Friendly Horse Questions

One of the greatest benefits of social media communities, is the way it lends access to shared wisdom. Take horse ownership for example. You might think you know the basics, you might even have a few textbooks on your shelf, but then your mare throws you a curved ball. And it might seem too trivial (and expensive) to raise with your vet. You don't know whether to be concerned or not. For Friendly horse-related questions, this group might have your back. A fair number of questions concern correctly aging a new purchase - which means dental shots. There are also weight gain tips for rescue horses or workouts for plump ponies. Find confidence in how to raise issues with your farrier or vet. Get advice on how to restore an old saddle, which wound spray to buy and strategies for combating thrush. I liked the current cover image (but obviously this might be subject to change). 

Members: 106.3k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: There might be medical questions.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Wild Horses of Sand Wash Basin

The Sand Wash Basin, located in a 166,000 acre parcel of public land to the north-west of Colorado, is home to a diverse collection of wildlife that includes sage grouse, bald eagles, foxes, coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, black bears, elk, and mule deer, but this Facebook group features one of its most majestic species - wild horses. With their distinct color patterns, many of these equines are familiar characters to the wildlife photographers and fans who document their life stories and gift them with noble names such as Divine, Sprite, Lola, Brayley, Fireball, Astro, Picasso, Cairo, Sky King, Starshine, Spirit Dancer and Midnight Blue. There is something compelling about their beauty and their grace. Their stories provide fascinating nuance. It is obvious that their images are shared with deep love and authenticity. There is also a related Facebook page with 247k followers. 

Members: 44.6k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit and join. 

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The Trail of Painted Ponies Collectors Group

The Trail of Painted Ponies Collectors Group

If you can't afford to own living horses and ponies, then figurines have to be the next best consolation. They don't need feed or visits from the farrier and most of them can be accommodated in the average display cabinet. For those unfamiliar with the company, The Trail of Painted Ponies was founded by author Rod Barker and had already released a startling range of over 400 collectible ponies, many of them designed by everyday artists guided only by their creative muse and their love for horses. There are even special celebrity designs from Dolly Parton, Ali MacGraw, Barbara Eden and Tony Curtis, and other partner initiatives to benefit. (If you live in the USA and you have an idea for an artist's horse, check out the company website for more details.) The Facebook Group is for collectors showing off their equine treasures, looking for display ideas or posting pony figurines for sale. It offers members and visitors the opportunity to acquire or admire retired models, such as the Blue Medicine pony, Tropical Reef pony, Lightning Bolt Colt or the Poinsettia Pony. The ponies are all so beautifully made - they are a joy to behold. 

Members: 4.9k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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BLM Mustang Hub

The mustang is an iconic image of the Wild West. The mere image of a herd of wild mustangs galloping across the arid areas of Nevada evokes a powerful image of freedom. Descended from previously domesticated horses, these are the around 50,000 feral horses live on a series of Western and Mid-Western herd areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management. To prevent over-grazing, groups of these horses are periodically captured in round-ups and offered for adoption. While they make resilient, honest horse, these mustangs need patience and specialized training to adapt to an environment radically different from their former lives. For anyone willing to invest time and effort into taming one of these unique equine beauties, the BLM Mustang Hub offers a platform to share their stories, challenges and little victories. Admire their unique coat colors and learn how they came to connect with their owners. Ask others for tips and advice on how to get started. Or simply share your favorites among the horses still waiting for good homes. 

Members: 117.2k, at the time of writing. 

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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Tevis Cup Virtual Ride

Tevis Cup Virtual Ride

 The Tevis Cup, a 100-mile endurance event for equestrians covering a trail from Robie Park, near Lake Tahoe to the historic town of Auburn in California, dates back to the inaugural ride in 1955. The challenge is to complete this route within 24 hours. Upon completion, horses are evaluated by an on-site vet and there is a separate award given to the horse that finishes in the best physical condition. Typically, around 10,000 horses set out at dawn, of which only about half are expected to cross the finish line within the allotted time. But if you're nowhere near California, or if your horse is not quite the badass, long-distance super athlete usually seen at the main event, there is another way to experience this epic adventure. In 2020, when Covid pre-cancelled most sport and entertainment events, the Tevis Cup organizers introduced the Tevis Cup Virtual Ride, which made the event more accessible to riders from other locales. For the Virtual ride, you may complete the distance in multiple smaller sprints over a 100-day period, logging your progress and sharing your experience. The Facebook Group gives riders an opportunity to share photos and footage from their journey and to express pride in the performance of their horses. What makes this so awesome, is that it gives ordinary hackers the experience of being part of something epic.

Members: 8.5k members, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Work with ICELANDIC horses in Iceland

Work with ICELANDIC horses in Iceland

Volunteering with horses is a bucket-list activity for many young animal lovers and Iceland has a quaint and magical allure that attracts many visitors. As an ancient breed known for its sturdy resilience and unique fifth gait, Icelandic horses are popular choices for cross-country riding and even certain equestrian sports disciplines. They are gentle, with a rugged, yet endearing appearance. If you are looking for volunteering opportunities that include access to riding and working with horses, you can post your availability and skillset, or browse through the available listings. Even if you're not yet ready to take the plunge for this popular gap year activity, the posts should give you a good idea of what's required and what to expect. 

