Essentials for new horse!

[MumofWhiz]

So today my friend and I found the most gorgeous kind horse and have put a deposit on him subject to being good in open spaces (which we are sure he will be) and passing the vet. He doesn't come with anything so need to get equipment. He has a brand new bridle with bit and I have a set of Haas brushes I used on my part loan horse which I'll wash (they're different colour horses but I'm sure it'll be fine) plus a yellow hoof pick! If I put down what I think are the basics can any one suggest anything else we'll need? He'll be on part livery so don't need mucking out stuff.

Also, does anyone know a really good saddler who could come out with saddles for us to try please? He'll either be at Almondsbury or Didmarton, Badminton. The woman selling him suggested we consider an adjustable saddle - maybe synthetic - to start with as he's going to change shape A LOT. He's been in Ireland not worked properly, and needs to put on condition and muscle in the right places so she said he's going to change loads over the next year so whilst we want to end up with a lovely leather saddle, just false economy for now.

Right, here's what I think we need as essentials.

Headcollar and lead rope
Saddle, saddle pads and sheepskin half pad and girth
Turnout rug (**he's fully clipped; unsure on weight rug to get**)
Stable rug (as above?)
Cooler rug
Fluorescent sheet for hacking
Buckets
Feed bowl
Haynet
Oh **** strap!
Lunge cavesson and line
Lunging whip


Any thoughts/advice gratefully received please!

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Dont get the half pad until he has had his saddle fitted as you would hopefully not need it.

With rugs you could either get in turn out one of each weight
No fil
100g
200g
300g

Or you could get one with a liner system so just a no fill then you get the about weights in liners.

I have the first optiob for mine but with detach a neck so i can take necks off if needed.


Indoor mine mainly live in their out doors but they do have the following each

Waffle
Fleece
100g
200g

 

[Pinkvboots]

rug wise I would get a medium 200g turnout rug and maybe a 100g then you wouldn't really need a stable rug just yet and many people don't really use them anyway, then as it gets warmer invest in a no fill turnout, a fleece wicking type rug is also handy if his wet or you just need a thin rug for the stable or travelling,

you will probably need feed bins to store feed in and some sort of storage box for your rugs and bits and pieces to keep at the livery yard, mucking out tools and a wheelbarrow most yards don't provide them, a small first aid kit of antiseptic cream/wash vet wrap some dressings you can pick them up cheap in pound shops thermometer.

The used native pony saddles site on Facebook often have adjustable saddles on there for sale I can't recommend a saddler as don't know the area.

I hope everything works out for you

 

[MumofWhiz]

Great, thank you. I think this is quite a good time to get winter rugs as seems quite a few places are selling them off to make way for spring/summer.

 

[MumofWhiz]

rug wise I would get a medium 200g turnout rug and maybe a 100g then you wouldn't really need a stable rug just yet and many people don't really use them anyway, then as it gets warmer invest in a no fill turnout, a fleece wicking type rug is also handy if his wet or you just need a thin rug for the stable or travelling,

you will probably need feed bins to store feed in and some sort of storage box for your rugs and bits and pieces to keep at the livery yard, mucking out tools and a wheelbarrow most yards don't provide them, a small first aid kit of antiseptic cream/wash vet wrap some dressings you can pick them up cheap in pound shops thermometer.

The used native pony saddles site on Facebook often have adjustable saddles on there for sale I can't recommend a saddler as don't know the area.

I hope everything works out for you

Many thanks Pinkyboots. The yard provide feed etc as part of the price so I am anticipating they'll have feed bins etc too. I'll check with them re mucking out equipment.

 

[YorksG]

How do you feel about treeless saddles? We have Solution Saddles for ours, partly bought because we had youngsters who we knew would change shape. The are expensive brand new, but can be found second hand and the company themselves have demo models available for less than brand nes. They are beautiful saddles, good quality leather and we really like ours

 

[MumofWhiz]

Thanks YorksG - to be honest I don't know anything about treeless saddles apart from they are very comfortable! Do they accommodate a horse that changes shape? Sorry, new concept to me; being a bit dim!! Are you allowed to use them for dressage etc?

