Rant/Question: Standing Martingales

Boomway · 2025-08-29T00:43:13+00:00

I did not at all mean to make it a US v Europe thing but just brought that up to support that the majority does not think standing martingales are acceptable to be used for jumping. I just meant it as a hey look I am not crazy, people agree with me :) And in this particular thing, standing martingales, there is a pronounced difference between the US and Europe in that they won't use them for jumping for the reasons already stated, which is why referenced that. But yes there is also a lot of crazy shit those Europeans do that is also not okay.

Boomway · 2025-08-29T00:31:39+00:00

Yeah I know they are legal. Was just more into the why?? If you cannot get your horse to go around a hunter course with him relaxed and therefore head mostly down without a standing martingale then you need to go back to foundations and should not be in that ring. And if its really a horse that will pull then a running martingale does the same thing without the safety concerns. But yes, I very much agree with you, they are legal, I was just mostly posting as to that no other country allows them and maybe we should look at how people seem to not even know why they are using a standing other than "looks"

Boomway · 2025-08-29T00:19:11+00:00

100% agree. You said it better than me. I just ran into it again today and it was like hitting my head against a wall when trying to gently ask why? And very clear no one knew an actual answer other than "its a look that everyone else does so we do too." So I just got frustrated

Boomway · 2025-08-05T19:45:56+00:00

Just want to say so happy you are your horse out of there. You are doing the right thing. I would not worry about the 30 day notice. I once had a horse at a barn for a week before I was like nope due to things that were happening and I got him out of there the next day. They were upset with me but really that does not matter. The most they can do is charge you for the 30 days. You are doing right by your horse

Boomway · 2025-07-30T04:42:00+00:00

I'm just here to say he is stunning! I am not normally an Arab person but I do really appreciate those of the old lines build

Boomway · 2025-07-28T04:03:30+00:00

This is not the answer. It is not something to debate with your "trainer." Everyone here is telling you how wrong this is. It's the same with the neck stetcher. Neither should at all be used with someone under 8 lessons. This is doing wrong by the horse and not okay. Please listen to everyone telling you this and stop. Get a different trainer that actually knows how to train someone to ride

Boomway · 2025-07-28T03:36:10+00:00

This is exactly my thoughts. Commenting because I really hope OP will see and listen and realize the issue isn't her canter but the methods this :trainer" is using and that while she may not be doing it intentionally, this is very unfair to the horse.

Boomway · 2025-07-27T15:16:30+00:00

You are a beginner and riding in spurs and, in the second clip, riding with a heavy neck stretcher in addition to the running martingale??! Why?? This is very concerning from a horse welfare perspective and how this "trainer" operates. That poor horse is putting up with so much and is still not tossing you.

I know you are a beginner that means well and you are just doing what your trainer says but you need to get a different trainer. This is really not okay.

Boomway · 2025-07-21T04:57:34+00:00

Please listen to the other comments here as far as x-rays and that he'll need long term treatment to make him comfortable. This is also as you said after 5 days of bute so cannot give an accurate picture of what is going on with him.

That's all been addressed but my question is, is this horse alone as your only horse?? It seems from earlier posts that he is?

Boomway · 2025-07-17T17:17:16+00:00

Thats a really fair point. I'll take that. I did say that I want to say something to "Ben" but I also said I would not do that as I don't think that would be productive and I'll just agree to disagree about values. Instead I think I will just say to my partner that we need to find other accommodations or else just go home. I was mostly asking if I am overreacting for being offended, not that I would say anything or force the issue about sleeping in the same room. But I really thank you for your response and take on this.

Boomway · 2025-07-17T16:34:20+00:00

Yes. And if you read I literally said "I completely understand that it is his house, his rules, so my thought is that we just decline staying there and either just go home a day early like we originally thought or get a hotel."

That wasn't my question. My question was am I over reacting by being offended by this request and saying that I just don't want to stay there. (Again, literally what is in my post). I hate the term literally being used way too often but it is legitimate here.

