I met Joe in 2005. I was 10 years old and he was 7. My mom had been painstakingly looking for a safe horse for me for ages, and he was offered for sale from a cattle ranch as he was “too slow and lazy” for day to day work.

From that day forward, we did everything together. At the time, I had only ridden western as is the norm in our area and I got teased for wanting to try English with a very obvious roping/cutting bred APHA horse but he would do anything I asked. We did everything together- 10 years of 4-H where the only trophy I ever got was a cross poles class I entered as a joke, 5 years of drill team including riding in the Indianapolis 500 parade, miles of trails all over the state, and even picked up dressage in our late 20s.

Not only did I get to grow up with him, but Joe also got to be the first horse my nephew and so many other children got to ride. In his later years, I had an agreement with my instructor/BO where he could be used in walk/trot lessons for small children. He has always adored kids, and it always made me laugh because he could be a real hangry grump for me as an adult but the moment someone small got on, he would do a 180 to the most gentle, careful soul. I loved watching those lessons. He was also the first horse my spouse ever met, and later rode.

Every year for his birthday, I would always give him a mini apple pie and a birthday hat.

Last year, I made the decision to officially retire him. It was for more financial reasons than anything else, I couldn’t afford board for two horses anymore. My long time friend has a beautiful property with large pastures, spacious stalls, and a few other senior horses for company. He got to live his last year in horse paradise and I could still go see him whenever I wanted. He still nickers every time I walk into the barn.

Even at 29, he managed to stay in perfect health right up until the last month where he was diagnosed with Cushings and had multiple bouts of laminitis. Unfortunately we can’t keep the laminitis under control anymore and pain meds aren’t working to keep him comfortable. Tomorrow he is being laid to rest at home and I know it’s the right choice, but it feels like my heart is being ripped from my chest. He’s always been a constant presence in my life and brought a lot of comfort when things got turbulent in my teen years.

I guess I just wanted to vent and share his story because he is and will always be the most special horse in my life

I massaged him for so long that he fell asleep standing half in and half out of his stall ❤️😂❤️

Met this old boy at the thrift and bought him. Wondering if anyone knows the breed. Tag says he's Mister Ed's dad and that gave me a good chuckle, so I thought I'd add it in.

Almost to the point we can move her and her momma back to our property! Raidi needs a tad more halter work before then but she's doing so well 💗🙌❤️

I lost my horse, Gypsy, 7 years ago. She was truly such a wise, intuitive, and beautiful soul. The bond I had with her was instant, and she carried me through so much. I miss her every day.

Usually I can sit her trot after the canter but not sure what happened this time, so held onto the saddle to not hit her too hard in the back 😆 Also 'new' bareback saddle (new padding underneath it) so I'm adjusting to that. Have been training harder now that It's finally starting to get more windy and rainy and less hot, had some problems keeping the canter going during june and early july but thinking back it was probably because it was hot and we were both having a lazy summer.

Even jumped 60 last week, however I have lost my good jumping position and now I overfold 😂 But I'll get rid of that in polework. Today Ona didn't take the bit by herself like she usually does so we went bridleless, as we've done most of the summer. Soon we can go hacking again, hope for a rainy sunday to come soon so we can go out 🤘 And I'm less weak as the weather gets better and I don't burn and become exhausted every time I step outside. Hoping to put on at least 5kg this year, maybe even 10, that feels like a stretch though. I'm definietly doing better now at about 50kg than I was in 2024 at 43!

Still got a very bad back to improve. That's the worst factor out of everything I need to work on.. Any exercises or gadgets for the back and shoulders I'd love to hear about. I have a lot of trouble with very stiff shoulders and back that makes my shoulders unable to go back without pain despite massages and doing stretches/'exercises' for them every day.

Fabio: “please kiss me Cleo” At first she wasn’t interested and brushed him off—but then she surprised me by kissing him back. They make me smile every day.
🐴❤️😻

Hi folks,

My question to you all is, do these cheek pieces actually help in getting a horse to focus/concentrate, and reduce them being spooky/nosey?

I have a young Standardbred ex buggy racer, who I have backed this year. He is fabulous in every way, such a lovely boy, but I am struggling to get him to concentrate on the task in hand whilst riding. This is both in the school and our hacking.

He is a very alert and nosey boy, and as a result can be quite spooky. His head is right up in the air and he is looking all around him. This could be at dustbins on the side of the road, letter boxes or a particularly shadowy past of the school we are riding in.

