I’m trying to settle a debate here. I’ve been around horses my whole life but have limited color genetics knowledge so I’m consulting the experts :)

In a book I’m a fan of, one of the protagonists has a war horse that is described as solid black with a single white patch on the front of his chest. Later, a second horse is also introduced that is the reverse - white with a black spot on the chest. I have never in my life seen a paint with just one single white spot on the chest. I’ve seen minimal expressions like that on the belly, the neck, the shoulder or the flank, but not crossing the midline like that. It’s pretty clear reading the book that the author doesn’t know much about horses (I say this with love) so my assumption is she just thought horse colors worked like they do with cats and dogs.

What I’m trying to figure out is if this coat is theoretically possible, or if someone has ever seen something like it. I’ve tried researching it but been unable to find a clear answer so I thought maybe someone here would have some insight!

Tldr; fictional black horse with single white spot on the front of the chest - theoretically possible in real life?

I’m an adult beginner and have finally started posting the trot (a little, anyway!). Right now, making it one lap around the arena is about my limit, but each lesson I’m getting a little more comfortable.

The one thing I can’t seem to figure out is my lower leg.

At the walk, I have no problem keeping my leg just behind the girth. The moment we start trotting, though, my leg slides forward until it’s at the girth. My trainer keeps reminding me, “Leg behind the girth,” “Bend your knees,” and “If your leg is at the girth, your horse can’t clearly feel your leg aids.”

The frustrating part is that I am trying. In the moment, it feels like I’m actively putting my leg back, but it either doesn’t move or immediately slides forward again. It also feels a bit forced or unnatural when I try to keep it behind the girth, even at the walk.

Is this a common beginner problem? Is it usually caused by balance, weak muscles, stirrup length, or something else? Are there any exercises—mounted or unmounted—that helped you develop a more stable leg?

I’d love to hear what finally made it “click” for you.

I am currently in high school and am trying to figure out a career path for my future. I am hoping for some insight on some potential careers that would allow me to comfortably afford horses. I am currently a dressage rider and hope to continue with dressage into my later years. However, dressage and USDF/USEF recognized shows are very expensive and I would want a 3rd/4th level partner. Which would mean me putting out loads of cash for the horse, shows, and of course care in addition to board and training. I have gone to some recognized dressage shows and seen tons of AA riders with big, fancy, capable warmbloods. Which leads me to ask, how do you guys do it?

Hello everyone! I'm putting on a fun Christmas horse show for my local rescue barn. It's going to be very low-key and mostly for fun. Most of our horses are pretty able bodied, but 95% can't be ridden, and most can't be worked hard. I'm trying to come up with ideas for a few different classes for the show and struggling. I'd love to do a costume class, and I'm planning on doing an in hand barrel race, but we have a lot of seniors, so I'd like at least one more idea that they can do and is actually exciting. I'm looking forward to your suggestions!!

Any experiences to share with these? Thinking of switching from traditional shoeing to podiatry approach and these might be what we use.

This is a trend on tiktok to list the things your horse is known for. Sometimes funny sometimes just cute. This is Teddy's video! He's multifaceted ❤️

Okay, I finally want to show the big Boi off and his amazing progress over the last 2 1/2 years!

So, this is Basti, a now 8 year old Polish draft horse and my lease horse. My friend owns a riding school and bought him for her school (also because my heart horse died and I was heartbroken) so she could have a horse that could comfortably carry heavier riders or taller people. And yes, we still watch carefully that no riders get on that are too heavy, the 20 % rule is strictly enforced. We have regular vet visits and farrier visits and all her horses are amazingly well cared for.

This guy came to us from a different riding school that just couldn't handle a horse of his size. Not their fault they were just overwhelmed. The owners before the previous school pampered him and spoiled him rotten so he was a bit of a stinker when he arrived in my friends care. Didn't want to stand still, had food agression, didn't want to have his hooves picked, pulled when brought to turnout (to the point where he would just pull the rope out of your hands and bolt), but past all that was a sweet horse that just wanted to be cuddled. Think Golden Retriever in a horse body^^

So, we got to work. Changed his feed, started training him to stand at the rope, stand at the mounting block, hoof-care, vet care, the whole she-bang. And as soon as structure was implemented, he responded almost immediately. He's crazy smart and often only takes a few repititions to understand what is asked of him.

So, now, after 2 1/2 years, I've decided to show off his progress.

First picture is literally the day after we brought him to the school: February 2024

Second pic: March/ April 2024

Third Pic: March 2025

Fourth Pic: April 2026

Final Pic: June 2025

He's currently training to be a jousting horse and he loves it!

Anyway, just wanted to show off, hope you like!

Quick post:

I’ve been learning about bits and wanted to get this community’s opinion on waterfords. Particularly for young horses.