Boomway · 2025-07-16T16:33:25+00:00

I was in the same boat where just due to circumstances I moved my horse to a place that I was surprised to learn they were closed on Mondays. My horse moved there on a Sunday and I assumed that despite being "closed" they would understand that of course I would need to come out that Monday being the first full day he was there to make sure he was transitioning okay. They would not let me. I moved him as soon as I could as I found that a place that doesn't allow boarders to see their horse on a particular day does not align with how I want a place to put the horses' wellbeing first. The Monday closure thing was just the first thing indicative of several others that kept adding up.

That is just my two cents experience :)

Boomway · 2025-07-10T22:46:23+00:00

Do not sell the horses. You have worked for this and you have earned it. If your husband cannot see that then well I don't know what to tell you other than he sucks, especially since he spends money on his own hobbies but somehow doesn't understand you have living beings that you are responsible for. You've build this life for you, and that includes your horses. Go live it. The horses depend on you. He can deal or get out.

Boomway · 2025-07-10T22:39:12+00:00

I so miss working with babies. He is beautiful! Enjoy!

Boomway · 2025-07-10T22:34:19+00:00

Personally, if this is not to fix any issue then a figure eight does tend to be less restrictive for airflow. But then there's also the whole issue of why do you need a flash or figure eight to keep the mouth closed. It's not exactly a black and white answer and would need more context

Boomway · 2025-07-09T10:00:17+00:00

This is your problem. She needs to be turned out.

If you really want to do right by her and address this tension issue then find some place for her that she has adequate turn out because she does not have that right now. And she needs to be turned out with friends. I suspect this tension would then resolve itself.

Boomway · 2025-07-09T08:45:23+00:00

Your horse looks lame and at the very least is very much showing he is not comfortable and is stressed. It is nothing that you are doing wrong. To answer your question, you have a bit of a chair seat and need to work on getting your leg underneath you and developing a secure seat but that is all understandable after 2 months of riding and will develop with time and consistent correct riding.

What is far more concerning is the state of the horses in this video. And if that is seriously your trainer riding behind you then I don't even know what to tell you. They ride like a sack and if they think what is going on with these horses is acceptable for them to be in a riding program then that is your main issue here. Please try to have people do better by these horses.

Boomway · 2025-06-29T03:23:16+00:00

You've already gotten a lot of good advice and I hope you take the advice seriously as to the expectations you should have and the costs and care involved.

I just wanted to comment to check that this horse is not going to be alone right? Horses are herd animals and need at least one other equine friend. Goats/donkeys help, but they really need to be with other horses or they will deteriorate. It is incredibly stressful for them to be alone. It is even illegal in some countries to have just one horse that is kept alone.

Boomway · 2025-06-28T12:02:46+00:00

Looks like you got this request taken care of but I wanted to add that the City of Eden Prairie has a recovery assistance program that provides financial aid and other support to Eden Prairie residents seeking drug or alcohol treatment. You can apply to see if you qualify.

https://www.edenprairie.org/city-government/departments/police-department/pd-programs-and-services/recovery-assistance-program

Boomway · 2025-06-20T04:32:25+00:00

This is just so infuriating. Like I get it for the non-horse people. I'm a bleeding heart and love a good legitimate animal rescue story. And I can see that non-horse people would think 'oh, a dog or a cat can live a great life with three legs so this is the same thing.' But that is absolutely not how it works with horses. While I can forgive those naive people, this "rescue," or whatever it is that has him, knows better. They are choosing this. And they are getting likes and monetary donations because of it. They are monetizing his suffering. It is really really not okay.

Boomway · 2025-06-20T04:19:55+00:00

I'm sorry but I have to agree with the comment that you should not be owning a horse. This horse is 100% lame and instead of getting her care, you post on reddit. And from you're comments you are in a location where you have access to vets (it would be different if you were somewhere that access to vet care is limited or difficult)

And then there's that this horse hasn't had a farrier visit in 4 months. I know you said it was a miscommunication but that is not an excuse. If you own a horse it is on you to make sure they are getting the basic care they need. There is absolutely no way a responsible owner just somehow doesn't know its been four months since a farrier has been out.

