Horses at home - shopping list, what couldn't you live without?

[Rachel18]

In two weeks we will have horses (ponies more accurately) at home for the first time. All my childhood dreams coming true here (although I appreciate the reality is allot of work).

There are the very obvious things that we need, like wheel barrows, shovels, first aid kit (on top of tack and rugs) etc. but what are the really random things which you find really useful which may not be in my list which we should get ready?

Someone suggested that we have a fence repair kit in a wheelbarrow ready to go with everything you need to fix fencing in it, but what would you put in this kit (we have both electric and post and rail)? What are the random bits and pieces which you need which are not included in a standard first aid kit?

I work Tuesday - Friday and we will have help the days we are both working for one end of the day, but any time saving tips where we could buy things to make the three very middle of the week days go more smoothly would be so appreciated, like multiple hay nets we can fill on the weekends, that sort of thing.

Also - we will have help at one end of the day mid week, either morning or evening. With us turning out, checking waters, picking out feet etc at the other end of the day. For others that work and have some help once a day, which end of the day do you find more helpful and how long do they come for?

Thanks very much in advance for your wisdom

 

[Ratface]

Two large, loud grinning guard dogs, preferably loose within the fenced boundary, upon which we have large warning notices, and two human versions, complete with pitchforks and narrowed eyes.
We're in the middle of nowhere. The yard is well fenced but has a PROW going through one side.
The horses will kick up a racket and hurtle about if noisy people/dogs go through.
For the rest of the passers-by, we are politeness on a stick and the horses generally don't raise their muzzles.

 

[Peglo]

Rugs with his-vis strips so the horses are easy to find in the dark (more winter thinking.)
Kettle if you don’t have a warm tap
Bucket brush.

 

[ponynutz]

A big kitchen window where u can see them (altho you’ll find yourself trying to avoid said window when youre making toast before feeding them in the AM).

On a serious note we have a permenant hosepipe down to the bottom of the field so we can just switch the tap on and off instead of doing buckets. And easy to access electric fencing is invaluable on your own land - every year your fields will do something new, or you’ll be doing something rogue like a bonfire or building/fixing and youll have to fence off different areas.

 

[Squeak]

How exciting! Do you already own the ponies and have their essentials already and know their current routine?

Personally I wouldn't bother to keep fence repair kits in a wheelbarrow but have materials for repairs is very useful. For post and rail, having a couple of rails and posts and some nails and a hammer is very handy. For electric fencing a couple of extra plastic posts (or whatever is being used for the electric fencing) and a bit of extra electric tape as well as an extra gateway hook if you're using those.

ETA - If you're working 9 - 5 ish, I would find help in the mornings more helpful than in the evenings so that you can get straight to work and then spend your time in the evenings enjoying the ponies. In the winter I'd possibly find it the other way around due to the lack of light.

 

[JBM]

Spare leg and belly straps for rugs! I also have a 25L water drum just incase I ever need to bring water over to the horses if something breaks
Boot cover for your car. Life saver

 

[Red-1]

Farrier type shoe removal tools. Plus rasp to tidy up.

Easy muck heap.

More lights that the Kennedy Space Centre.

1st aid kit.

Racks and shelving.

Alarm for tack room.

 

[Palindrome]

what I find very useful :
- a good hose, usable from the tying up area (for cooling down, filling water through, but also very useful to wash an injury before treating),
- a place to store headcollars, lead ropes, fly masks and rugs that is within easy reach and close to the gate,
- fly traps.

 

[SEL]

Water container, lots of scissors, hoof picks will still vanish, wire cutters, whiteboard for emergency telephone numbers, lots of brooms, electric tape and posts (emergency fixes when you need to be in work early and they've bust fencing), lots of buckets,

I'm sure there's other stuff but I generally muddle through!

 

[nagblagger]

Wire cutters, first aid box and good old baling twine for emergency repairs.

 

[splashgirl45]

Mud mats for all of the gateways , a boon in the winter

 

[Landcruiser]

A place under cover to tie up, groom, vet, etc. My "covered area" has a tie up ring, a set of shelves with groom kit, fly sprays, hoof boots, all the bits and pieces I use regularly. There are also hooks for ropes and halters, towels, a few tools, plus a saddle stand in the corner. There are also two plug sockets, one either side, an overhead light, and just recently installed, a clear section in the roof too so it's really light there now. It's my nerve centre - my tack/feed room opens off one side of it too, even easier.

 

[MereChristmas]

Now F is at livery not at home I really miss my wash / grooming box. Cleaning and bathing in the wind and rain is no fun

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Ditto other suggestions which mention stuff like wire cutters (essential); farriery tools; somewhere to tie-up for vet/farrier in the dry (we have a three-sided affair which also is a hose-down area, complete with tub-trugs with all of the bits and bobs for each horse in different ones - and lit up like a blimmin operating theatre to boot! Also we have our noticeboard with necessary phone no's of vet/farrier, knackerman, and I've got a signed document detailing what I want done for my horse "in an emergency" because she is needle-phobic so I don't want her PTS by needle, essentially).

Also handy to have a spare set of fencing stuff handy i.e. poles and tape. A spare energiser too always handy. We use mains-energised fencing and recently had a problem with that, and wished we'd had a few spare energisers as had to rig-up a caravan extension wire as the normal socket wasn't working (just don't ask what we did, probably should've electrocuted ourselves........).

And as others have said, don't forget security; I have an aged security system which was professionally put in some years ago now, which is vocal (very!) and the whole idea is that there are fake cameras, notices saying "CCTV" and a siren thing that wails like a banshee. We haven't (fortunately) had a problem to date, but I'd like to upgrade the prehistoric thing that it is as soon as have some money. We have padlocks on every gate which are multi-keyed (i.e. one key fits all of them, much easier!). Also: essential item(s) this!! - have PLENTY of spare keys because if you're like me you're very capable of leaving them every darned place!!

