Whoa~! Rein 'em in here and show your horse! 2026

[MyBuddy]

Hey, has anyone ever given their horses cucumbers as a treat?! I was watching a video that was advertising some kind of low calorie low sugar treats. When I Googled it, it's suggested cucumbers as a moist, low calorie treat for horses! All these years I never even thought about giving my horses cucumbers! So of course I had to go out and try it! They ate it! I couldn't believe it! So now everyday I cut up a few pieces and give it to them. Especially since I had more than I can eat!

Mine also love watermelon! And I know some people try that with their horses and they didn't like it. But boy, mine love it! We buy a whole watermelon just for the two of us and between us, Annie, and the horses it's gone in no time!

 

[BGpa]

Hey, has anyone ever given their horses cucumbers as a treat?! I was watching a video that was advertising some kind of low calorie low sugar treats. When I Googled it, it's suggested cucumbers as a moist, low calorie treat for horses! All these years I never even thought about giving my horses cucumbers! So of course I had to go out and try it! They ate it! I couldn't believe it! So now everyday I cut up a few pieces and give it to them. Especially since I had more than I can eat!

Mine also love watermelon! And I know some people try that with their horses and they didn't like it. But boy, mine love it! We buy a whole watermelon just for the two of us and between us, Annie, and the horses it's gone in no time!

BYB Bonnie likes cuke slices...

 

[JanS]

We don't eat watermelon so I don't bother buying any for just the dogs. I know for sure Olive would eat it but I'm not so sure about Elroy. We had one odd cuke out of the garden where one slice was too bitter to eat and the next was really good. We've run into that before if they weren't peeled but this one was. I gave one of those bitter pieces to the dogs and even they turned it down.

 

[MyBuddy]

BYB Bonnie likes cuke slices...

I don't know if I ever offered them to Annie. But once I was cutting them up for the horses, suddenly she was interested! the first time she chewed on it a little bit and spit it out. But every time I went out there and started to cut them up for the horses, she was right there expecting a piece. I cut her up a tiny piece and now she's eating it. She just has to have everything that the horses are having.

 

[Brioddy]

Little update on my Nacho, a few weeks ago I made the decision to switch barns. The main deciding factor was that the previous BOs pack of six large dogs would charge us any time I tried to ride or work with him outside the pasture. Also she raised the board, and although it’s across the street from a state forest the road in question is a semi busy 55 mph highway. She’s also so busy and only one person, so the maintenance isn’t on par. The barn I moved him to he now has a best horse friend, and the property has direct access to the forest. He seems much calmer and happier being around other horses that are also happy and very chill. The owner lives there and that is her job, so she is very hands on and keeps excellent care of the horses and the property. I’m quite pleased with the move! I have not had an opportunity to ride as saddle fit woes BUT I have very recently bought a Ghost treeless saddle which I have been dreaming of and had to wait til I sold a dressage saddle, which finally happened. It did not however, come with stirrups so I have to wait a couple weeks for a set I custom ordered. I may very well buy a cheap pair in the meanwhile. I also ordered a custom rope halter/sidepull rein set I’m excited to get! I have taken him for an in hand walk on the trail but the mosquitoes were TERRIBLE, besides that he was the best boy and marched right along not batting an eye at anything.

 

[Sunje]

Little update on my Nacho, a few weeks ago I made the decision to switch barns. The main deciding factor was that the previous BOs pack of six large dogs would charge us any time I tried to ride or work with him outside the pasture. Also she raised the board, and although it’s across the street from a state forest the road in question is a semi busy 55 mph highway. She’s also so busy and only one person, so the maintenance isn’t on par. The barn I moved him to he now has a best horse friend, and the property has direct access to the forest. He seems much calmer and happier being around other horses that are also happy and very chill. The owner lives there and that is her job, so she is very hands on and keeps excellent care of the horses and the property. I’m quite pleased with the move! I have not had an opportunity to ride as saddle fit woes BUT I have very recently bought a Ghost treeless saddle which I have been dreaming of and had to wait til I sold a dressage saddle, which finally happened. It did not however, come with stirrups so I have to wait a couple weeks for a set I custom ordered. I may very well buy a cheap pair in the meanwhile. I also ordered a custom rope halter/sidepull rein set I’m excited to get! I have taken him for an in hand walk on the trail but the mosquitoes were TERRIBLE, besides that he was the best boy and marched right along not batting an eye at anything.

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The Parelli trainer who helped me start my colt a couple years ago rides in a Ghost and loves it! I have a Startrekk treeless and it is a good saddle, although I bought a treed saddle for my colt after taking a bad fall last year. I just need something more stable with him.