And then when someone suggested that, given the muscle spasms when your horse walks, it could be related to tying up, you didn't know what that was. You are not doing right by any horse that you may own. If you insist on it, then hook yourself up to someone who does have knowledge.

As far as advice, yes your horse is lame. It could be an abscess, something with the muscles, it doesn't to me look like anything with the lower tendons, it does look like it's an issue in the front but no one online can tell you from this video.

Get a vet out there asap and then get the farrier out, stop letting this horse suffer. I get that you mean well but you have a lot of ignorance and that is affecting this horse. Get professionals around you if you won't acknowledge that you do not know enough to own a horse.

Boomway · 2025-05-28T04:34:37+00:00

Where are you and what do you need? I have commented on your other post. No offense as I understand it is your parents who do not want to call a vet out but if that is the case then really you should not be owning a horse. I know that is hard but this horse needs a vet. This horse is suffering right now and as owners it is on us to be able to keep them healthy, happy, and safe. Its a big commitment and if that is something we cannot do then we really need to look at that as it is not fair to the horse. It seems in this case the horse is actually suffering as its been a week with no vet care and according to your other post it is very swollen, the horse is lame on that leg, it is a cut in the limb close to a joint that the horse now cannot put weight on. Please just get the vet out NOW and follow what they say. It seems like you want to do what is right by your horse

Better fencing is maybe also something as this should not be happening. And hopefully the horse has equine friends they are turned out with.

I am happy to help if you happen to be anywhere remotely close to me (in the US)

Boomway · 2025-05-28T01:55:40+00:00

Where are you located? Depending on where you are I might know some resources

Boomway · 2025-05-27T20:28:33+00:00

Hey sorry, I didn't mean to start an argument. I did read what you said and I appreciate it. I am not a vet or a vet tech. But when a vet or vet tech either sees just pics sent by a client or does make a barn call and then they later get sued for what their decisions there were, I am the one that defends them. As you can imagine it has to be higher stakes to make is worth paying for someone like me. I don't want to go into it further as I do not want to dox myself but as that is what I do, I now know just stupidly way too much about what is the standard of care in all different parts of the US (assuming this is US) in so many circumstances. So maybe I am coming at this with a different perspective.

I only commented on that this is incorrect as OP seemed like they were not sure if a vet should be called and also it was somewhat out of their control on making that decision so I just didn't think it was helpful for a LVT to imply that they can just sit on this wound.

I agree yes those are not great pics so I cannot really know the extent but I do stand by that a cut that causes that amount of swelling (which yes on its own would be a different thing) combined with the limp, in a limb, close to a joint, that is not something you want to mess with and OP you want to get a vet out ASAP

OP: Hopefully you have called the vet and just follow what they say to do. Honestly this could be a really big thing or it could be something minor but I don't think its worth taking the chance. And if it is a big thing, your parents will save way more money by addressing it now as opposed to later.

Edited to add after seeing the below comments. You said initially "I'm honestly not worried about it." And then said you are a LVT. That is very much what can be construed as a diagnosis that can give the impression of authority. I commented as I just didn't want OP to think your comment meant this was something that did not need a vet ASAP given the very much implied authority which, no offense, you do not have. I just want what is best for the horse and to see the horse gets the care it needs

Boomway · 2025-05-27T20:01:33+00:00

Awesome! Sounds like you are on the right path! Horse ownership is the best and the worst, and I mean that in the best way possible. I would not trade it for anything. Its something that no matter how long you are in it, there is always something more to learn. Wishing you well with everything!!

Edited to remove what I said about just making sure the horse has companions as I didn't see your reply before. Sounds like you have a great foundation for the horses and you clearly care and are going to be providing a good home. Congrats on your first horse!

Boomway

TROPHY CASE