New horse owner - what do I actually need?

Chianti said:
if you're going to be on livery. A black marker pen and coloured electric tape. You use the black marker to name anything that you can and the electric tape to wind round anything that you can't.
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My new green haynets were going missing on one yard and I got fed up of retrieving them. I bought a reel of red polyrope and replaced the drawstrings. They were very distinctive!
 
Thank you all so much for the excellent advice! I think you’ve captured my wish not to spend on unnecessary stuff, while making sure I’ve got what I actually need. A difficult balance!

He’s going to be kept on full livery at the yard where I currently have lessons, and will live out, as he currently does, so rugs will be a priority. He’s going to come with saddle, bridle and head collar, and the owner has advised me on what weight of rugs to get (and what size!). I need to find out what size bit he wears and if he’s coming with saddle pads etc. I’m also going to need stirrups and leathers.

He was shod last week, but will need teeth done and I’ll find out about worming/vaccinations. Plus get his saddle actually checked. Going to speak to my instructor tomorrow about who does all these things at the yard and getting him provisionally booked in.

Lots to think about! I don’t want to jinx the vetting by doing too much before then but also want to be prepared. It’s a minefield.

I’ll post pics when/if I’m happy with the vetting. But he’s a lovely 17.1hh bay ISH with a very soft nose.
 
Surbie said:
My new green haynets were going missing on one yard and I got fed up of retrieving them. I bought a reel of red polyrope and replaced the drawstrings. They were very distinctive!
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I use marine cord you can get it from Amazon.

I also have anything of mine marked with 'my tape' so if it goes missing, it's easy to find again. Get some electrical tape.

Add sudocrem to your first aid kit.
 
What do you need? A big bank balance! 😂

If a first time horse owner what you need is a good RI and yard owner who can support you .
Echo saddle fit check and get a good physio to the horse for a checkup. Likewise horse dentist and farrier.
Learn as much as you can from reputable sources but learn to spot those who think they are experts but aren’t.

Sorry if I’ve got a bit heavy, hope you and your new horse are very happy together!
 
Lots of good suggestions. I would only add tack cleaning products (I like Effax but there are plenty of others out there). Sponges are also useful. Is his girth coming with him? If not add that to your list.

I agree that you actually need a lot less than the various marketing departments for horsey stuff would have you believe.

As he is living out I would have a spare turnout in case his main one gets ripped, soaked through, etc.
 
He sounds lovely. Congratulations!

You've already had good advice from a lot of people. I'll just add don't get sucked into the horsey tax. Lots of things that are specifically aimed at the horsey market are way more expensive than exactly the same things in a DIY (or even a pound) shop - buckets, yard brushes, wheelbarrows, feed bins (a metal dustbin or the plastic stackable containers from IKEA are really good for feed). A toolbox works well for a grooming kit and a good plastic jug works well as a feed scoop (it's good to weigh a scoop of each feed you use so you know exactly how much you're feeding, even with an 'official' scoop you don't really know what you're feeding) and an old wooden spoon or spatula from the kitchen drawer makes a good stirrer. Same with clothes - a decent outdoor brand waterproof jacket will be every bit as good as an Ariat or Pikeur one but a fraction of the price.

Don't buy things like bedding or hay in bulk to begin with, you might find he's terrible on shavings after using two bales or that he coughs on hay so needs haylage (or haylage doesn't agree with him so he needs hay) etc. Buy enough for a week or two and go for the bulk buying once you know him a bit better.

I'm about to advertise a 200g 6'9" Premier Equine combo turnout rug if you want first dibs. It's hardly been worn as it's too hot for my boy.
 
Peglo said:
I have one bucket that is 20+ years old and was used daily for old pony. Now the same type last 3ish years. There are cheap though but a shame they’re not made like they used to be.

At least 2 feed buckets and a bucket for carrying water
Poop scoop, fork and broom
A good head torch
Several haynets
My most used bits for a grooming kit is a hoof pick, body brush, metal curry comb for cleaning my body brush and a rubber curry comb.
Appropriate rugs preferably with reflective strips
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I haven't bought a new one for years the last one is a huge one I use for there water out in the fields it's still going.

My old ones have took a battering been used inside and out in a field still look good.
 
more buckets than you think you need!! i have some tiny ones that i use for hot clothing, and one for hoof pick/cleaner/iodine/hoof polish

going against the grain but a decent water bucket, and smaller one for filling, is worth the money! i’ve had cheaper ones that have split within weeks, but my red gorilla ones are fab - my mum has had hers for over 10 years and it only got a split in the top a couple of months ago!

and tickets for YHL, there’ll be plenty of bargains;)
 
eggs said:
Lots of good suggestions. I would only add tack cleaning products (I like Effax but there are plenty of others out there). Sponges are also useful. Is his girth coming with him? If not add that to your list.

I agree that you actually need a lot less than the various marketing departments for horsey stuff would have you believe.

