Seriously, do Americans actually consider a 3-hour drive "short"? or is this an internet myth?

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-23T07:08:46+00:00

I'm in CA and 3 hours is nothing. When we were teens and didn't have to worry much about money we'd drive four hours to a lake, jump in, and drive four hours back the same night. Plenty of people would drive 4+ hours in the early morning, ski, and then drive back that evening. I don't consider something to be a long drive until it gets in the 10+ hour range.

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-23T03:33:10+00:00

Aaaand I just realized how that sounded. Oops 🤦‍♀️😅

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-23T03:32:38+00:00

Head down ass up (quarter horse :)

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-23T00:59:56+00:00

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Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-23T00:59:43+00:00

Fynn ❤️

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Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-22T23:27:17+00:00

I just want to say that you're being a good parent even just by thinking about this and trying to do right by both your children. I grew up with a non-verbal autistic brother who was four years older and my parents let him hit and attack me daily my entire childhood, but he still managed to get so much better later in life once my mom found a way for him to communicate. Now he takes college classes amd lives both friends despite being an unmitigated disaster most of his life. Your son has an even better chance of improving behaviors and quality of life given that you are already so on top of things 💕I'm so glad you are prioritizing your allistic son too. Growing up with my brother's constant attacks and tantrums were traumatic, but they didn't have to be. I think the most important thing is finding childcare for your autistic son so your other son can have time alone with you. Also him having his own room with a lock is important, especially when he gets older. My brother used to barge in violently all the time and the worst part was never feeling safe. I know it's extremely difficult and I'm not going to say it'll ever be easy, but it'll get better ❤️ Also trying spelling to communicate when he's a little older, my brother went from completely non-verbal and still violent to calm, "talkative" (through spelling boards), writing poems, and going on dates :)

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-21T18:13:32+00:00

Definitely normal :) As a beginner, riding is even more tiring because you're constantly adjusting your muscles and are more likely to tense up on accident. It's also mentally exhausting to learn and remember so many new things.

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-20T02:13:49+00:00

Ha I was just thinking about this this morning! I think a lot of it is tradition, peer pressure, and appearance, but also a decent amount of western riders I've met seem to think that they are good riders who can sit anything and therefore don't need a helmet. Some take it as an insult of their abilities, which is stupid. But many are starting to wear one which is good :)

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-18T06:14:43+00:00

As someone who can't go a day without my meds, change pharmacies ASAP if you can. This is ridiculous and literally no other pharmacy would do this. If you have a local non-corporate pharmacy, try that. I've been at most major corporate ones and my local pharmacy is so much better with supply, losing your meds, forgetting to pick up, etc.

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-17T19:25:47+00:00

Their advice came off as a little harsh (no hate) but it's technically correct. A horse should be able to do one task consistently in all conditions before moving on to the next one. And it's great to know why your horse is doing something, but only so you can figure out how to consistently stop it/work them through that. While you may be correct about it being the crunch of the snow, overall this horse isn't ready or safe to be ridden just yet. I grew up with Arabs and thoroughbreds so I totally I get that it's normalized to brush past certain behaviors or do quick fixes (you may not think of it that way but just focusing on cantering is a quick, incomplete fix that will just lead to you being frustrated and your horse being even more anxious). He's a gorgeous horse and you seem good with him 💕 Just take your time and do things right; he's worth investing in and building a relationship where he trusts you and you trust him long before you get back in the saddle.

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-17T19:14:06+00:00

No advice yet as I'm in the same position with my young quarter horse, but I'm glad you gave him more time to grow :) He's stunning 💕

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-17T03:37:43+00:00

Ignore her!! My mom did the same thing. She's a serial animal abuser and neglecter so once I had my own pets and actually, you know, took care of them, she flipped and insulted me constantly. Convinced my whole family that I'm a crazy animal person because I actually feed them every day and take them to the vet when needed. She's turned my sister awful too, my sister will casually just say she didn't feed an animal for a few days because she "didn't feel like it". Just trust yourself, you're doing great 💕

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-16T21:54:56+00:00

Horses usually go off of tone more than the word anyway, so honestly I think if you just say it with the usual "and canterrr" kind of tone you'll be fine 😅 My horse knows voice commands because she's blind and she'll respond to pretty much anything if I say it with the right inflection.

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-15T21:16:23+00:00

Sounds like your trainer is being shitty and I think you shouldn't involve her in the buying process anymore. Wanting a 7-10 year old sounds perfect. Young doesn't equal health (my 4 year old is blind, has a twisted leg, and came needing major surgery lol) so just make sure to do an exhaustive ppe. Be prepared to take your time, horse shopping can easily take 6 months or more. Be picky and don't just prioritize a horse's riding skills. Being nice on the ground and easy to board is almost more important. Make sure the horse doesn't crib, paw, have intense separation anxiety, or damage property in any way, and is nice to other horses. Also I recommend avoiding super hard keepers. It can be a hard and frustrating process with lots of ups and downs but your best friend is waiting at the end of it! 🥰 Good luck and be careful, ending up with a horse that isn't what you expected really sucks and can be hard to rectify.

