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Afternoon, everyone. I would love you opinions and insights into this, as I'm shocked and disappointed about the situation...

Equine therapy is an invaluable tool for helping those with complex health issues, and when performed correctly, is very successful. In the US, as I understand it, equine therapy has been in use for at least thirty years so there is proof available, that it helps thousands of people.

In Australia, equine therapy is in its infancy and while it is becoming more popular, access to it for those who would benefit the most, is limited.

As I was chatting with my trainer today, she mentioned that equine therapy services are no longer available on the National Disability Insurance Scheme. I think this is a dreadful shame and a wasted opportunity to bring joy into the lives of those who're suffering difficult circumstances.

What do you think? Should equine therapy be made more accessible to those with complex conditions, or is it a waste of tax payer dollars? I certainly don't see it as a waste, because I've witnessed the joy, peace and well being it brings, first hand...

This isn’t a Tom Thumb hate post nor a Tom Thumb love post

Im rlly curious as to what a Tom Thumb bit does? Like obviously it sits in the horses mouth, you pull one rein it tells the horse go that way and pull the other way it goes the other way

But I see so much “omg I love tom thumbs anyone who hates them is uneducated and doesn’t have soft hands” and “omg I hate Tom thumbs anyone who loves them is uneducated and an animal abuser”

WHAT DO THEY DO? I watched a few videos about what they do and how they work and both were videos that had very clear negative biases and I don’t want to listen to only one side of the story

So if you could provide info and sources from both sides that would be awesome. I wanna hear why you love the bit and not js “my horse does the best in it” because some horses do best in bits that are abusive and others do best in the softest bit you can imagine.

Obviously I’m new to the horse world and gonna talk to real people about it but I wanna hear more diverse opinions!

I ask that you don’t hate on others for their opinions and if you feel the need to educate idk I can’t control yall but plz be civil

Thanks for anyone who responds :D

I know how to make a traditional rope halter with a fiador knot and I’d really like to make ones with a sliding ring as well but for the life of me my brain cannot compute how to tie one that way vs with the fiador. I’m tempted to just buy one but I have a very specific rope color I’d like to use so all my things match🥲 Anyone have any suggestions?

Hi ☺️

I’ve been dreaming of a trailride vacation in the US for the longest time (I’m from Europe) and finally want to plan it for 2026. I’m a little overwhelmed with all the offers so I was really hoping for some good recommendations and places to look at !

What’s important to me:

• Lots of long trail rides

• The possibility to take lessons (my bf is a beginner)

• Really safe and comfortable horses (preferably QH)

• getting to experience of the most beautiful nature the US has to offer, preferably with mountains and lakes or by the coast and very green.

• preferably not in the south I’ve already did a 6 week roadtrip there (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas)

• clean and comfortable accommodation + good food

-preferably all inclusive

-Nice and friendly guides / instructors

I’ve seen some offers around 3000-3500usd per person per week and that would be the max I would be willing to pay, but ofc will be very happy if there is cheaper options.

Thank you so much in advance for any recommendations! I am really hoping this will be the trip of a lifetime.

So I am more or less a beginner. I have been riding on and off my whole life, but been riding solidly for the last three or four months. The horse I ride, Ollie is an absolute sweetheart with everyone else, but for some reason he doesn't take to me at all. He listens to me, does everything I ask for the first fifteen to twenty minutes of riding, and then he will keep stretching his neck, dragging the reins out of my hands. So I will halt him, and let him stretch his neck, and he does, and then I'll tell him to walk/trot on. And then seconds later he is stretching his neck again, doing the same thing. My riding instructor tells me its because he just wants his lunch, but I brought him into his stall and he just ignored his hay, so I don't think that's it. At this point I wonder if I am doing something to upset him. I've tried being not as strict with him, but he kind of takes advantage of that, so I kind of have to be. I wonder if it's something I'm doing. Can anyone give me advice?

We lost my mare a little over a week ago. She was 23. It came out of nowhere. She was a perfectly active mare and never had a problem in her life before. But She had some leg problems but was doing way better then a little over a month later after that started I get a message while I’m at work that she went down in her field and passed. Luckily she did not pass alone. I’m still extremely depressed.

I've found myself in a sticky situation, any advice appreciated. So I’ve been half-leasing a horse for years now, used to lease her with her previous owner so I’ve grown attached. The problem is I’m getting the short end of the stick.

The other half leaser rides 4 times a week (I do max 3 because of school). When I brought up that it was unfair, since 3 days each is standard for a half lease where I live, I was told I could just ride 4 times a week sometimes to make it “even”. What about the horse having a day off? We have set days we each ride, but the half leaser rode on my scheduled day! I only found out because I came earlier than expected and saw them out in the ring! When I asked the owner to tell them not to ride on my day, I was told “oh you can ride on their days too, if it’s a light ride she can be ridden twice”. And didn’t say a word to the half leaser, letting them do whatever they bloody want. Are these “terms” reasonable at all? Ive stayed so long because I adore the horse, but I’ve reached a point where I’m stressed to all hell (complete lack of communication from the half leaser, the owner asking ME for help on what to say to the half leaser about important things like contract renewal/vet bills etc. And won’t listen when I say to speak directly)

I’ll be ending my lease, but there’s no minimum time for ending the contract. Like 30-60 days notice. While I’d love to leave quickly, I’ll be staying at the same stables and don’t want to get a nasty reputation as someone who “just drops” their horse. I’ve seen people get side-eyed for ending with 30 days notice! Should I give 60 days notice?