 

[cobsarefab]

For an oh 5h!t strap try these http://ohshitstraps.bigcartel.com/product/oh-****-strap-neck-straps

 

[YorksG]

Thanks YorksG - to be honest I don't know anything about treeless saddles apart from they are very comfortable! Do they accommodate a horse that changes shape? Sorry, new concept to me; being a bit dim!! Are you allowed to use them for dressage etc?

They are comfortable for the rider and the horses seem to find them so too They do indeed accommodate a horse changing shape, I used the same one on both of my Appy's, one a round short coupled mare, the other a slimmer longer girl and because they have shims/pads they were both comfortable in them, they also have really helpful fitters, if you need help. You can use them in any discipline (I don't jump, but they do a jump saddle) I have a show saddle and a dressage saddle for the Appy's.

 

[MumofWhiz]

Great, thanks for that cobsarefab.

 

[MumofWhiz]

Thanks very much YorksG - I'll check them out

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

A sense of humour
A credit card or healthy overdraft
Something to help you sleep when you worry about everything that could happen.
A support network of horsey friends.

E came with nothing. I got a headcoller and rope but the yard would have lent me some (he's not a normal size). I got the bridle made and we found nosebands to be decorative if I didn't have one. I got a girth, stirrups and stirrup leathers from a second hand shop. I got a huge haynet, but again, as he was on livery I didn't need it. I had a very basic grooming kit.

The point I'm trying to make is keep it simple. I'd start with a fleece rug, a middleweight stable rug and you might be OK without a turnout depending on how much time he's outside running around. Sort the basics and collect everything else over time.

ETA I've only recently bought a water bucket for him (frozen drinkers), we don't have a feed bowl (easier for the staff if they can use the standard ones and don't have to look for his). I borrowed lunge lines and whips at my last stables, there aren't as many at new yard so I have bought my own but I could have borrowed.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I have lots of different hi viz, but the best buy I made was a V-bandz mesh quarter sheet. Get more than just a sheet though. For example a hat band as I have been told by a local farmer that they could see it over a hedge and waited for me to pass before they turned their equipment on.

 

[MumofWhiz]

A sense of humour
A credit card or healthy overdraft
Something to help you sleep when you worry about everything that could happen.
A support network of horsey friends.

E came with nothing. I got a headcoller and rope but the yard would have lent me some (he's not a normal size). I got the bridle made and we found nosebands to be decorative if I didn't have one. I got a girth, stirrups and stirrup leathers from a second hand shop. I got a huge haynet, but again, as he was on livery I didn't need it. I had a very basic grooming kit.

The point I'm trying to make is keep it simple. I'd start with a fleece rug, a middleweight stable rug and you might be OK without a turnout depending on how much time he's outside running around. Sort the basics and collect everything else over time.

Thanks very much. He will be going out for a few hours each day or on the horse walker if we're not riding so will probably need a turnout rug as well as a stable rug. There's loads of stuff you can get but we do just want the basics as you say but it's hard to say what is basics and what is extra sometimes isn't it.

 

[Theocat]

Tempting though it is, I suggest you start with just one rug - probably a 200g depending on the horse - and work out if it fits. Some rugs just will not fit certain horses, so it's false economy to buy a whole suite of, say, Masta, if it just won't fit. I'd buy them as you need them - and if you can, borrow other makes to try on before you buy!

 

[MumofWhiz]

I have lots of different hi viz, but the best buy I made was a V-bandz mesh quarter sheet. Get more than just a sheet though. For example a hat band as I have been told by a local farmer that they could see it over a hedge and waited for me to pass before they turned their equipment on.

Many thanks. I have a fluorescent green silk with reflective stars, a bright pink jacket with reflective panels which glow and do have pink leg bands with reflective stripes so hope to be pretty well seen when out and about thanks. We are lucky in that won't have to venture out onto the roads much at all but still want to be safe. Local farmers are great aren't they!

