Kitei
Well-Known Member
I'm aiming to start looking to buy within the next year, now that I can afford it. Other than checking out local liveries, noting farriers/vets, what do I need to have or get prepared for when I find the horse that I want?
Looking to buy: What to prepare?
- Thread starter Kitei
- Start date
Horse mad !
New User
Hi, I had been looking for months for the right one but we bought him this Saturday and you need to find some where to stable your horse and have tack which might come with the horse ,turnout rugs,stable rugs,show rugs,coolers and ect but also a grooming kit including a body brush,face brush ,flick brush,water brush ,dandy brush ,hoof pick ,sweat scraper,mane and tail brushes and combs,plaiting bands & comb and a medical bag but if you go to a livery they should have one and you should get halters lead ropes feed bucket & water buckets and lots more I've proberly missed out hope it helps xx
Kitei
Well-Known Member
How fantastic for you! 
Sent several inquiries out regarding livery, so hoping to hear back from some. Can't really touch tack until I know what I'm getting, same with rugs, but for some reason didn't think of a grooming kit/feed buckets/etc. Can certainly get those.
Sent several inquiries out regarding livery, so hoping to hear back from some. Can't really touch tack until I know what I'm getting, same with rugs, but for some reason didn't think of a grooming kit/feed buckets/etc. Can certainly get those.
Kat
Well-Known Member
What you need will really depend on the sort of horse you buy and how you plan to keep it.
If you will be Diy you will need to buy things like a wheelbarrow, fork, broom, feed bin, buckets, haynets etc. You may not need these for full or part livery.
You can buy a grooming kit before you buy a horse but I would stick to the essentials at first as you will want different things depending upon your horse's coat and whether it is clipped or stabled or rugged.
I would stock up on riding/yard gear for yourself.
You can buy lead ropes, hi viz and saddle cloths but pretty much every thing else you need to wait until you know what size you will need and so on.
If you will be Diy you will need to buy things like a wheelbarrow, fork, broom, feed bin, buckets, haynets etc. You may not need these for full or part livery.
You can buy a grooming kit before you buy a horse but I would stick to the essentials at first as you will want different things depending upon your horse's coat and whether it is clipped or stabled or rugged.
I would stock up on riding/yard gear for yourself.
You can buy lead ropes, hi viz and saddle cloths but pretty much every thing else you need to wait until you know what size you will need and so on.
hnmisty
Well-Known Member
Yup, the last minute wheelbarrow, pitch fork, broom and shavings fork purchases were not ones of for seen!
Mince Pie
Well-Known Member
LOL really?! Half that stuff you can get away without
Grooming kit: rubber curry, body brush, face brush, hoof pick, sponge, tail brush
Rugs: 2 x rain sheet, 1 x m/w, 1 x h/w, 1 x fleece, 1 x m/w stable rug, 1 x h/w stable rug - add as you go!
Yard bits: 3 x haynet, 2 x feed buckets, 1 x water bucket, feed bins, wheelbarrow, straw/shavings fork, broom, shovel, headcollar, 2/3 x leadrope.
I'd say these are the basics you need in place before bringing any horse home, the rest you can add as you go as buying everything in 1 go is scarily expensive - depending on quality that lot alone will be nearly £1000!! (less if you buy cheap/second hand rugs)
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Jnhuk
Well-Known Member
Finding a suitable livery/yard etc... is the priority. The rest like vet/farrier etc will follow and if you are going to a livery yard I am sure you will get advice on who comes locally.
Buying stuff for your horse gets addictive and expensive if you get carried away so I wouldn't buy too much before hand until you know your horse type/size etc... What I would suggest is that you start stocking up your outdoor gear and riding kit up so you have everything you need so all your £ can go on buying the things you need for your new horse.
join your local horsey facebook sales and wants and keep an eye on it so you see what regular comes up as this can save you a lot of £.
If your first horse, consider doing something like your Horse Owners certificate as that will cover a lot of common sense basics of stable and land management
Buying stuff for your horse gets addictive and expensive if you get carried away so I wouldn't buy too much before hand until you know your horse type/size etc... What I would suggest is that you start stocking up your outdoor gear and riding kit up so you have everything you need so all your £ can go on buying the things you need for your new horse.
join your local horsey facebook sales and wants and keep an eye on it so you see what regular comes up as this can save you a lot of £.
If your first horse, consider doing something like your Horse Owners certificate as that will cover a lot of common sense basics of stable and land management
9tails
Well-Known Member
Find the right livery yard and put a holding deposit on a stable. Mine was about 3/4 of the monthly bill but I got a horse within 2 weeks so it wasn't too painful for peace of mind.
I'm on DIY livery and I use on a daily basis:
Fynalite shavings fork
Wheelbarrow (get a big one)
Yard broom
Dustpan and brush
Headcollar and leadrope
Haynet (I have 8 so I can make them up for the week ahead)
Large water bucket
Feed bowls
Hoofpick
Dandy brush
Rubber curry comb
To kit out your stable, you may need a tie ring if you're using haynets. Also one for tying outside the stable.
