All the autism in the world belongs here

If you ever see a horse wearing these padded 'shoes' (called stacks) on its feet, you are looking at an abused horse

Stacks are used in a riding discipline called padded performance, or more commonly known as big lick. In this discipline, the goal is to create as big and flashy of a walk as possible.

To get a big flashy walk, big lick trainers put weights on the horse's front feet (to make it lift the legs higher) and use action chains, which smack against the ankles every time the horse moves (making it lift the legs faster to try and escape from the painful chains). Though it's technically illegal, many trainers also use soring, where they rub mustard oil or kerosene onto the horse's ankles (to cause pain so it has a stronger reaction to the action chains). Soring is widely accepted in padded performance, and trainers will apply chemical irritants to their horses at shows, out in the open for everyone to see.

Horses naturally carry 60% of their body weight on the front legs. When the front legs are sore, they'll carry more weight on their hind legs, which causes rapid joint degeneration. It's not unheard of for retired big lick horses to have completely deformed hind legs

There is no ethical way to do padded performance. Big lick riders will talk about how stacks don't cause issues (often citing one study that looked at padded horses slowly walking on a treadmill without rider), how soring is illegal, how hard-working their farriers are, how closely they work with veterinarians, how their horses live like kings, how beloved their horses are, etc., but it's all talk.

If you see a horse with stacks, you are looking at an abused horse.

I'll add a few relevant videos under the cut (from least to most graphic)

Dorrance was 93, and until only a few months before his death he still rode and he still roped. He was one of a handful of men, including his brother Tom, who in separate ways have helped redefine relations between the horse and the human. Bill Dorrance saw that subtlety was nearly always a more effective tool than force, but he realized that subtlety was a hard tool to exercise if you believe, as most people do, that you are superior to the horse. There was no dominance in the way Dorrance rode, or in what he taught, only partnership. To the exalted horsemanship of the vaquero -- the Spanish cowboy of 18th-century California -- he brought an exalted humanity, whose highest expression is faith in the willingness of the horse.

There is no codifying what Bill Dorrance knew. Some of it, like how to braid a rawhide lariat, is relatively easy to teach, and some of it, thanks to the individuality of horses and humans, cannot be taught at all, only learned. His legacy is exceedingly complex and, in a sense, self-annulling. It is an internal legacy. The more a horseman says he has learned from Dorrance the less likely he is to have learned anything at all.

That sounds oblique, but it reflects the fact that what you could learn from Dorrance was a manner of learning whose subject was nominally the horse but that extended itself in surprising directions to include dogs, cattle and people. If you learned it, you would know it was nothing to boast about.

There is no mysticism, no magic, in this, only the recognition of kinship with horses. Plenty of people have come across Bill Dorrance and borrowed an insight or two, and some have made a lot of money by popularizing what they seemed to think he knew. But what he knew will never be popular, nor did he ever make much money from it. You cannot sell modesty or undying curiosity. It is hard to put a price on accepting that everything you think you know about horses may change with the very next horse."

Hot damn, look at this horse!

Sierra is FIT and she is SHINY and she is just so damn BEAUTIFUL.

Look at those muscles! Look at that glow!

These horses are part of the May 2026 auction. I've tried to eliminate the dupes from the last auction! There's about 300 horses, so this may not include all of them.

Muskrat Basin:

6 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (5757) 15hh

8 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (5760) 14.3hh

8 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (5764) 14.2hh (he wants to be an endurance horse. I'll tkae him)

9 YEAR OLD PINTO GELDING HORSE (5768) 15hh

9 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (5782) 15.1hh

7 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (5792) 14.1hh

7 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (5795) 14.3hh (Calico Mountains)

9 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (5798) 15hh

7 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (5804) 15hh

7 YEAR OLD BLACK FEMALE HORSE (5807) 15hh (Calico)

8 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (5810) 14.1hh (I like him)

9 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (5821) 14hh (Choke Cherry; 4 digit hip brand for LTH)

Conant Creek:

9 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (5822) 14.1hh

8 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (5825) 14.3hh (He moves so fun)

Twin Peaks:

9 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (5877) 14.2hh

8 YEAR OLD GRULLA FEMALE HORSE (5878) 15.1hh Calico Mountains

10 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (5879) 15hh

8 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (5939) 14hh (Choke Cherry)

Eagle:

8 YEAR OLD BLACK FEMALE HORSE (6015) 14.2hh

7 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (6067) 15hh

Shawave Mountains II:

7 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (6191) 14hh (Shawave Mountains II)

7 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (6197) 14.2hh

5 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (6390) 14.2hh (he is a dupe, but he has a bid this time!) (Triple B)

8 YEAR OLD SORREL GELDING HORSE (6649) 14.2hh Eagle

White Mountain:

9 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (6983) 14.2hh (White Mountain) (this is a couch.)

