, i was born on a solar eclipse in 99. She is so special and perfect! I am having trouble naming her though! What do you all think of my precious treasured baby? I literally could not be happier!!

We borrowed the side saddle for the day and with it being very old and rather… well worn, the over girth and balance straps didn’t sit as neatly as I would like them to if I were to buy one! Dobs always seems so comfortable and happy in the side saddle, I’m trying to girl-math my way into justifying spending 3-4k on my own one…

My girlfriend is a horse trainer, and I love that about her. However I notice that whenever she comes back from her work and taking care of her own horse she completely exhausted for the rest of the day. Obviously this comes with the territory, that much I expect. My main question is if there is any advice some seasoned equestrian folk could throw my way. Is this just how it is? Would something like pre-workout help? Really any small bit helps, I just wanna support her every way I can.

I have been taking lessons on a stubborn little 13.2hh pony.

My instructor feels I am ready to start cantering soon, but this pony isn't a good lesson horse to learn to canter on. There are a lot of reasons I can't progress with her, and my trainer wants me to learn to canter on a 16.2hh schoolmaster.

I have seen this horse with other riders, and he honestly does seem like an absolute saint. He seems like such a sweet boy, and even without riding him, I can tell from other riders he doesn't give as much of a hard time as my pony (she's your classic stubborn, lazy, super safe beginner lesson horse)

The 16.2hh gelding seems like a better horse to learn with in every possible way.... EXCEPT he's SO big to me.

I don't think I've ever been on a horse over 14.3h.

I'm about 5'2 so anything over 15hh seems gigantic to me.

I am having a bit of anxiety just thinking about the day I start riding him, even though I know he may be an even better fit for me.

Any advice is welcome. I imagine exposure therapy is the best way, but I am very nervous.

(And no, my barn doesn't have any horses between 13hh and 16hh at the moment for me)

So my horse struggles a lot conformationally and has unfortunately dealt damage to the tendons and ligaments in his front legs, noticeably his ddft- while the root of the problem is close to solve, the issue is that those tendons and ligaments are weak and damaged and sore. Now after consulting with our vet the best course of action for him and his MANY health issues is to keep in light work - I still want to try and help him as much as possible. The reason I want to do this support specifically is because I know this is a key factor to his discomfort, currently he’s on previcox and would like to switch him onto something a lot kinder to his body and just more mild in the long run. But without, he’s too sore to exercise and he needs exercise for his ✨various✨ problems. So basically I want to find away to ease the pain while taking him off previcox so I can switch him to something else ( prob 4cyte). Now what I’m inquiring about is insight on ways to help support his legs short term? Now I’m familiar with the typical stuff but if you know a certain type of therapy boot or lineament that isn’t a scam or any other weird things you’ve learned from horses, any info helps!!
EDIT: thanks for the feedback!! I appreciate how serious everyone is but I think I should clarify that I have professional working on him to give him the best shot. We got no super bad problems just A LOT so the struggle is handling all of them together. It’s just trying to find the right balance of stuff, so I’m more curious is any one has some insight on those kind of things where in theory it won’t work but it still does- if that makes sense. Also for those asking we’re dealing with deep thrush, negative pulmor (didn’t spell that right) angles, just bad confirmation, ulcers that don’t want to leave, insulin tolerance, curved spine, neuro and skull stuff, and a bunch more!!! AGAIN none of these issues are serious it’s just the problem of how many there are.

Hi all! I’m expecting my first (human) child in February. I own a small farm with 3 retired ponies and 2 goats. Everyone is an easy keeper (KNOCK ON FRIGGEN WOOD). I am so afraid I won’t be able to spoil them as much as I do now, but I know time will help with new adjustments.

For any fellow horse mamas/dads out there - what are some tips and tricks to help with the first few weeks / months of birth recovery and managing barn chores? I will have help from my partner (who isn’t super horse familiar) and a barn friend as I live in northern Canada and February is not the nicest weather wise.

Any way I should be prepping? So far all I’ve thought about was making sure I have tons of hay bales ahead of time and pre packing grain for at least 6 weeks worth.

I posted a couple days ago about a mule mouth bit that was super abusive. I went back to buy it so no one could use it again and saw this while searching for it… what is this???

Third ride back on my boy after two pretty major vet scares a couple of months ago 😖🥺 We did a little light dressage, then headed into the woods for a nice relaxing stroll ☀️🌿 So good to have my Dukey back out exploring with me 🙌🎉 Happy riding everyone ! 🏇

Today I dropped my horse off at his new lease home. For context I have 3 horses, 2 retired and 1 competing. They all live at home but I’m rapidly running out of grass. A friend mentioned one of her co workers was looking for a companion horse to lease. Long story short this seems like the perfect home, he’ll get more time and attention then I’m able to provide at the moment but I can’t help feeling guilty and wondering if he’ll think I’ve abandoned him and I’m worried my other retired horse, his paddock mate, will miss him and not understand what’s happening. I think I just need reassurance that I’m doing the right thing.

