Horses are high-maintenance animals. They thrive in spacious areas, eat specific diets, and enjoy human connection. Well-prepared horse owners know when their horse is happy, sad, angry, or overwhelmed. They control their horses’ environment and are always on the lookout for any alterations or additions they need to make to their stables.
Whether you are a rookie horse owner or a highly-qualified equestrian, you need to be prepared to tend to all of your horse’s needs. From grooming tools to feeding supplies, here are some suggestions on items you should add to your shopping list before you visit a well-stocked horse supply store and procure items for your new horse.
How To Choose the Right Supply Store?
Finding a high-quality horse supply store isn’t an easy feat, regardless of your horse ownership experience. With so many tack shops on the market, it can get overwhelming. From advertisements to friendly suggestions, sometimes all arrows point in different directions. However, even with all these recommendations, you still need to analyze potential suppliers on your own and then make a decision based on thorough research and careful consideration.
Remember, always choose quality over quantity. Poorly made or ill-tailored equestrian gear can break, fall, or stress your horse, leading to injuries and diminishing the trust you have worked hard to build. Before visiting the store in person, review their customer reviews. Read the happy praises and, most importantly, the rightful critiques.
From there, you can decide whether you want to see their products in person. If their previous buyers don’t have nice things to say about their supplies, why should you trust them or their promises? It goes without saying that we live in a digital era. You no longer need to get out of the house in order to acquire supplies, tools, and even stable decoration when everything is available at your fingertips.
However, when it comes to making big and important purchases, it’s always best to do it in person. Especially if they are expensive and can be a risk to your health if they are faulty. Lastly, when you finally enter a store you have been admiring from afar, check their products with your own eyes. Inspect the stitching, tap on the materials, and try on the equestrian gear. When everything seems neat and in order, make your final decision.
How To Prepare Your Stable for a Horse?
The stables are your horses’ home. The space where they eat, rest, and relax. You need to ensure that your stables are always well organized, neat, and fully stocked for the season.
Sometimes it’s easy to overprepare. You get a tool here and another one there, and you find your space over-cluttered and hard to navigate. To avoid this problem, here are five suggestions on tack shop items you should have in your stables that will help you stay fully prepared, yet tidy.
1) Essential Stable Equipment
You secured a stable for your new horse, now what? The stables by themselves are empty, dark, and unsafe. They need to feel like home for your horse, not a prison.
The first thing you should do is ensure your new stable has stalls. Stalls are well-divided areas, with fenced walls and a hinged door meant to separate horses from one another. However, even if you only have one horse, these areas can be helpful for introducing your horse to a new environment.
Your barn or stables need to have adequate lighting, both indoors and along their exterior. This way, your horses will feel safe even at night, and you won’t stumble and fall on your way to the barn after dusk. Ensure there are ceiling or wall fans for ventilation. The air needs to circulate for proper airflow.
During the winter months, frost tends to build up on the floors of the stables. Install a reliable plumbing system to drain any excess water that may accumulate in the stable, preventing freezing. In the event of a fire, install smoke alarms and keep a fire hydrant readily accessible, preferably secured to one of the walls.
2) Health Supplies and Food
Every living creature needs food and water in order to survive, and horses are no different. The foundation of every horse’s diet is dry hay. This is the first item of food you need to purchase before bringing your horse home, and you can add on to their diet from there.
For a horse to perform well, it needs supplementary food and extra minerals. Most horse owners purchase pelleted food infused with vitamins and nutrients, or give their horses grains, such as oats and corn, which are higher in calories and help boost their energy.
You will also need buckets in which you will serve the food, as well as measuring cups to ensure you aren’t overfeeding your horses. For water, you can purchase automatic waterers that go off at dedicated intervals, or you can fill a fresh bucket of water each day for your horse to drink from.
Your horse’s stable also needs to be equipped with a sufficient med-kit. In the kit, keep any vet-prescribed medications or treatments, wound care products in case your horse gets injured, hoof care products, and any parasite repellents you might need. Keep your medical tools away from your horses in case they have any sharp objects, and ensure your horse eats all three meals in the day.
3) Grooming and Care Tools
Horses require a lot of grooming, it’s essential for a healthy mane, and the routine is oftentimes stretched into multiple steps. On a daily basis, you need to brush your horses’ fur, detangle any knots that may have formed during the day, and clean the dirt and debris from their hooves. For this, you will need multiple types of brushes; harder ones are ideal to lose dirt and clear tangles, and soft ones to brush over the sensitive areas.
Once in a while, you will have to bathe your horse in order to scrub any mud and dirt buildup. This process requires a special bucket dedicated to bathing, some sponges, special horse shampoo, and a towel to dry your horse after you are done.
4) Riding Saddles and Other Gadgets
It’s rare for someone to get a horse without the intention to ride it. Whether you are an experienced equestrian or just a beginner looking to get into the sport, you need to secure proper training and riding equipment.
Some essentials you must have before you take your horse on your very first ride are:
- Saddle: A saddle is necessary for a comfortable and safe ride, both for you and your horse. There are various types of saddles available, considering your training needs and preferences.
- Saddle Pad: You cannot place your saddle directly on your horse. The saddle must sit on a specialized blanket that will prevent sweating and protect your horse’s back.
- Girth: A girth is the band that goes around the horse’s back and helps secure the saddle in place.
- Bridle: The bridle is the headgear you need to control your horse and also secure yourself on its back.
- Equestrian gear: Every rider needs proper protective gear. A helmet and some riding boots are a must.
5) Safety Equipment
Your stable needs to be clean, dry and well-maintained at all times. Some essential tools you need to have in possession in order to clean the stalls and the surrounding areas are:
- Manure Cleaning Tools: Horses eat a lot, hence they also poop a lot. You need to provide a pitchfork and a shovel to scoop up horse manure at the end of every day. You will also need a cart to transport it outside.
- Washing Equipment: You can’t just clean your horses; you have to wash their stalls as well. Keep a separate bucket of water for stable cleaning purposes, as well as any sponges to wipe down surfaces and walls.
- Protective Gear: Avoid cleaning with your bare hands or in regular clothes. Most of the time, you will use heavy disinfectants and pressure washers to scrub the dirt and manure out of the stables efficiently. Wear protective gloves, high boots, and a face mask if necessary.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s every equestrian’s dream to own a horse. However, you have to keep in mind that horses are living creatures far bigger than your regular home pets. They require detailed care and a specific feeding schedule in order to perform their best and stay happy and satisfied. Research proper horse care in great detail. Ensure you aren’t neglecting any of your horse’s needs and only supply your gear and essential items from the best horse supply stores on the market!