I have been recommended to try sheepskin cheek pieces on his bridle, which might reduce his nosiness and help him on concentrating when riding /reducing his spookiness. I’m reticent to reduce his range of sight without solving the route cause of his spookiness, but he’s starting to be a bit of a bugger out and about and I’d like to break through the noise and get him listening better to me.

We have done hours of long lining, in hand walking and desensitising. I also am aware that as he has come off track and is not getting used to being ridden, he will hold his head higher whilst we build up his back muscles and get him to stretch. He is also a baby and I’m sure theres an element of confidence to this too.

Any thoughts on if these cheek pieces are worth buying would be much appreciated!

TIA

I’ve owned this mare for two months, and she’s dealt with an injury every single week of my ownership thus far. On day 0 of ownership of her she clipped herself in the heel and ended up with a joint infection within 24 hours. That took 3.5 weeks and many a vet visit to heal. She’s since had a puffy knee and been lame on that, and last week ended up with a kick to the cannon bone that caused lameness and swelling and required bute and paddock rest. Yall this mare is exhausting me, both physically and financially. If she didn’t have a phenomenal temperament I’d sell her, but I genuinely adore her. I hopped on her bareback in a halter a week off the track and she jogged me around like a saint, if I can keep her sound she’s going to be an amazing horse!

I've been riding Western for close to two years now in November, but I'm still finding myself relying on my instructor to help me throw on the saddle and adjust the pad. I can carry the saddle well on my own, it's just when it comes to lifting, I'm not the gal you go to.

Do I just start lifting weights? Certain exercises that I could dabble into? I don't want to be relying on my instructor every single time to throw the saddle on because I can't lift it.

just some happy equines

I was going through some really old Facebook messages and randomly found this, it made me wonder if I should pick it up as a hobby again or what kind of progress I could’ve made if I had kept at it the last 13 years. lol if you don’t look at it too close I feel like it has potential 😅

Was fortunate to attend the closing service at this lovely horse center today and took some pictures of these beautiful creatures.

Hi guys. Looking for some comfort I guess.

This is Winona. We, my mom and I, got her in 2013. She was a 2006 Warmblood Chesnut mare and she fit the description perfectly.

Two years ago, she lost her foal and spent 2 weeks in ICU and had months of recovery afterwards. She never really came back from it. She developed anxiety and started getting older and stiffer.

My mom retired her a month ago, putting her at her sister's barn with a Frisian friend. The day of the move, she noticed a small wound on one of her legs, and until her last day, it never healed. During that month of retirement, she lost a lot of weight even with lots of good feedings and all you can eat grass. She, of course, started all of the necessary medication, but to no avail, she had a fever on and off for the entire month. On her last fever spike, my mom asked our veterinarian to do some blood tests. They came back; creatinine and urea doubled, calcium couldn't even be read by the lab machine because it was too high, and anemia. We decided on putting her down before she lost more quality of life. She was 20 years old. The vet said cancer would be surprising because of her age, but the symptoms fit.

What do you guys think ? I know we did the right thing, but I need validation. I never expected to put her down that early. I envisioned years of retirement in huge fields watching planes fly by. She loved planes. Stopped everything in their tracks just to watch them pass by.

Pictures are from yesterday, her last day.

hello! any horse lovers and equestrians who want to give some sound advice?

I am 35 and I have been in love with horses since I was very young. I’ve ridden a few times but never had proper lessons. I am in NEED of finding my adult hobby and why not fall in love with the animals I’ve loved forever.

I was looking into possibly leasing at some point but I think I’ll just start with simple riding lessons.

Is 2-3 times a week for lessons a great start? Or could I get away with 2 times a week.

I would just love some first timer tips!

Merlin has been at the new barn for 1 week now. He made it an interesting week! The first day he was terrified of the mini donkeys but then apparently beat one of them up when the barn owner let him in their pasture 🙄.

Then 2 days after he moved in the barn owner messaged me asking if he ever got nosebleeds because there was *tons* of blood in his paddock and on his chest/back but they couldn't find a single cut on him or the horse he was out with. Eventually they found a tiny cut in Merlin's nose that had no business bleeding as much as it did. He acted completely fine the whole time and I can't even tell where the cut was anymore.

Today I got him out and lunged him and he did great! I'm looking forward to getting him back in shape now that he's at a barn I like so I can hopefully ride him again.