 

[MumofWhiz]

Thanks Theocat - he has been wearing his stable rug under his turnout as it's been so cold and he's fully clipped out. I will find out what make it is as it's a nice fit on him, has a tail cover and big neck on it too.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

They generate a lot of heat by moving around while turned out or on the walker so you should be reducing rug weight for turnout from stabled. I rode mine bareback a couple of times (easier than leading the half mile to the fields) and it was very surprising how hot he got in walk; like sitting on a radiator :-O

I like Ruggles for rugs, well priced, good denier

 

[MumofWhiz]

Thanks OrangeandLemon, will bear that I mind

 

[Schollym]

So today my friend and I found the most gorgeous kind horse and have put a deposit on him subject to being good in open spaces (which we are sure he will be) and passing the vet. He doesn't come with anything so need to get equipment. He has a brand new bridle with bit and I have a set of Haas brushes I used on my part loan horse which I'll wash (they're different colour horses but I'm sure it'll be fine) plus a yellow hoof pick! If I put down what I think are the basics can any one suggest anything else we'll need? He'll be on part livery so don't need mucking out stuff.

Also, does anyone know a really good saddler who could come out with saddles for us to try please? He'll either be at Almondsbury or Didmarton, Badminton. The woman selling him suggested we consider an adjustable saddle - maybe synthetic - to start with as he's going to change shape A LOT. He's been in Ireland not worked properly, and needs to put on condition and muscle in the right places so she said he's going to change loads over the next year so whilst we want to end up with a lovely leather saddle, just false economy for now.

Right, here's what I think we need as essentials.

Headcollar and lead rope
Saddle, saddle pads and sheepskin half pad and girth
Turnout rug (**he's fully clipped; unsure on weight rug to get**)
Stable rug (as above?)
Cooler rug
Fluorescent sheet for hacking
Buckets
Feed bowl
Haynet
Oh **** strap!
Lunge cavesson and line
Lunging whip


Any thoughts/advice gratefully received please!

First aid kit!

 

[MumofWhiz]

Thanks Schollym; would be a good idea wouldn't it - though I hope we won't have to use it for a long time!

 

[ihatework]

Don’t buy anything until he has passed te vetting!

 

[MumofWhiz]

Oh don't you worry - we are not buying a thing until the vet has passed him. I am just compiling a very exciting shopping list! My friend wants matching forest green colour as he's a sort of muted chestnut with lovely orange mane. She's the one with the budget, I just grin and carry stuff around lol!

 

[Amye]

Agree don't buy anything until it passes the vet!

I kept it simple when I bought mine at first, otherwise you might end up with a load of stuff you don't use!

Why don't you ask what rug he is wearing now? And buy the same one/same make so you know it fits? I wouldn't go buying tons of rugs until you know what fits him. Most of my rugs I bought on the go, I bought my boy in summer and only got him a rainsheet to start with. He also only has one stable rug, he rarely wears it. I normally just keep his turnouts on in the stable, don't see much point in swapping to a stable rug unless his turnout is soaking (even then I have other turnouts I would normally put on instead).

Don't forget to get a horsey first aid kit, very important. You'll need a box or two to keep on the yard to keep all his stuff in.
I would just buy a thin saddlepad for now, until you get a saddle sorted. My saddler likes to see the saddle fit with a thin pad, when she's fitting. So there may be no need for a half pad if the saddle fits right without one. Feed buckets/water buckets?

I'm sure you know already, but don't forget to ask owner when horse last had teeth, shoes, vaccinations done etc. So you can budget for them and schedule them in.

 

[wren123]

With regard to the saddle just a thin numnah initially. Have a good read about saddle fitting, get someone to video you riding and look at the saddle carefully in the video to see if it's fitting well while the house is being ridden. Yes do use an expert but try and use your own judgement as well.

I hope your horse passes its vetting and is OK in the open.

 

[OldieButGoodie]

I wouldn't bother about stable rugs - just a couple of cheap turnouts (...you won't know if he is a rug ripper yet!) and two rug liners (so you can wash one while keeping horse warm) would suffice as well as 'wickaway' type rug to deal with baths/sweating.

