New Horse List

M

Mlini

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 August 2011
Messages
629
Visit site
Hi everyone!

I have just put down a deposit on my first horse.. :D

I need to make a list of things to buy before he arrives in a couple of weeks..

Just wanted some of your idea's so that I don't forget anything!!

Thank youu :)
 
Great news - I bet you're hopping up and down with excitement!

Hay and spring balance for weighing.
Feed, feed scoop and feed bins.
(find out what his usual diet is and stick to it at first)
Wormer (always a good idea to worm a new horse)
Headcollar and rope
First aid kit
Grooming kit
Rugs - lightweight and winterweight turnouts, lightweight and winter weight stable rugs, cooler/travel rug, fly rug & mask.
At least half a dozen buckets!
Feed bucket or, if you use a normal bucket for feeding remove the handle as horses have been known to get their leg stuck between the handle and bucket.

Make sure you have a reliable farrier and proper equine vet lined up.
Bridle (ask his previous owner what size and type of bridle and bit he is used to - you can always change style/bit when you've got used to him)
Have him fitted for a saddle.
Even if he comes with his own tack have a recommended, qualified fitter to check the saddle fits properly.

I'm sure there will be more suggestions - but one thing is for sure it ain't cheap owning a horse!!

Have fun :D
 
*grooming kit (dandy brush, body brush, plastic curry, soft rubber curry, shedding blade, sweat scraper, hoof pick, bucket/hoof brush, spare hoof pick ;) and a tack box/bag/tray), don't forget to label your stuff. :)

*headcollar and leadrope

*water bucket and feed bucket

*Fly mask or fly fringe with a field-safe headcollar

*Hi-viz tabbard/hat band/legwraps

*Book saddler to check existing saddle or to fit a new saddle if the horse doesn't come with tack

*bridle/girth/martingale if needed and you know the size

*salt lick

*feed scoop, feed bins, bucket with lid for soaking suger beet if needed

*hay net

*numnah/saddle cloth (a good idea to have two so that you can wash one and use the other)


*also don't forget to register with your local vet and find a farrier and write when his vaccinations/teeth/worming etc... are due on your calender.
 
Congratulations Rosie .... as Faracat has said numnahs and saddle cloths all matchy matchy .... tack cleaning equipment, bit wipes, fly spray
 
Oh what fun!

It really does depend on what he/she comes with (tack and rugs wise), and how you plan to keep him/her (grass/DIY/part or full livery).

But . . .

Rugs - you'll need turnout and stable rugs - how many and what type will depend on your horse - my very thin-skinned sport horse goes out at night but doesn't grow much of a coat so needs to be kept warm, so has multiple medium- and heavyweight turnouts with both fixed and detachable neck covers. A good rule of thumb is to have a couple of each weight so that if one gets particularly dirty and/or wet, you've got another dry one you can use. Kal also has a couple of fleeces/thermatex-type rugs and quarter sheet to keep him warm while exercising in the winter. Our mare, Nelly, however, was a native type and grew the thickest coat imaginable - so only had one fleece and one lightweight winter rug - it was all she needed.

Tack - probably a GP saddle to start with, bridle with the same bit he's been used to, I'd invest in a saddle cover and you'll want a couple of numnahs or saddle cloths (one on and one in the wash). You'll need tack cleaning supplies - saddle soap, sponge, soft cloth/towel and an effective tack conditioner (NOT neatsfoot oil).

Boots/bandages - find out if he overreaches or brushes and invest accordingly . . . it's also worth having a set of fleece bandages and pads.

First aid - make up a small kit for yourself with the basics - hibiscrub, cotton wool, vetalintex, vet wrap, iodine/purple spray, wound powder, calmer, dosing syringe, scissors, weight tape, bandage or gaffer tape.

Stable/yard equipment - if you're keeping him on DIY livery, you'll want to get yourself assorted skips, haynets, feed bins and skips, muck or shavings fork, broom - depending on how you plan to keep him. I feed Kal his hay/haylage straight from the floor, but you may choose to use a haynet or a hay bar (as an example). I bought a wheelbarrow b/c even though there were yard barrows on our previous yard they were never available - again, up to you. Invest in some really good gloves for the winter - I can't emphasise this enough - keeping your hands warm and dry while you do yard jobs when it's minus 9 is essential! A head torch is also a good idea if you are on grass/DIY livery and will be doing bring in/turnout, etc. in the dark (nothing like a trek across a deeply rutted, frozen field in the pitch black!).