Members: 26.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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The Medieval Horse and its Equipment

The horse is such a central figure in popular media depictions of the Middle Ages that most people seldom notice the inaccuracies or misconceptions. For example, fantasy movies would have us believe that every average farm boy with dreams of grandeur just happened to have access to a well-bred Friesian stallion, never mind the fact that destriers were expensive, high-maintenance and exclusively reserved for the elite. There were times when laws prohibited the peasantry from even owning equines above a certain height, or at all. If however, you are interested in scratching beneath the glamor of modern myth to uncover some real facts, this fascinating Facebook group, dedicated to the tack and care of medieval steeds should give you plenty to digest. Posts include period depictions, book references, real artifacts from museums and links to re-enactments. 

Members: 2.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Assateague Island Pony Pictures

The Assateague Island off the east coast of America is world famous for its herds of feral ponies that were immortalized in the much-loved children's book Misty of Chincoteague written by Marguerite Henry and published almost eighty years ago. This barrier island comprises of several national parks - the Assateague Island National Seashore and Assateague State Park on the Maryland side and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on the Virginia side, and the topic of whether the feral equines of the island should be named Assateugue horses or Chincoteague ponies is a matter of debate, but this Facebook group is more interested in sharing the photographs of visitors and residents to the island. The cute foals, of course take center stage, but there are also photographs of adult horses interacting. According to legend, the horses of Assateague are descended from a shipment of Spanish horses that were shipwrecked here. If you love horses, you would really enjoy this space. I did.

Members 60.5k, at the time of writing

Trigger warnings: None 

Go here to visit or join. 

Gypsy Cob Owners Group

With their two-tone coat color and distinctive shaggy mane and tail, the Gypsy cob, also known as the Gypsy Vanner is one of the equine world's best loved breeds. These charming and showy horses are popular for pleasure riding or just as pets. Which is why it is not at all surprising that there's a Gypsy Cob Owner's Group to share the awesomeness of cob horses around the world. Share photos of your beloved equine darlings. Ask questions about care and, of course, tips on how to fluff up those gorgeously feathered hooves. Post zany two-of-a-kind cob-and-owner snapshot. Above all share the love.

Members: 41,7k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None

Go here to visit or join. 

Equine Art

Horses played a huge role in human history. One could almost say that they enabled it - as they shared their speed and mobility with humankind. Numerous works of art throughout various eras portray and include horses and what makes this group so interesting is the posts where equine art is used to illustrate little vignettes of social history. A peasant family moving house. A Dutch woman in costume. Mustangs repopulating the Americas with equines. Of course, not all of the art shared is of a strictly historical nature. There are also little ornaments, watercolors, charcoal studies, digital art, modern interpretations and permutations. If you love horses, take a moment to walk through this online gallery.

Members: 7.1k members.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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Image Credit: Wiki Commons: Wind (Horses by a River) by Klavdiya Mikhaylova

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For many horse enthusiasts, Arabian horses are in a class of their own. They are highly prized for their incredible endurance and natural grace. Their breed characteristics have been passed on to many other horse breeds to whom they are related. All three foundation stallions of the thoroughbred -  Darley Arabian, Byerly Turk, and the Goldolphin Arabian - were Arabians. Other breeds with with Arab ancestry include the Trakehner, the Andalusian, the Lipizzaner, the Morgan horse and the Mustang. Additionally, the story of the Arabians themselves is steeped in legend. This Facebook group will be of particular interests to breeders, owners and other Arab horse enthusiasts interested in the history of Arab breeding in the west as it shares many historic photos of breed champions, interesting news clips and other media.

Members: 10k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

Between The Ears

 For a generous dose of Armchair equestrianism at its finest, visit  this charming Facebook group that offers equestrian postcards from anywhere and everywhere. The mission statement is simple. if you have a horse, ride, snap and post your photos and video clips. See an amazing diversity of local scenery from horseback. Read the stories of trials and triumphs shared equine partners. Occasionally, dogs and cats are featured too, but it's mainly about hacking and horses. Look in on the occasional horseback safari in Africa. Enjoy the tranquility of British bridle paths. Pause beside the timeless mystery of Stonehenge. Experience fall in New Brunswick or quaint waterscapes in Italy. Unspoiled nature in Finland or Sweden. A Beach in New Zealand. Wild bush-land in Tasmania. Wyoming. California. Oregon. Serbia. Bulgaria. The Czech Republic. Burkina Faso. See all the places where a horse can take you. 

Members: 264.4k at time of writing

Trigger warnings: None. 

Go here to visit or join. 

The Best Horse Pics

Oh yes, I love groups with pictures in them and I love looking at horses. Well over a thousand images in the gallery. From medieval jousting scenes to Arabs in the desert to stately Frisians and mares and foals. There isn't much happening on the discussion board, but you can share your views on 'What breed or breeds are in your barn?', 'Who is the better racehorse?' and 'Who's your fav celebrity horse? There are links to over 50 video clips and also other internet resources.

What's great about this group: celebrate the beauty of horses.

Update (28 October 2023)

This Facebook group does not seem to exist anymore. 

Equine Artists

Most little girls go through a phase of passionately loving all things horse. Some never outgrow it. If you cannot get enough of looking at the equine form, then feast your eyes on the images in this group.There are over 800 pictures in the gallery. Some of the art featured include works of line drawings, sculpture, ceramics, watercolors, sterling silver pendants, oils, pastels, graphite pencil, colored pencil, chalk on black card and even horse hair bracelets. Topics on the discussion board include 'Introductions', 'THE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS IN CREATING ART', 'favourite artist' and 'Tips from artists to artists'. If you are an artist yourself, and include horses in your subject matter, this is a great place to showcase your work.

What's great about this group: It's a must for horse lovers.

Update (22 April 2024)

Most likely, it would be this group. The group was founded in 2007, has 4.3k members and is now private. Go here to request access.