This is the first time I’m posting in this sub Reddit so I apologize if this isn’t allowed here, but honestly this will be a Vent/health question.

To start things off I have a beautiful 1 1/2 year old Black Blanket Appy/Thoroughbred cross and he’s honestly my world. I’ve had him since he was 8 months and earlier this year I had him gelded at his 1st birthday. However during Thanksgiving my family has had all our family here and everyone was in awe of him. We come from a long line of cowboys and rodeo gurus so then everyone was asking if I planned on showing and possibly breeding him.

I’ve never shown horses before and I primarily do trail riding but I’m also an advocate to stop over breeding of horses. I then stated to my family he was already gelded and that I had no intentions of breeding him and adding to the problem. This seemed to cause a riot in half of my family, they stated I ruined a possible national champion and cut off an entire bloodline of multi national winning horses. They also stated that it was selfish of me to geld him and that I could cause potential problems while he’s still growing.

I’ve never handled a Stallion before much less been around one, and this is also my first colt I’ll be starting after riding much older horses my entire life. I can’t help but question what I did was right, I was honestly looking to have him calmer as he was starting to develop a nasty biting habit (he’s bitten me twice and both have broken skin).

This is starting to sound like a horse AITA post, but could gelding him at a year old cause more problems than keeping him a stud colt?

Anyone know how long you can depreciate a wooden run-in shed for horses in the US? We just put one in and are wondering about tax deduction for our boarding biz.

Hey i’m looking to see if anybody has any recommendations for a supplements that helps with ulcers. I’m really trying to avoid omeprazole because it’s so harsh on their bodies. I have done starting gate in the past and that works really well but it’s $100 for a 30 day supply!! Anybody else have alternatives?

I don’t know much about horses but I have been seeing this girl that has one and I have a question on disciplinary actions.. basically she was showing me her horse and we were going to feed it. When we were going into the pen she had food in her hand and was facing me with her back to the horse telling him to backup. The horse had his head over her shoulder trying to get to the bag of food and not listening to her. After a few times of asking and the horse not listening she elbowed it in the chest? (I don’t know the anatomy of a horse). My question is, Is this a normal disciplinary action to take with a horse that isn’t listening or is this overly aggressive?

The place i board my horse at sent me this. She was seen by the farrier today and he says it looks like a fungus? What do you think it could be? Ringworm? Rainrot? Are there any ointments i can try to put on it that would just generally kill bacteria/heal it?

I have a 9yr old who began bucking during rides. She is perfectly fine during the first 10-30 mins, but after that she won’t do anything without bucking. Saddle fit is good, vet checked, completely sound, no pain, chiro have all been done. I don’t know what else it would be. I’ve almost given up hope on her at this point. She also has started biting at the riders legs when she gets in her bucking mood. We do not gallop, only walk and trot occasionally. She is a perfect lady on the ground and when being led. You can lead her right after her bucking streak and she won’t buck at all. What can I do to try to fix this?

I made a subreddit for the connemara pony if anyone wants to join

r/connemarapony

My just-gone-three year old is having her first season this spring/summer (Southern hemisphere) and is a gross moody nightmare. She's super sensitive, hate's being touched, is nippy, and squeals and tries to either lie down or leave if you try to touch her legs in particular (a problem for my poor farrier). She's also disgusting, she pees on herself all the time and is constantly flirting with my 19yo gelding (her paddock mate) - thankfully he's sensible enough to mostly ignore her or he'd be getting the crap kicked out of him. I consider her more touchy than dangerous - she's not being aggressive, and I'm sure the raging hormones aren't fun for her either, but especially getting her feet done is much harder than I'd like right now and I'm a little concerned she's going to be awful under saddle when she is broken in.

So my questions are:

1. Will she get better as she gets older, or does this herald a particularly hormonal mare for life? My last mare was 15 odd years ago and she showed some minor behavioural changes when in season but it was very mild and manageable. She was 6yo when I got her.
2. Is regumate my only option, or are there less intense treatments that might actually help to try first?

Hi, I’m going through a hard time.

My horse has severe pneumonia… And I’m being told that my horse could die. She has gotten better, just hard breaths. But my parents are telling me to prepare for the worst and that I should start finding a new horse. I’ve had my horse for 8 years (I’m 18) and she is is around 13 years old. I don’t think I can compete without her for my senior year of high school.

So what should I do? We have been giving medicine for a month…. Is it valid to not want to compete? I’m just worried and maybe need some comfort or smthing.

To preface: this is not my horse, this is my sister’s horse so my info is limited but I’m trying to be a good sister and get her some outside opinions. So my sister had three horses, one about 7 and two that were 30 or so years old. The youngest had an underlying condition that left him more or less completely blind about a month or so ago. He was adjusting okay but now within weeks of each other his pasture mates both passed away (complications with age). Now the youngest is alone and we aren’t sure the best course of action. She works at a boarding facility and is close with the owner so there are several avenues we could pursue trying to take care of him socially and physically but aren’t sure what might benefit him most. Any thoughts are truly appreciated even if they are not the easiest to hear.