Schooling - you can lunge your horse in his saddle, but if you have the funds consider investing in a lunging roller (one with lots of d-rings so you have lots of options), a set of side reins, lunge lines (I have two so that I can also long-line or double-lunge Kal) and a lunge whip. I have found lunging an invaluable tool.

Grooming - a good quality set of brushes, hoofpick, etc. and something to keep them in. Kal's grooming kit includes a dandy brush, body brush, face brush, water brush (he's grey so spends rather alot of time being brushed/bathed), mane/tail brush, pulling comb, shedding blade, hoofpick (one with a brush - great for cleaning out muddy feet in the winter). I also have a couple of sponges, babywipes, "instant shampoo," sweat scraper, a chamois for drying him off after a wash down, fly repellent and cornucrescine for his feet (which are awful). Oh, and I use good old washing up liquid for keeping his mane and tail clean - much better than any expensive shampoo (and much cheaper).

Storage - if there's space for one, a locker is always a good idea (we keep lunging equipment, bandages, spare numnahs, grooming stuff, whips, chaps, first aid, tack cleaning stuff, etc. in ours) - in addition, we have a rug trunk (it's my old school trunk) for storing clean, un-needed rugs (so right now it's full of Kali's winter rugs).

Miscellaneous - Kal is incredibly fine-skinned and even the best-fitting rugs rub his shoulders so he has a bib/vest that he wears under all his rugs in the winter - again, this will depend on your horse. Kali gets bored easily (and then grinds his teeth and/or box walks) so we bought him a stable toy - your horse may not need this type of distraction. A small sharp knife and/or a pair of scissors is useful for cutting baling twine off bales of hay/straw, opening bags of feed, etc. A wooden spoon or something similar for mixing feed and a plastic measuring jug also come in handy, in addition to a feed scoop. Because Kal isn't a particularly good do-er, I've never bothered with one, but a scale for weighing hay is a good idea for horses whose diets/calorific intake need careful monitoring. Oh, and hold onto baler twine - it's very useful for mending haynets :).

Obviously, if you're going to keep your horse on either full or working livery, you may not need ALL of the above.

I'm sure I've missed a bunch of things!

P

Edited to add: Can't believe I left out headcollar and leadrope!
 
How exciting for you Rosie.

Might be a daft question, but I assume you have a yard lined up?
Ask them for recommended farriers/vets and any other specialists that might be used on the yard. Normally several people use the same vet and get routine jobs done at the same time (makes call out cheaper) and same with farrier.
If you want to insure him, you should be able to start looking at quotes.

Equipment (assumed he comes with nothing):
Tack- if he comes with some, worthwhile getting a saddle fitter out to check saddle is suitable for both of you
Headcollar and leadrope
Haynet
Feed Buckets
Water Buckets
Turnout rugs (if he needs them)- couple of middleweights and a heavy weight should be enough to start
Stable rugs- as above (unless he is to live out, then maybe get a couple of extra turnouts incase one gets soaked through or damaged)
Fleece/cooler rug
Hi viz- exercise sheet, leg bands, bridle bands
Boots/bandages if he needs them
Feed- check what he is currently on, feed scoop, feed bin (dustbins work well)
Hay or Haylege
Bedding if required

Grooming kit
Metal, plastic and rubber curry combs
Dandy and body brushes
Face and hoof brushes
Sweat scraper
Sheding blade
Several hoofpicks (they often vanish when you need one)
Mane comb or brush

First aid kit
Can buy ready made ones, but the basics would be:
Purple Spray
Wound Powder
Wound gel
Gamgee
self-stick bandages
thermometer

Oh and a inexhaustible amount of patience and a good sense of humour are musts :D

Have fun and dont forget to post pics when he arrives!
 
Congratulations - It seems like forever since I've done this, most of my horses have had hand-me-downs from previous nags!!

How are you keeping the new horse - DIY/Part/Full/Privately

Do you need stable equiptment like a decent quality wheelbarrow, forks, brush, poop-scoop, (i always find a snow-scoop useful too)?

As others have said, rugs/tack/headcollar etc etc. (I personally always have a 'spare' headcollar and rope, just incase one goes walkabout or gets broken)

Do you travel in boots - if so travel boots, (a lightweight rug if its a cool day for travelling - I like the half fleece half mesh ones)

a pen knife or similar - invaluable on yards!

I'll keep thinking!
 