The rest are fripperies that aren't needed every day so you can add as necessary. Of course, you will need tack and possibly rugs but you'll be best to wait until your new friend is in situ. Get hay and bedding before the horse arrives, 3 bales of shavings should do for the first few days as he/she will likely wreck it.
I'm on DIY livery and I use on a daily basis:
Fynalite shavings fork
Wheelbarrow (get a big one)
Yard broom
Dustpan and brush
Headcollar and leadrope
Haynet (I have 8 so I can make them up for the week ahead)
Large water bucket
Feed bowls
Hoofpick
Dandy brush
Rubber curry comb
To kit out your stable, you may need a tie ring if you're using haynets. Also one for tying outside the stable.
The rest are fripperies that aren't needed every day so you can add as necessary. Of course, you will need tack and possibly rugs but you'll be best to wait until your new friend is in situ. Get hay and bedding before the horse arrives, 3 bales of shavings should do for the first few days as he/she will likely wreck it.
Suec04
Well-Known Member
I am in the same position! I am treating myself to a horse as 40th birthday prezzie next spring and have started gathering bits and bobs, such as grroming kit, medical kit, wheelbarrow etc, etc I also have a few bits from when I had horses when I was a lot younger. I have asked for vouchers for my local tack shop as Christmas presents this year so that I will be able to put it towards rugs and things when I know what size to buy. I am also putting a little bit of money into a separate account so that my first months costs will be covered too. don't know about you.....but I am dead excited!!!!
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
What to prepare ? A well developed sense of humor .
Laafet
Well-Known Member
Plus playing devil's advocate and after years of rug hoarding, with most modern turnouts, you don't need to buy stable rugs. Mine lives in his Rambo all winter, have a spare for when the weather is really horrible. Rugs dry better on the horse overnight than leaving them somewhere damp unless you have the benefit of a heated rug room. You still need to take it off once a day to check the horse over and adjust fit.
dogatemysalad
Well-Known Member
Read this, Considering the horse by Mark Rashid.
Use the pre-buying time to read as much as you can from different experts/vets/farriers/saddle fitters/nutritionists etc.
Being up to date and informed will help in those early days and beyond.
Use the pre-buying time to read as much as you can from different experts/vets/farriers/saddle fitters/nutritionists etc.
Being up to date and informed will help in those early days and beyond.
Fallenrose
Well-Known Member
I bought loads of stuff I haven't even used yet, and I've had my mare over 2 years! Buy the basics and have money in the bank for anything else you might need.
My girl came with 6 rugs, tendon and fetlock boots, travel boots and tack, so I didn't need to buy any of that!
My girl came with 6 rugs, tendon and fetlock boots, travel boots and tack, so I didn't need to buy any of that!
skully
Active Member
Stuff to use on a daily basis:
Grooming kit - dandy brush, body brush, hoof pick, face brush, flick brush, shedding blade, plastic curry comb, plastic mane comb, metal mane comb, pulling comb, treats, fly spray for the summer
Sudocrem - lots of it!
Shovel, broom, wheelbarrow
Head collar and two leadropes just in case
Feeding bucket and feed stirrer
Tack and rugs, maybe boots/bandages???
Weekly:
Washing bucket - sweat scraper, washing up liquid (works well for grey horses), various shampoos, mane+tail detangler, sponges, horse towel, cloths
Tack cleaning stuff - toothbrushes (useful for stirrup treads), sponges, cloths, saddle soap, spray leather cleaner
That's honestly all I use and I have bought so much other stuff I will probably never need ... It looks pretty though
Oh and wormer! Very important.
Grooming kit - dandy brush, body brush, hoof pick, face brush, flick brush, shedding blade, plastic curry comb, plastic mane comb, metal mane comb, pulling comb, treats, fly spray for the summer
Sudocrem - lots of it!
Shovel, broom, wheelbarrow
Head collar and two leadropes just in case
Feeding bucket and feed stirrer
Tack and rugs, maybe boots/bandages???
Weekly:
Washing bucket - sweat scraper, washing up liquid (works well for grey horses), various shampoos, mane+tail detangler, sponges, horse towel, cloths
Tack cleaning stuff - toothbrushes (useful for stirrup treads), sponges, cloths, saddle soap, spray leather cleaner
That's honestly all I use and I have bought so much other stuff I will probably never need ... It looks pretty though
Oh and wormer! Very important.
hnmisty
Well-Known Member
I've got to say....in over 12 years of owning horses I have never used sudocream!
I would also say 2 buckets, and I wouldn't really buy boots until you know whether your horse will need them. I got overexcited and bought boots before I got Barry- 6 months later and he hasn't worn them yet!
Also can't say I use any of the horse cleaning stuff more than once every few months (even when I had a grey)
And certainly not various shampoos plural :OI wouldn't bother getting wormer in advance, you'll need to know the worming plan of your yard.