 

[Brioddy]

The Parelli trainer who helped me start my colt a couple years ago rides in a Ghost and loves it! I have a Startrekk treeless and it is a good saddle, although I bought a treed saddle for my colt after taking a bad fall last year. I just need something more stable with him.

A friend of mine who competes her OTTBs in endurance swears by Ghost saddles and is the one who got me interested! They’re also a bit more stable than “traditional” treeless as they have supportive, adjustable panels on each side of the spine. Here’s a photo of mine, although they have many different styles this one is the Quevis and has the western skirt/fenders. Also a photo of the stirrups I ordered the fender is 2 1/2 inches versus the traditional 3 inch and I could not find a set with that measurement that I liked!

 

[Sunje]

A friend of mine who competes her OTTBs in endurance swears by Ghost saddles and is the one who got me interested! They’re also a bit more stable than “traditional” treeless as they have supportive, adjustable panels on each side of the spine. Here’s a photo of mine, although they have many different styles this one is the Quevis and has the western skirt/fenders. Also a photo of the stirrups I ordered the fender is 2 1/2 inches versus the traditional 3 inch and I could not find a set with that measurement that I liked!


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Beautiful saddle! The Startrekk is similar in that it has panels that mimic a treed saddle. But after having the saddle slip a little, then my colt got confused by my off-balance, bucked, I went off and broke a vertebrae. He is still a bit excitable and I'm still not convinced that I am up for it, so the treed saddle offers more stability in the face of shenanigans.

 

[LifeofRubie]

Man.... I love tack, so, so, so, so much...

Glad you found a place that seems more agreeable to his demeanor. I love his friends dorsal stripe!

@MyBuddy how is Stilt's doing? Still seems confident when you're riding?

 

[Ravenbird]

But after having the saddle slip a little, then my colt got confused by my off-balance, bucked, I went off and broke a vertebrae. He is still a bit excitable and I'm still not convinced that I am up for it, so the treed saddle offers more stability in the face of shenanigans.

So many little things that can lead to wrecks - you and your horse both have to feel confident, especially the young horses...

 

[Brioddy]

Man.... I love tack, so, so, so, so much...

Glad you found a place that seems more agreeable to his demeanor. I love his friends dorsal stripe!

@MyBuddy how is Stilt's doing? Still seems confident when you're riding?

I also love tack, so so so much my spare room is full of it! I especially love saddles, I will find deals on marketplace and resell as a hobby. His buddies name is Apollo, he’s a grullo quarter horse. Poor guy was by himself for a year before coming to this barn and pastured with Nacho, he is obsessed! I feel bad for him because any time I take Nacho out, he runs around freaking out. Even though there’s horses in the surrounding pastures.

Sunje, as a saddle enthusiast I will have to look up the Startrekks as they are new to me. I get needing something secure for the young horse shenanigans. My guy is five but being off the track, has experienced a whole lot more than other horses his age.

 

[MyBuddy]

how is Stilt's doing? Still seems confident when you're riding?

Yes I think he's doing very well! I feel that removing that eye was probably the best thing we ever did for him. Of course, in the end, it HAD to come out. But before that it was probably giving him the heebie jeebies because he couldn't see clearly. And for a prey animal, that's scary. Of course now, with one eye, he sees clearly but just not with a wide field of vision. But it's so much better than wondering what the hell you're looking at! So I'm praying that the other eye remains good.

Man.... I love tack, so, so, so, so much...

I can't say that I'm a tack Junkie. Nor do I know that much about brands and such. I just know what is pleasing to my eye and what feels good. But the last couple of years I have considered getting rid of some stuff. Since I really only have one horse to ride out of three, and now two, I've been going through a few things. I had my farrier help me decide on the saddle I want to keep. And it's really the one I've been riding with all along. Funny thing though, it's actually a roping saddle! I mean I knew that, so I was considering one of the other two even though this one was still my favorite. So we weighed the pros and cons. This one is pretty heavy but we both agreed the other two are not much lighter. This one is a little bigger than the other two, and the cantle is a little higher in the back, giving a nice seat. And the swell height is higher than the others also, allowing for Stilts's high withers. He has a long back and I always felt this saddle fit him best and looked good on him. So my decision was made.

Over the years I had collected quite a few odds and ends also. Some new, some at tack sales, etc. I think I had five breast collars, four bridles, a few sets of shin boots, leg wraps, several lead ropes and halters, lunge ropes and cleaning and medical supplies! I've been going through everything trying to pick and choose what I want to keep and what I might sell. It's hard to part with anything but it seems silly to keep it all. There's a man who bought my horse trailer a few years ago who might be interested. So I have to make a decision.