10 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (7003) 14.2hh

10 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (7025) 14.2hh

5 YEAR OLD BLACK FEMALE HORSE (7025) 14.2hh (Silver King)

9 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (7033) 14.2hh (goshute)

These horses are part of the May 2026 auction.

South Steens:

8 YEAR OLD CHESTNUT FEMALE HORSE (7895) 15.1hh

9 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8063) 14.3hh

5 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8066) 13.3hh

7 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8140) 14.2hh

7 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8202) 15.1hh (hog Creek)

7 YEAR OLD GRAY FEMALE HORSE (8259) 14hh (twin peaks)

Palomino Buttes

5 YEAR OLD WHITE FEMALE HORSE (8338) 14hh

6 YEAR OLD CHESTNUT FEMALE HORSE (8376) 14.3hh

8 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8380) 15.2hh

8 YEAR OLD PALOMINO FEMALE HORSE (8381) 15.1hh (pic isn't stretched)

7 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8410) 15hh

10 YEAR OLD CHESTNUT FEMALE HORSE (8412) 15.1hh

10 YEAR OLD CHESTNUT FEMALE HORSE (8417) 14.2h

South Steens:

3 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8517) 13.2hh (South Steens)

3 YEAR OLD SORREL GELDING HORSE (8576) 14.2hh

6 YEAR OLD SORREL GELDING HORSE (8612) 14.2hh

3 YEAR OLD SORREL GELDING HORSE (8634) 14.2hh

7 YEAR OLD PALOMINO GELDING HORSE (8640) 15.1hh

8 YEAR OLD SORREL GELDING HORSE (8702) 15.2hh

7 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8879) 14.3hh (Paisley Desrt) (this one has something Mud? caught in her tail in keeps hitting her own legs and spooking herself lol)

7 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8965) 15.1hh (ah yes table back)

6 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8966) 15hh

7 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8968) 15.1hh (if her back didn't move like that she could sneak home in my pocket)

6 YEAR OLD DUN FEMALE HORSE (8972) 15.2hh

7 YEAR OLD CHESTNUT FEMALE HORSE (8973) 14.2hh

7 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8974) 15hh (curious about the dots on her hindquarter. weird scar?)

7 YEAR OLD PINTO FEMALE HORSE (8975) 14.3hh (I bet she was known on the range)

8 YEAR OLD ROANSTRAWBERRY FEMALE HORSE (8976) 15.3hh (excuse me???

7 YEAR OLD PINTO FEMALE HORSE (8980) 14.3hh (blue eye)

These horses are part of the May 2026 auction.

South Steens:

10 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8982) 15hh

5 YEAR OLD CHESTNUT FEMALE HORSE (8983) 15.2hh

8 YEAR OLD PINTO FEMALE HORSE (8988) 14.3hh

Murderer's Creek HMA:

5 YEAR OLD BLACK FEMALE HORSE (9079) 13.3hh

7 YEAR OLD CHESTNUT FEMALE HORSE (9081) 14hh

5 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (9084) 14.2hh

12 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (9087) 14.1hh

14 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (9089) 14.1hh

5 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (9091) 14hh

5 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (9094) 14.2hh

8 YEAR OLD BLACK FEMALE HORSE (9097) 15hh

15 YEAR OLD CHESTNUT FEMALE HORSE (9099) 14.1hh

6 YEAR OLD CHESTNUT FEMALE HORSE (9105) 14.1hh

11 YEAR OLD GRAY FEMALE HORSE (9107) 14.1hh

7 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (9108) 15hh

5 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (9111) 14.2hh

9 YEAR OLD BROWN FEMALE HORSE (9126) 14.2hh

6 YEAR OLD BROWN FEMALE HORSE (9130) 14hh

6 YEAR OLD BROWN FEMALE HORSE (9133) 13.2hh

6 YEAR OLD BROWN FEMALE HORSE (9138) 14.2hh

6 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (9143) 14hh

7 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (9146) 14.3hh

5 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (9149) 14.2hh

6 YEAR OLD BROWN FEMALE HORSE (9151) 14.1hh

10 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (9158) 15.1hh

6 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (9162) 14hh

South Steens:

6 YEAR OLD WHITE FEMALE HORSE (9170) 14.3hh (awkward pic so you could see her very pretty head - she's not built quite like this!!)