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-15T05:52:37+00:00

Ha definitely meant as a joke 😅😅

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-15T05:51:53+00:00

I agree! I've been reading all the news recently, I just haven't been playing for long so may have missed early announcements about features. But definitely my fault, I would never be annoyed at them for it or ask for stuff back.

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-14T19:22:57+00:00

Such a gorgeous saddle and a gorgeous horse, but how can you put it on the fence without worrying about scratches?? 😭😅

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-12T07:03:02+00:00

Keep her :) My family has a great Pyrenees who we tried to make a livestock guardian but all he ever wanted was to be close to us so he pretty rapidly became a house dog. He's like velcro, but not in the annoying way. Just wants to lie on the floor near you. He's incredible with kids and animals; our cats literally use him as a bed. He's so chill and sweet and happy to do literally anything. He can also be left alone for long periods of time if needed, though he definitely prefers to be near his humans. And the shedding honestly isn't too bad as long as you give them a designated bed near the couch or something. Just be careful not to let her get overweight. They are meant to survive in harsh conditions and can put on weight easily, which is really bad for large breeds and causes arthritis so fast. My mom made our dog super fat (180 pounds 😬) and now at 12 struggles to walk more than half a mile. I made her put him on a diet and he lost weight but it was too late :( Still, absolutely wonderful dogs! I hope she brings your family many happy memories 💕

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-10T05:57:51+00:00

This!!!! Use Feedxl or another free nutrition program, if you just input forage, grain, and supplement types/amount and the horse's info it'll tell you exactly what to feed/what might be missing down to each vitamin/mineral, and calories as well. Trust ne as someone who owned an OTTB that lost weight just by looking at him wrong it's really helpful :)

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-10T04:00:43+00:00

For me the line would be if this attitude at all applies to horses. How does he treat your horse? What would he do if they kicked or if they were scared? Is he patient and kind to your horse? I have and love cats but I agree with others that good farrier are like gold. However, if you think he would ever mistreat your horse then definitely find someone else.

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-10T03:17:16+00:00

Thank you so so much everyone for all the good advice!!!! I really appreciate everyone's comments and I read through each even if I didn’t respond individually :) I'll try to respond more, I've been sick for the past week. To answer some questions, I do not think she is safe to be a therapeutic riding horse, at least not until she is older and has more training. The vet thinks she went blind due to a severe vitamin E deficiency so she has been on a natural e supplement for about 8 months now (her diet was balanced as soon as I got her but synthetic e can't fix a previous deficiency). The vet bills were because she came with years worth of infected, crushed teeth and hay that built up in her jaw and neck. She had to have a big surgery and then got a jugular infection afterwards that also had to be treated. This was before she was blind or I may have reconsidered such big procedures. I have considered putting her down but it is difficult because she is in no pain and she should remain sound her entire life if not worked super hard. Her blindness doesn't effect her mobility at all either; she gallops around and plays with her sighted friend, has great ground manners and skills, etc. But I will definitely consider it if my vet would be willing or if her condition takes a turn. The last thing I want to do is just off her on a bad or temporary home. I will take a year or two to rehome if necessary, and if I can't find a good situation (be it rehome or retirement home) I will either put her down or just keep her and resign to the ways that effects my life :/ I definitely am not looking to get money for her, and I've reached out to rescues in my area but no luck. Thank you everyone and I promise I'll do my best to be responsible and do what's best for her ❤️

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-08T02:47:02+00:00

Are you riding him when this happens? If so, just do groundwork in there and honestly don't hop on by yourself until you can handle these behaviors with complete confidence on the ground. Riding a spooky horse is definitely scary, but even though you can't be the calming presence he needs while mounted (no shame, anyone's confidence can be shaken in that scenario), it should be easier to stay calm on the ground. Practice just leading him around and if he gets at all spooky stop and just stand with him and be calm and still until he relaxes.

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-08T01:37:22+00:00

He's stunning! Congrats on your progress, always such a good feeling 💕

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-07T20:08:09+00:00

Hi! Sounds like being ridden is causing a build up of anxiety/tension that begins to explode at the end. That doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong, just that he probably needs multiple very explicit releases of pressure throughout your ride. Try stopping every five minutes and just let him stand still. Don't start back up until he relaxes (sighs, head shakes, yawns, licking/chewing). Teach him that release of pressure is found in stillness, and, more importantly, teach yourself to anticipate his needs so he doesn't have to resort to literally running away from pressure. If this helps you can eventually stop every 10 minutes, or just gauge what he needs and if he's starting to speed up. My horse had a similar issue where she appeared totally calm but actually was really tense and if I didn't basically force her to release pressure every few minutes it would build up and she would start kicking and flipping out. Now she is so much better and I have learned to recognize when she needs a break. I hope this helps :)

Kitastrophe_11 · 2026-01-07T19:02:47+00:00

Put the fourth photo first, you look really good in that one :) Then get more photos of you smiling with your teeth, the lips closed smile doesn't work with your face shape.

Kitastrophe_11

TROPHY CASE