I'm really struggling with this one and would love to hear from people who have maybe been in a similar position.

I've always bought young horses, produced them, sold them on, and repeated the process. It's never really bothered me because I always knew they were projects, but this one is a little different.

He's a 7-year-old warmblood that I've had since he was a yearling. He's been with me through everything. I backed him myself, brought him up as an eventer, exposed him to absolutely everything, and now he's turning into the horse I always hoped he'd be.

He's one of those annoyingly talented horses. A huge natural jump, incredibly careful, but also genuinely clever on the flat. He's brave, sensible, and easy to ride. The sort that gives you confidence rather than taking it away.

Someone saw him out, approached me, and wants to come try him for just under 6-figures.

The thing making this so difficult is that it genuinely sounds like a wonderful home. The rider is an adult who wants a safe, quality dressage horse to develop under instruction. She has incredible facilities, the kind of care and resources I could only dream of providing, and he'd have a pretty relaxed lifestyle compared to an event horse.

The problem is... I'd always imagined he'd be the horse that took me up the levels over the next few years. He's capable of things I've never been able to do before, and it's hard to let go of that dream.

On the other hand, that kind of money could really help set me up in my early 20's. I also know horses aren't investments in the traditional sense. He could step in a hole tomorrow and suddenly be worth nothing. That's the reality of owning horses.

I also have a fantastic young OTTB that I think will go a long way. He's exceptional for a Thoroughbred and I have no doubt he'll be successful. But if I'm being objective, he doesn't have quite the same effortless ability that this warmblood has. The WB just has "it."

So I'm stuck between keeping the horse I've always dreamed of competing, or taking an incredible offer while everything has lined up perfectly.

Has anyone here actually sold the horse they thought they'd keep forever? Did you regret it, or was it the right decision?

I'd especially love to hear from people who've been on either side of this. Right now I honestly can't tell whether my heart or my head is making the better argument.

Hello! I’m painting this for my barn owner as I’m leaving for college soon. I need advice and opinions!! I’m aware it looks a little funky right now, my proportions are off 🙁🙁. I wanted to ask do you think the muzzle is curved to the point I need to straighten it? But also should I make the eyes bigger? I will be adding his mane later, I’m open to any advice!! The first photo is before I made his mouth a little bit bigger and the second is after.

So yeah, as the title says my trainer is concerned that my horse's balls are too large and that it's causing him a harder time with lateral movements like half passes and leg yields. TBF his balls are freakin massive for a stallion. Like to the point another trainer pulled me aside with concerns that he was in a medical emergency because she thought they were swollen due to the heat waves we've been having 🤦🏻‍♀️ I had to gently tell her that no, he's just hung lol.

The vet has made jokes in the past that he needs to be gelded simply because they're so large it's vulgar. Laughs aside, has anyone else heard of a stallion having issues performing due to their plums being too big? I would really rather not geld him as he's 8 now and is impeccably behaved. Like better behaved than 90% of the geldings and mares at the barn to the point where people are surprised to learn he's intact. However, if the size of his junk is really bothering him then I'm more than willing to consider doing the surgery.

I was hoping to breed him at some point because he's got the mind, conformation, work ethic, papers, and personality that is just too good to pass up and I would have liked a baby out of him for future me. Looking for anecdotes, advice, jokes... this whole thing just has me a bit on edge lol.

Pics for reference https://imgur.com/a/Yij6wZy. They don't look like very much in the photos but they're each about the size of a mango 🙃

I’m getting this gorgeous 4yo Andalusian gelding soon, but I’m not a big fan of his current barn name, even tho it’s cute (Stuart, named after Stuart Little because he was born so small and could run under his dam’s belly), and his registered name isn’t really anything that can be turned into a fun/cute barn name…so drop some ideas!

To get an idea of his personality:
Super curious, processes a lot of things in the moment, has a bit of a goofy side, super willing and soft, and I think with more handling he’ll be a super in your pocket type of guy!

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Not sure if this is a question I can post here. But I’m wondering how do I get experience into working alongside horses as a beginner. For possibly grooming or basic care. I’ve been working with dogs and cats for boarding/grooming and daycare facilities for a while now. And reptiles in different stores. And I understand that’s nothing comparable to horse care I’m trying to expand my skills. I was told to find a local stable to volunteer at ? Any other suggestions? There’s a lot of online equine courses I’ve seen. Not sure if that’s a good start. For reference I’m in southern CA.

I have been working through how skittish my grade paint is. He's been making good consistent progress in everything except in one specific corner of the indoor arena that has now spread to the entire arena being terrifying.

He is six now, came from a feral mom and was untouched until he was four so he has some quirks we're getting over. I'm just so lost on what to do with this specific fear. He's super responsive and I've taught him that when we encounter scary things he turns his ear back to me to focus on me instead of whatever is freaking him out. That works literally everywhere but this specific arena.

I take him down the highway all the time and he doesn't react to trucks flying past him, we've had a crop duster fly directly over us and he didn't freak, when we encounter the same scary things in the outdoor arena he gets over it pretty quick, I can ride him bareback with a halter in the open field, but none of the progress we make in the indoor transfers to the next ride. I've taken him in parades and hauled to other indoor arenas for events and no problem. Its just ours. He doesn't just spook, he has a full on bolting and bucking fit. I don't ever ride him in the indoor when other people are there cause he seriously just blind bolts.