8 YEAR OLD PINTO FEMALE HORSE (9172) 15.1hh

5 YEAR OLD CHESTNUT FEMALE HORSE (9173) 15.1hh

These horses are part of the May 2026 auction.

South Steens:

8 YEAR OLD PALOMINO FEMALE HORSE (9364) 15.2hh

10 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (9378) 15.1hh

12 YEAR OLD PINTO FEMALE HORSE (9379) 14.2hh

8 YEAR OLD PALOMINO FEMALE HORSE (9399) 15hh

6 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (9401) 14.3h

8 YEAR OLD PINTO FEMALE HORSE (9405) 15hh (she is j chillin)

8 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (9411) 15hh

7 YEAR OLD PINTO FEMALE HORSE (9412) 15.1hh

7 YEAR OLD CHESTNUT FEMALE HORSE (9421) 15hh

7 YEAR OLD BUCKSKIN FEMALE HORSE (9426) 14.3hh

3 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9446) 14.1hh

Murderer's Creek:

3 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9461) 14.1hh (Murder's Creek)

3 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9463) 14.1h

3 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9472) 14.3hh

3 YEAR OLD BLACK GELDING HORSE (9487) 14.1hh

3 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9490) 14hh

5 YEAR OLD BLACK GELDING HORSE (9495) 15.1hh

3 YEAR OLD SORREL GELDING HORSE (9502) 14.2hh

3 YEAR OLD SORREL GELDING HORSE (9504) 14hh

6 YEAR OLD BLACK GELDING HORSE (9506) 14.1hh (OH I LOVE HIM)

4 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9510) 14.1hh

5 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9512) 15hh (white marking, his hair does that. might be a scar?)

5 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9515) 14.3hh

3 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9535) 14.2hh

5 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9539) 14.2hh

4 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9540) 14.2hh

6 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9542) 14.2hh

7 YEAR OLD BAY GELDING HORSE (9546) 14.3hh

These horses are part of the May 2026 auction. Babies were born in holding, listed HMA is where their dams are from.

Twin Peaks:

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8611) 11.3hh

1 YEAR OLD WHITE FEMALE HORSE (8618) 13hh

1 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8620) 12.1 (ah yes dumpling)

1 YEAR OLD BLACK FEMALE HORSE (8625) 11.1hh (eveyone wants this baby. I guess. she is j chillin)

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8627) 12.1hh

1 YEAR OLD APPALOOSA FEMALE HORSE (8639) 13hh

1 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8641) 13.1hh

1 YEAR OLD BROWN FEMALE HORSE (8642) 13.1hh

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8644) 13hh

1 YEAR OLD PALOMINO FEMALE HORSE (8650) 12.3hh (single mote of dust)

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8653) 12.1hh

1 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8661) 13.1hh

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8663) 13hh

1 YEAR OLD BROWN FEMALE HORSE (8665) 13hh

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8666) 12.2hh

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8668) 12.3hh

1 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8673) 13.1hh

1 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8707) 12.2gg (uhhhh i don't think she's actually quite shaped like that, mane blowing weird based on video)

1 YEAR OLD ROANBLUE FEMALE HORSE (8708) 12.3hh (video because she's fancy)

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8713) 13.2hh

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8714) 13hh

1 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8715) 13.3hh

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8718) 10 hands. 10 of them (height dated at 7 months old tho; everyone elses height date is new)

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8720) 13hh

1 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8729) 13hh

1 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8732) 12.3hh

1 YEAR OLD BAY FEMALE HORSE (8743) 13.1hh

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8744 13.1hh

1 YEAR OLD SORREL FEMALE HORSE (8759) 13.3hh