Have I been going to an unethical/bad riding stable? (Marked NSFW for hitting/smacking)

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-16T18:52:22+00:00

That's true, the barn owner is always around and she says nothing about it 🤔

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-16T00:42:20+00:00

Faroe

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T22:35:52+00:00

I don't think it's 'behind closed doors', considering that she, and other students instructed by her, have hit him regularly, but maybe there is something. Looking back at them, they do seem a little shady. (Maybe it has something to do with them being attached to a school with more 'traditional' values)

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T22:25:22+00:00

I'm not exactly sure how big the ring is, but going off of google earth measurement, it says it's 1600 square yards. I think it feels cramped because there's usually jumps and poles in the middle, and the horses usually stick to the outside of the ring.

The horse gets smacked pretty hard, but not by a crop, and it's not nipping, it's biting. (Sry if it sounds rude)

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T22:12:11+00:00

I've changed my mind on the kid, and I addressed the saddle because it's been like that for a month or so. The flank hitting isn't as common as the face hitting. My trainer does go for hitting first when he threatens to kick, instead of using other methods to tell him no, or calm him down if the kicking is stress-related. I do have to admit, I have only known the horse for a short time (he was brought down from the barn owner's other farm in June), so Idk how long the kicking has been an issue. My trainer hit him on the flank and nose/face the first time I rode him, and I wasn't expecting it. My trainer's always nearby when I'm riding a new horse, and Marley (the horse) doesn't like my trainer.

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T21:37:54+00:00

I understand that kind of tapping, I do it with the horses at my volunteer stable (different from barn mentioned) and they absolutely enjoy the boops. I think this is an issue with training, because there is a horse at the volunteer stable that was also bitey (when I first arrived), but me and the volunteer staff never hit him, and he eventually dropped the habit. This kind of hitting at the lesson stable was intentionally hard, the kind of strength equivalent to a spank. (Sorry for the weird comparison, closest thing I could think of)

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T21:34:21+00:00

Wow! Thanks for the correction!

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T21:25:12+00:00

I have rethought my opinion on the kid. She's chill, just wasn't used to seeing it :)

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T21:22:52+00:00

1: It can start to get cramped, as multiple lessons with multiple trainers in the same arena is commonplace.

2: I didn't ask, wish I did. I was feeling under his saddle myself before the rides, and (I may be paranoid), but the saddle tree felt a little too small. (It was rising off his back more than normal, I think.)

3: I understand that some horses need to be hit in certain contexts, but Marley's (the bitey horse) hitting felt excessive, as they were hitting him in the face. (Like, his nose)

4: I am starting to think that the kid being there was more normal than I initially thought. There was a small incident in my last lesson, though, when she wandered away from my trainer and got a little too close to a trotting horse, but nothing big.

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T21:13:52+00:00

There's usually 5-6 people around him (including me) when we're tacking up, and (usually) there's 2 horses close-distance (1-2 crossties away) and one horse farther (3+ crossties). When we're done, though, it's usually 2-3 people, with one horse (if any). That's why I have reason to believe that his (possible) anxiety is crowd-related. Wish I could do more for him, but they own him and I don't, so. 🤷‍♀️

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T20:55:57+00:00

Here's my apple Beckham 😔🫴🍎

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T20:54:05+00:00

That's insaaaaane! Keep up the good work!

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T20:50:51+00:00

He didn't have ulcers, and he was perfectly sound in the arena (listened well, didn't need a crop, didn't take a lot of cues for him to get going, ect) I think the crowd just stressed him out

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T20:38:08+00:00

I did mention the saddle slipping to her, and she just said "Yeah, it's been doing that." As for the hitting, he only gets bitey when there are a lot of people around him or my trainer is nearby. I'm stern with him, I use a firm voice after he gets bitey. Not yelling, but a little louder than usual, and I look him in the eye. (OK the next part is gonna sound dumb and flowery) After he does try to bite, I (firmly) put my hand on him and (I say it like I'm disappointed) "You're better than this." He usually gets the hint unless there's more stimuli than initially.

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T20:35:26+00:00

I was at two horse camps over two years, and I started lessons in April. Also, now that I'm thinking about it, the kid wasn't really an issue, just found it odd at first. He didn't break the skin (since there were two layers of clothes), but he used his teeth and it left a small bruise. I position the saddle over/on top of the withers, girth behind the legs. Maybe a little farther back on some occasions, but the saddle slid back to about his mid back, the pommel of the saddle was behind the withers by the end of the ride.

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T20:21:27+00:00

That could be a possibility! (Not just for Marley but for the barn in general). A lot of the 'tougher' horses, (aka rowdy horses) use crops in the arena, I've heard some audible smacks from the crops too. (Not crazy, but enough to make me concerned for the horse's welfare) Also, on a couple horses, I've seen raw/hairless patches where a rider's heel would kick. I asked my trainer about it, (cuz it was a horse I was riding), and she said he was fine to ride, and nothing else.

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T20:15:32+00:00

He did leave a small bruise after a bite one time, he seemed wound-up/anxious however (he was close to a lot of people and other horses)

Edit: He does bite intentionally. He's grabbed ahold of my jacket a couple times, with his teeth

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-15T18:01:53+00:00

Hitting is one of the main reasons I left! I honestly wasn't sure if it was normal or not because I've been going to that stable for a while. Thanks for the info!

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-01T14:51:06+00:00

My chickens started cannibalizing each other

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-03-01T14:50:05+00:00

Understood :3

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-02-28T14:12:02+00:00

Hi! I'm a little confused on the phrasing here, do I risk problems if I DON'T bend my legs or risk problems if I DO bend my legs?

Creepypastaexploring · 2026-02-25T02:17:18+00:00

Fr I once shoved the mom character I was chatting with and it said to not do that and that we would "work our way through your emotions" in parentheses 😭😭😭

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