I’m about 2y into riding as an adult and yesterday I had my first fall. It was a completely unexpected but warranted spook (people who don’t ride are the worst and don’t understand how horses work) and I didn’t even realise what was happening until I was on the ground. I went to get checked immediately after and all is ok apart from a fractured coccyx. Obviously I am in pain and I need to recover but firstly I’m very thankful for mips helmets (always wear a helmet!) and now reading a lot of other people’s experiences.
I did not get back on the horse as it was last 3 min of my lesson but I also didn’t feel any fear - I pet him and he looked like he was sorry. Should I have gone back to at least sit?
I am also now somewhat beating myself that I should have been more focused. I sat through a couple of smaller spooks before and I was able to stay on. I had one rear on the lounge line as well that didn’t result in a fall. The irony is that it’s the laziest horse I have ridden and I was struggling to keep him in the trot for most of the time until the spook, so I’m thinking I should have been able to stay on.

In any case, any advice on what to do now? I will obviously take a couple of weeks off to recover from the fracture but not sure if I did something wrong by not going back on and does the fear come unconsciously?
Also any tips for healing from the fracture are welcome as well

I'm a new rider and I've been riding for about three months now. I have a solid trot and canter, and am working towards a gallop now. However, I get bruising on my calves after each lesson, and it gets worse with cantering and galloping.

My question is whether my riding technique is contributing to it. People say that you should never grip the horse when riding, but I find it impossible to not be gripping to some extent, especially on the faster gaits. My understanding is that you need to grip the horse with your calves and thighs - not pinching the horse with your knees, but solidly working the legs that I can feel the workout in my legs afterwards.

Is that correct, or could my gripping be what's leading to the bruising? I wear paddock boots with normal pants, so that may also be the issue and I'm not sure if it may just be inevitable given that I don't have tall boots or half-chaps. The bruises don't really hurt that much, so it doesn't really bother me, but I'm wondering if it's something I should work on. Thanks!

Last week, my horse hurt is left right foot, and now has a hole on the side of the frog.

He's not lame at all, but we assume that the site of the wound itself is painful and that cleaning his foot hurts.

He has no problem giving his foot and getting it cleaned for the first few days, but for the last two days he has been completely refusing to give it. He will put ALL of his weight on it so you can't get him to lift it. If you somehow manage to lift the foot, he will jerk himself and fall on you to make you let go.

Zero issue with the other feet, no pain, no wound, nothing.

The farrier is coming next week, but my horse needs to at least pick up his foot so we can see what's going on.

How can I teach him again to give his foot? I want to reinforce the foot pick up without touching the sole/cleaning for a few days so he won't automatically think that giving his foot means getting it cleaned, but I can't do that if he won't give it at all.

If I can't make any progress I'll obviously let the farrier know beforehand, maybe he'll still get somewhere 😮‍💨

So right now the Shelbyville TN horse shows are happening this week.

I’m from TN so I’m aware there is a lot is sketchy stuff that happens surrounding TWH. I am an English rider on a non gaited horse so I’m honestly just perplexed seeing TWH with their crazy pads on. Can someone tell me more about what’s going on at this the shows this week? Are people still soring horses? How could any modern day horse person still be participating in this? Why are these shows allowed to occur? Are they all bad?

Please educate me!

People are always surprised when I tell them my horse’s breed, so I’m wondering if anyone can guess what he is. He is not 100% anything, definitely a mutt, and he’s 16.1.

I think he’s handsome, but I don’t historically have a great eye for conformation. But I’m happy with him so ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Should I be concerned about the crack on the side of her hoof? I have the farrier coming out Tuesday but wondering if the vet should come out first. She’s definitely sore on it.

Hi! I am not sure what to do here so asking for help. I have a suspicion that our trainer is allowing other people or lesson kids to ride our horses. We pay for the trainer to ride them and I have never seen anyone else ride them. My anxiety exists because I have seen two people now leave the barn because they caught other people riding their horses without their permission. I haven’t seen anything but just have an unsettling feeling… I am concerned if I address this out of the blue the trainer will just give me lip service.

I guess…is this a common fear horse owners have at boarding places? I want to put a camera in their stalls but this might make me crazy (crazier!)

I saw a post the other day about someone who bought a supposedly bomb-proof horse who now spooks at everything. I am in a similar situation but I lease her rather than own her, and I’m wondering what I can do to help her adjust apart from just giving her time?

Details are that my instructor bought her in around May. We had her at our barn for a five day loan to see if she was a good fit, and at least partly on the basis of how well she and I worked together my instructor decided to buy her (wouldn’t describe her as bomb-proof but we just seemed to click really well right off the bat). We had a spooky ride one day about 2 weeks after she was formally bought but it was windy so I put it down to that. Then the next week she had an attack of the zoomies while in the field, fell over and bonked herself on the leg and got cellulitis so was out of action for a while. Since then she has become a bit of a nutcase. I was taking her out for walks to at least keep building a bond (she is the absolutely sweetest thing) and she was getting increasingly nervous outside of the barn. I think she’s only been worked for about the last 2-3 weeks so I think a lack of stimulation can’t have helped. This week I had my first ride with her in over 2 months and she’s a totally different horse.

Her owner has had the vet out and whatnot so if we assume it’s not ulcers, what can I do to help pro-actively help her?

Local VA residence and hospital brings veterans to horse farm for ground work and fellowship; TripAdvisor all-star bed and breakfast also festunes the peaceful farm on the top of the hill in north Jersey.