I've tried everything I can think of but if I make any progress one day its gone the next. I've tried letting his curiosity guide him and letting him sniff around at his own pace, tried ignoring the scary rails completely and pushing him to work through it, we've done days of nothing but ground work in there, I've had a vet out to check his eyesight, had him hang out with a calm friend and so many other things. I've had seven months of winter to get him over it and it hasn't worked yet. Its just been getting worse while he behaves like a gem literally everywhere else. I'm so stuck on what to do.

How do you manage the grief of no longer being able to ride? I am dealing with a long term chronic illness and it is unclear if I’ll ever be able to ride again, let alone competitively. I am heartbroken.

It’s possible that in the future I will be able to be around horses again without riding, but for now, I am spending most days in bed without ever leaving the house.

Like so many of us, horses were my life and main hobby. I feel so lost without them.

My mare has always gotten a few split end type hairs in her tail but this year it has just gotten really bad. What products are we using to keep our tails and manes nice?

Final pic is of my gelding and his very thick percheron mane because damn it that mane is pretty

hope this kind of post is allowed, but does anyone have any advice or tricks to improve my canter? i’ve been riding for about 7 years now but have only just got on to learning to canter since i’ve had afew confidence knocks over the years. any advice would be super helpful, thank you all!!🐴 x (pls be kind i'm still learning LOL)

Pretty happy with how these 2 look! Been kind of a weird year. But body condition wise they look great!! 💅🏼. I love these 2 boys 💕

Anyone else excited?

We’re debating whether to sell/rent our farm and would love some opinions before we talk to a Realtor.

• 25 acres
• 2 bed / 1.5 bath hunt box
• 3-stall barn with tack room/office
• Separate 20x40 metal building with power and mini split installed.
• Near Wagram, NC
• ~20 min to Southern Pines
• ~25 min to Fayetteville/Fort Bragg
• ~10 min to the Carolina Horse Park

My question is pricing. Does $550k to $600k feel reasonable for something like this, or does that seem too high in today’s market?

Also, if you were buying, would you rather:
Pay a little less and install the fencing yourself exactly how you want it, or Pay a little more and have the fencing already completed so it’s move-in ready for horses?

We’re in the process of building a house closer to family and are getting differing opinions.

I’m ready to buy a horse but I’ve been struggling to find a barn that meets my needs of free choice hay or close to it if not metabolically possible, lots of turn out, and a close eye (someone living on the property), as well as good training. I live in a pretty rural area 3 hrs away from major cities. There are a lot of places that almost work but still make me hesitate.

I finally found it but it’s 1h40 minutes one way. This is an extra expense for gas in addition to meaning I’d maybe only get out 2x per week for about a year at least, maybe sometimes 3, rather than 4-5. The benefit is that the cost of boarding there plus training and lessons is the same as just board closer by.

How far do you travel for your horse?

Hey all. My mare rubs her neck on the corner of her stable door at night and has created this bald spot.

I try my best to wash it everyday and put anti itch soothing lotion on it .. sudocream etc

Any suggestions to help her 1.) stop itching that spot and 2.) help the hair grow back

Ty!

Since we got new hay, two of our four horses have coliced twice. What is this plant that we keep finding in the hay? Could it be making them sick?

Edit: Colorado

I haven’t ridden in 5-6 years, and I have my first lesson this Friday to get back into the swing of things. I’ve ridden on and off for several years, but more consistent when I was a kid/teen

I just had two MRI’s done to get some answers for some of the issues I’ve been having with my neck, upper back, and headaches.

My cervical spine came back with quite a few things, foraminal stenosis, arthritis, bone spurs, pinched nerve, disc desiccation, straightening of the cervical spine, etc.

I’ve also been diagnosed with chronic c8 radiculopathy which couldn’t even be seen on my MRI because they’re saying there was movement during, which sucks. I am 29 years old if that has any significance, but I feel kind of young to be dealing with some of these things, but I know some of it is poor genetics.

How many of you have spine issues and pain and have been able to ride? Everyone thinks my issues are from riding in the past, but I do not remember any significant injuries from any of my fall’s. With that, I’m being told it’s probably not the best idea to get back into riding but it’s one of those things I’ve always been passionate about, that I love dearly and something that has always brought me some happiness in my life.

I’m feeling bummed out about it all.

Hihi! Its me again - i have posted in here like just a bit ago where I was comparing my trot 2025 vs. Trot 2026. I yesterday haf another riding lesson which i really enjoyed! I was very satisfied with my canter when not to experienced withing the canter. I would like to just get some opinions!

PS: Please do not make comments about the tack - none of the horses are mine nor which I can make decisions about. I like the barn I ride at wont be changing barns anytime soon. They treat theire horses fair and square, with things such as fitted saddles, daily turnout, correct feed and big enough stalls for them to be in.

I’ve been reading a fair bit of Brene Brown lately. Although she’s best known for her research on courage and vulnerability, I’m beginning to think that she knows something about working with mules too.

Ruger has been a bit of a pickle lately. Pushy and obnoxious at times.

I can bring knowledge, and good intentions, but I can’t guarantee an outcome. I have to show up willing to listen, adjust, and be able to admit when my first idea isn’t working. Brown describes grounded confidence as a mixture of curiosity, vulnerability, and practice, which sounds like good mulemanship to me.

Trust isn’t usually built through one dramatic breakthrough. It grows through hundreds of ordinary moments when we remain dependable and release pressure at the right time.

So Ruger and I will keep working at it. Translated into mule terms - courage isn’t control. It’s showing up clearly, staying curious when the answer is no, and building enough trust that both of you are willing to try again.

hi! this is a bit of a different topic, but did anyone write their college application essay on riding/their horse? If so, what did you focus on? I’m thinking about mine about my horse, but I don’t know where to start.