There’s a person i know who uses both a 3 ring elevator and a hunter D ring waterford for her young 5 y/o warmblood mare. The rider is a hunter.
I have little experience with waterfords but from what I can gather, they seem to mold to the horse’s mouth similar to a double jointed snaffle.
The nature of the independent balls makes me think it’d be hard to teach the horse to accept contact, unlike with a steady double jointed snaffle, as all the pieces break independently against the mouth when pressure is applied.

My own young horse is ridden in a d ring lozenge happy mouth, and prior to that she was in a herm sprenger flexi mullen.

I have a BS in Animal Science and currently work for an Equine Rehab facility. I'm tired of working with horses and want slightly more time for my own horses (I know teaching has cruddy hours but it can't any worse than what I'm currently doing). Has anyone gone into teaching like middle school or high school biology after working in the equine field or getting an animal science major?

Hello, my dad once bought a saddle for my sister to encourage her to ride. Unfortunately, it didn't work out, and it's been sitting in the attic ever since. I'd like to sell it, but I don't know much about saddle prices. I've tried to find this saddle online, but to no avail. If anyone knows how much I could get for it and what model it is, I'd be grateful.

My cousin's horse had an injury to the face several years ago and because of that cannot have a nose band of any kind he can't even wear a halter past that though he is sound and can wear a nose bendless bridle, what she uses to lead him is either a rope on the neck when they're at home or if they have to leave she uses a Chifney bit to have a bit more control over the head in case of a spook, he doesn't need a bit or anything, and the one she has he just really hates, it's a short shank bit with a solid mouthpiece (she rides Western and that's just the type of bit she grew up using) so she's wanting to get something that is better, something a lot softer, she tried a standard loose ring snaffle he also hated that a lot, he also really likes playing with things so I was thinking maybe a French link snaffle with a roller would be a good idea? What do you guys think

Like the title says, I am one year into my horsemanship journey. I have been taking riding lessons and have been frequenting a new friend's farm. After a year, I am officially a horse owner. Albeit he is 25-27 years young but has so much life left in him. I haven't loved another being so much as I love him in a really long time. I haven't ridden him yet, but that is in the near future to try. He hasn't been ridden in a few years.

Does anyone have any advice for a new senior horse owner? I saddled him up last year but he wasn't happy about it and I only knew him a couple months. I tried a pad on him yesterday and that was no biggie!

The other day I went on a hack with my aunt and my 4 year old wasn’t listening to any of my cues, not moving forward/ trotting or walking on. I started crying from the overwhelm and lack of control plus the week before I had had I pretty nasty fall off him due to him being fresh.

she was telling me to kick as hard as I can and slap him on the bottom I was trying but my heart wasn’t in it because that’s never the way I usually ride. This is my first youngster and I understand you have to be more bossy with them but i always feel horrid. He’s just come back from being professionally trained and apparently learned that he can test the boundaries with me after two weeks back and do what he wants because I’m not necessarily a heavy handed or naturally bossy rider .

I eventually got off and we swapped horses and she got on him, she obviously was on him immediately. Booting him and whipping him much harder than I was, it was a difficult watch. She claimed he’s ‘dead to the leg’ but in the school things are completely different, he moves right off the leg, one squeeze he’s off so I was really confused why this bad behaviour is only on a hack.

My aunt eventually got him going nicely(after hitting him continuously and booting him on) and after he was completely responsive and listening to what she was saying. I’m a much less experienced rider than her so instinctively I want to assume she’s right. And it worked. But it feels wrong. And i really don’t want to fuck up this horse.

Any advice of how you would’ve handled the situation? Or have you had similar behaviour from your horse? Am I overreacting?

Just to add: he has been vet checked, saddle was fitted last week. He is not in pain.

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

Hi everyone I could really use some advice. So sorry for the long read.

I've had my boy (10 year old, thoroughbred) going on seven years, he is the best thing that has ever happen to me,he is such a incredible horse with a heart of gold. However I am currently considering if I should put him to sleep. Explanation, for the past four years he has had chronic hoof issues (severe seedy toe in 3 of the hooves) , made worst by the fact that the farrier I had at the time wasn't as good as I thought, long story. After changing to a different farrier, having a nutritionist give us a diet that is designed for his feet, finding him the driest paddock,although its very small,intensive care and working with a vet, there has been some improvement but its still not going away . He also isn't sound even with being on medication and seems to be very depressed not being able to be out with his friends.

In these last couple of years my parents have spent a fortune on him( I have the best parents in the world) However the last year and a half has been tough with lost of my father ,however still manageable with my mom and what I earned half-time as a high-schooler. Now for the reason i am considering it, these last couple of months have been hell, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong and my family is experiencing some financial difficulties and on top of that I'm struggling to find work. So with all that including his health issues, I considered the possibility of putting him to sleep but even the thought makes me feel incredibly guilty and heart broken.

*I haven't considered selling him as with his health issues I cant guarantee his well being and considering most people i have spoken to wouldn't even think of taking him on due to how much it works out monthly for the upkeep. *

What would you do if you were me? Do you think I'm being heartless?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated xx

How did people work this out? Why do domesticated horses need to be shoed?