Faracat said:
*grooming kit (dandy brush, body brush, plastic curry, soft rubber curry, shedding blade, sweat scraper, hoof pick, bucket/hoof brush, spare hoof pick ;) and a tack box/bag/tray), don't forget to label your stuff. :)

*headcollar and leadrope

*water bucket and feed bucket

*Fly mask or fly fringe with a field-safe headcollar

*Hi-viz tabbard/hat band/legwraps

*Book saddler to check existing saddle or to fit a new saddle if the horse doesn't come with tack

*bridle/girth/martingale if needed and you know the size

*salt lick

*feed scoop, feed bins, bucket with lid for soaking suger beet if needed

*hay net

*numnah/saddle cloth (a good idea to have two so that you can wash one and use the other)


*also don't forget to register with your local vet and find a farrier and write when his vaccinations/teeth/worming etc... are due on your calender.
Click to expand...




^^ This. I would also invest in some hoof grease, fly spray, leather soap and mane/tail spray. These are the essentials. Also, make up a first aid kit, I think that's about it :)
 
Ooh, Thanks! Some good idea's :)

I've allready got:
Bridle (with bit/reins/martingale) - similar to what he's ridden in now
1 Numnah & pro-lite pad (hes a bit underweight)
Girth (might be too big!)
Basic grooming kit (brushes/hoofpick/sweatscraper etc)
Couple of buckets & feed scoop
1 headcollar & leadrope - need a spare one
3 turnouts (again - not sure of the fit)

He will be on DIY but there are no stables free at the moment so hes going on grass for the time being - so stable rugs aren't an issue right now.
Not sure if I will need my own mucking out equipment - never thought of that!! - I'll have to check
With regards to wormer - I will have to speak to the yard about that (not sure if they have a worming program - hope so!)

I will have to get a saddle fitted once he's here as he doesn't come with one :(

He is on sugarbeet so will need a bin to soak - again didn't think of that!
And some bins for the rest of his feed
... And some feed of course! Hay is included in the livery :) and bedding when he gets a stable :)

I do need a first aid kit - was thinking about getting a plastic box and buying stuff to put in rather than one of those ready-made ones..

I've got a vet & farrier in mind already

I have pics on my phone.. I'll see if I can upload one - he's a beauty!
 
Your new horse looks lovely.

Don't forget ebay. I saved myself a fortune when I got a new horse last year by buying off of ebay. Got some fantastic bargains of both new and used items.
 
Rodie 041390 that is one lovely horse!!! However with that pink nose, get some kiddies suncream so he doesn't burn!

Stuff needed for a first horse are as follows:

Stable Equipment:
Shavings fork
Bedding (Check what bedding he is on, some horses are allergic to certain forms of bedding, or are messy on some and cleaner on others!)
Broom
Shovel
Waterskip
Haynets
Rubber feed buckets (ideally 2 or 3)
Rubber matting if you want to use that.
Stable toys if needed.
Feed bins, feed scoops and feed that he is already on, inc. Any additional suppliments.

For the Horse if he isn't coming with tack and rugs:
Light, medium, heavy, fleece stable rugs (I always buy these, if he winters well unclipped and you don't need the heavier rugs you can always sell them)
Rainsheet, medium and heavy turnout rugs, and perhaps a fly sheet.
Bridle and bit, find something similar to what he is already in to start with.
Have a saddler ready to fit a saddle. Or if he comes with one, check it.
Since he wears boots for exercise, I would buy some brusing boots, over reach boots, bandages etc.
Travel boots/bandages if you are travelling him to your new yard.
Headcollar/leadrope (I had to buy and bring me own when I got my first horse!)

Grooming kit:
I just bought a basic grooming kit to start with, add to it with:
Fly spray
Suncream (His pink nose will need it!)
Purple spray
Sudocreme
Some tack cleaner/oil
Hoof Heal/other hoof oil, I just love hoof heal, fantastic stuff! :D
Get a basic first aid kit. Its something that hopefully you won't need to often but when you do need it and its there its a godsend!! I have one for horses and riders!


things to check:
Get back/saddle checked.
Find out when he is due for Jabs.
Have a wormer ready, I always do the Panacure 5day when buying a new horse and moving it yards.
Find out when he is due for Dentist or have them done anyway.
When was the horse last shod?
Also find out if he has any allergies, quirky habits, can't eat certain foods, be on certain bedding, sensativities to fly bites etc.
Also get registered with a vet and farrier.
Start looking around for insurance.

PHEW! Hope I have covered it all, hes a lovely looking horse, I wish you all the best :)
 
Rodie 041390 that is one lovely horse!!! However with that pink nose, get some kiddies suncream so he doesn't burn!
Click to expand...

^ I agree. :)

Also a fly mask like this Cashel one with a nose flap, helps to prevent sunburn but you'll still need the suncream for the areas that it doesn't cover.

carrieeighteen.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top