Also don't forget a fire blanket & fire extinguisher.

 

[Charliesway]

Feed bins / secure box for extra feed bags; somewhere dry to store hay ideally not too far from where you need to take it!

an extra stash of overreach boots

Always useful to have some extra anti-inflammatories from vet in event of emergency

Somewhere you can dry rugs if needed! Dehumidifier is really useful

Stable or field camera if no one is there and you’d prefer to be able to check up on them.

I try not to keep my horses in an exact routine so they are not waiting around to be fed at particular times (can be quite hard to always have the same routine if it’s just you and you are working, maybe not back when you expect to be)

Having some kind of shelter in the field also puts my mind at rest if I’m not there in the day and the weather changes unexpectedly (if eg caught without a rug on, or they need shade)

Multiple lengths of hose and connectors if you don’t have the tank on mains and want to move it around the field (eg if it gets really churned up in one area)

Also found the mud control mats quite helpful to move around if you’re moving fields / the electric into a new arrangement and dont want to put down anything more permanent

Solar panel for electric fence battery if not on mains

A moveable saddle stand

Trunk or box for storing rugs and other things - I put in desiccant pouches they use in shipping containers to prevent mould

Temperature gauge for wherever you are storing feed etc or even your tack (I have a dehumidifier in the tack room with the temp gauge to see when I should put it on)


Re someone helping, if I’m working away that day I find it works best if I feed early in the morning and turn out / or just rug change etc if they are already out , then I have someone come in the afternoon to muck out / feed (more important in winter if they are coming in before dark)

Also I’ve found a straw pellet bed to be the most economical and easy to skip out during the week

Hat with light on it!

Vet on speed dial lol

 

[ycbm]

If nobody has said it already, stretchy hose for washing off, that doesn't need to be coiled up to put it away.
.

 

[ycbm]

Spare clips.
Cable ties of various sizes.
Hammer and nails.

 

[cauda equina]

All the above, plus more knives and torches than you think you'll need

 

[tda]

Good hosepipe, like someone else had said straight into the water through.
Fencing repairs supplies...lots of
Undercover tie up/wash down area is handy, also somewhere to keep headcollars and ropes dry
Mud Control mats!

 

[blitznbobs]

Bolt cutters to dismantle a fence quickly if horse stuck… when you need them you need them - the amount of neighbours that have borrowed mine over the years is extraordinary

 

[SpeedyPony]

Spare batteries, spare energiser for the fence- also spare clips/leads for the energiser and some electrical tape, or better, heat shrink tubing to reattach said clips and wires. Spare plastic and wooden posts and insulators. A means of hammering in a wooden post, something like this is easiest- https://www.screwfix.com/p/spear-jackson-post-rammer-165mm-15-52kg/5213k but a sledgehammer will do if you have good aim and strong arms.
Clippers/trimmers, ice boots if you don't have access to a hose/are on a water meter. Bot knife, towel(s).
Spare lead ropes and headcollars, spare fly masks/fringes (even in a small field they can get thoroughly lost!).
Spare wellies and waterproofs for you, after fixing a fence in torrential rain in the morning, you'll need another set to go and feed at night
Dustbins for feed, lidded bucket if you have soaked feeds (beet &c.).
Penknife (sharp!)
ETA- A hat to keep the rain off, hoods will become irritating fast and the rain pouring down on your head is miserable.

 

[Honey08]

I wouldn’t want fencing equipment in a barrow. It’d just get in the way or get knocked over! The little green food caddy bin is a good compromise.

Always have a back up plan for who would look after them if there was an emergency.

Have a good hard standing area ready for winter. Ditto for gateways. Make sure you have all the feed/bedding contacts you need. Also someone to roll/Harrow/spray if need be.

 

[Honey08]

Ps, I’d suggest metal feedbins and making everything as vermin proof as you can from the start.

 

[Abacus]

Most things have already been said. I would add: loads and loads of wall hooks for headcollars, odd bits of tack, spare fillet strings and so on… however many hooks I put up they get filled. B&q has good hefty ones. Rug storage is always necessary - I have a load of old builders trestles that were there when I moved in, and I have one per horse plus a couple of extras. Plastic storage boxes or ideally drawer units for first aid kit - keeps it dust free and available.

 

[blitznbobs]

A plan of how you are going to get rid of your muck

 

[shanti]

Think about how much storage/hooks/tubs you think you need and then double it!
Lots of lighting and torches
Knives and scissors, placed in various locations around the property for quick access in an emergency (sounds silly but this has saved at least 2 of my horses)
Spare lead ropes and clips

 

[Polos Mum]

head torches haven't come up much, I live in mine for 5 months of the year

The rechargeable ones that plug directly into the USB socket and clip into a woolly hat are my current favourite. Not the strongest light but easy to have on all the time. We have 1 million security lights so no switching stuff on and off - just walk and the go on.

 

[little_critter]

Think now about winter and how to prevent your water supply freezing. Can you insulate at least one tap so you can keep the water flowing.
Something hefty for breaking ice on water troughs is also useful (like sledgehammer)
Also think about muddy gateways, can you put stone down to reduce the bog?

 

[sunnyone]

If you can bury the hose about 6" down the contents won't be as inclined to freeze. Keep a ball on any outside trough which'will slow icing up. Insulate the taps (we have the taps in a specially made wooden box with a lifting lid to prevent the horses learning how to turn on the taps themselves).
I keep my first aid items in a bright red closing toolbox. Stuff stays usable for years.

I've never been "good" in the morning so I'd prefer help then. I cherish going and seeing them at night' but rarely use a torch to do so as I have good night vision.