With turnouts you'd probably need at least two - a 50G (I've found that no fills are useless in heavy rain) and a 200G. its useful if they have reflective strips on them for winter.
If you have a 100G rug liner then you'll also have 150G or 300G weights.

I sometimes use a cheap no fill to protect the rugs from mud or/and rug biters. The best 0G rug I ever bought was an Equidor because it has reflective strips, a belly flap and 3 surcingles which really helps to keep mud off their bellies (and keep their bellies warmer)!! I don't use this rug on its own though because as I said I don't find 0G rugs any good in heavy rain.

In addition my horses are stabled with their turnouts on because it helps dry them out and saves time turning them out in the morning.

You may need a fly rug for summer - best ones (I think) are the ones with a showerproof top but I live in Scotland where it rains a lot.

For a horse walker/lungeing in the rain I use a lunge rug with detachable neck.

Hi viz wise - I would also invest in hi viz boots and perhaps a hi viz fly veil.

 

[MumofWhiz]

Thanks everyone for all your input; this is really useful for me though won't be so good for my friend's bank account!

 

[MumofWhiz]

Agree don't buy anything until it passes the vet!

I kept it simple when I bought mine at first, otherwise you might end up with a load of stuff you don't use!

Why don't you ask what rug he is wearing now? And buy the same one/same make so you know it fits? I wouldn't go buying tons of rugs until you know what fits him. Most of my rugs I bought on the go, I bought my boy in summer and only got him a rainsheet to start with. He also only has one stable rug, he rarely wears it. I normally just keep his turnouts on in the stable, don't see much point in swapping to a stable rug unless his turnout is soaking (even then I have other turnouts I would normally put on instead).

Don't forget to get a horsey first aid kit, very important. You'll need a box or two to keep on the yard to keep all his stuff in.
I would just buy a thin saddlepad for now, until you get a saddle sorted. My saddler likes to see the saddle fit with a thin pad, when she's fitting. So there may be no need for a half pad if the saddle fits right without one. Feed buckets/water buckets?

I'm sure you know already, but don't forget to ask owner when horse last had teeth, shoes, vaccinations done etc. So you can budget for them and schedule them in.

Why didn't I think of just asking what he is currently wearing lol! Thank you. As far as routine stuff like shoeing etc goes she'll make a note of all that for us and he will come with a care sheet which details all his routine/what food etc as we want to try to keep it as similar to what he's used to as possible. The seller has suggested the yard owner contact her once horse passes vetting (yes, I am being positive!) so they can discuss in detail too as he's on part livery.

 

[Amye]

Why didn't I think of just asking what he is currently wearing lol! Thank you. As far as routine stuff like shoeing etc goes she'll make a note of all that for us and he will come with a care sheet which details all his routine/what food etc as we want to try to keep it as similar to what he's used to as possible. The seller has suggested the yard owner contact her once horse passes vetting (yes, I am being positive!) so they can discuss in detail too as he's on part livery.

Sounds like a good plan And very organised! I remember waiting for my horses vetting, I just couldn't wait for the time to pass. Very exciting!

I would also see what your saddler says about what kind of saddle. My boy came with a saddle, but wasn't a great fit, a saddler (not the one I use now) fitted him with a Wintec synthetic but I never felt it was quite right, got another saddler and he now has a second hand leather that was cheaper than the wintec!! My boy just does not get on with the synthetic, as much as it would have been good as he had lots of condition to put on so changed shape, it didn't sit right and it didn't put me in the right position either.

 

[MumofWhiz]

Thanks Amye don't know about organised but just trying to think ahead and luckily the seller has been doing this for over 13 years on so she knows what's what.

Thanks for the advice re saddle. I have just found out that a very good saddler who I didn't know if he covers the area actually does so if Hovis goes through vetting OK then he will see him armed with an array of different ones to try. They did say you can get a leather fully adjustable one for £900 or of course a second hand one (which I'd be happier with as am sure he'll look very different over time) or a new synthetic for £625 which seems pricey but no second hand synthetics. So much to think about ... meant to be typing building surveys home here now but keep thinking of our new boy lol!