As he is living out I would have a spare turnout in case his main one gets ripped, soaked through, etc.
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I hadn’t thought to ask about his girth. I need to check, that and if his bit is coming too.

Annagain said:
He sounds lovely. Congratulations!

You've already had good advice from a lot of people. I'll just add don't get sucked into the horsey tax. Lots of things that are specifically aimed at the horsey market are way more expensive than exactly the same things in a DIY (or even a pound) shop - buckets, yard brushes, wheelbarrows, feed bins (a metal dustbin or the plastic stackable containers from IKEA are really good for feed). A toolbox works well for a grooming kit and a good plastic jug works well as a feed scoop (it's good to weigh a scoop of each feed you use so you know exactly how much you're feeding, even with an 'official' scoop you don't really know what you're feeding) and an old wooden spoon or spatula from the kitchen drawer makes a good stirrer. Same with clothes - a decent outdoor brand waterproof jacket will be every bit as good as an Ariat or Pikeur one but a fraction of the price.

Don't buy things like bedding or hay in bulk to begin with, you might find he's terrible on shavings after using two bales or that he coughs on hay so needs haylage (or haylage doesn't agree with him so he needs hay) etc. Buy enough for a week or two and go for the bulk buying once you know him a bit better.

I'm about to advertise a 200g 6'9" Premier Equine combo turnout rug if you want first dibs. It's hardly been worn as it's too hot for my boy.
Click to expand...

I think I need to plan a trip to B&Q for various buckets etc.

Can you message me some more details about the rug? As it happens, he takes a 6’9”, so I could well be interested.
 
Speak to your yard owner on what they need you to supply. I supply buckets and haynets for my full liveries and there is no requirement for them to have mucking out tools etc unless they have a lorry or trailer and need them for that. Check if suitable feed is available as part of your livery and if the horse is on supplements or a balancer do you need to supply them. Things I think will be essential are a basic grooming kit and box and bag to keep it in, marked with your/horses name. Boots if he wears them, spare saddle cloth, tack cleaning kit unless tack cleaning is included in your livery, basic 1st aid kit (thermometer, animalintex, vet wrap x2, duct tape, wound spray, scissors, 2 x melolin type dressings, 2 x stable bandages, tail bandage, couple of nappies for hoof poultices, some vaseline/sudocreme) 2 x headcollar and leadropes plus turnout rugs and a cooler (ideally have a spare rug for use in case of rip/tears etc). After that you can see what else you may need in due course such as lunging equipment, fly sheet for next summer etc. The advice about a saddle check etc is good plus getting registered with a farrier and vet.
 
I don't know if you can get Fortflex products but I had a nice, heavy duty water bucket that survived for almost 30 years until one of my German Shepherd puppies got hold of it. Amazing how tough those working lines puppies can be.
I still have my feed bowl. I hope the quality is still the same.
 
AthenesOwl said:
I hadn’t thought to ask about his girth. I need to check, that and if his bit is coming too.



I think I need to plan a trip to B&Q for various buckets etc.

Can you message me some more details about the rug? As it happens, he takes a 6’9”, so I could well be interested.
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If you’re on full livery check what you actually need. I would expect feed and water buckets to be supplied by the yard.
You might want a bucket for tack cleaning / washing off.
 
Echo what others have said that if you're on full livery and living out I'd check what the yard provide, I've known quite a few that provide, nets, buckets and wheelbarrows etc.

If he's coming with most of his tack it makes it a lot easier. It sounds like rugs are probably going to be the most important thing you still need to get - If you get a really good quality lightweight rug then you can use liners underneath to make it warmer.

A head torch is a godsend with a field kept horse in winter and also a good pair of wellies!

As a headcollar, leadrope and a saddle cloth can be bought quite cheaply I'd probably buy new ones just so that you have something smart and new to enjoy with your new horse and they're all things that having more than one of is useful.
 
Squeak said:
Echo what others have said that if you're on full livery and living out I'd check what the yard provide, I've known quite a few that provide, nets, buckets and wheelbarrows etc.

If he's coming with most of his tack it makes it a lot easier. It sounds like rugs are probably going to be the most important thing you still need to get - If you get a really good quality lightweight rug then you can use liners underneath to make it warmer.

A head torch is a godsend with a field kept horse in winter and also a good pair of wellies!

As a headcollar, leadrope and a saddle cloth can be bought quite cheaply I'd probably buy new ones just so that you have something smart and new to enjoy with your new horse and they're all things that having more than one of is useful.
Click to expand...
You're right, rugs are going to be the big thing to get, seeing as he's coming with most of his tack. I need to find out what size bit he is in, and whether he's coming with his girth or not. I'll be at the yard this afternoon, so I'm going to check what's provided, and also have a chat about rug recommendations.

Obviously, I'll not get anything specifically for him until after the vetting, but I've bitten the bullet and just made an order for some grooming kit essentials and stirrups/leathers, which I figure I'll need whether the horse I buy ends up being him or another.
 
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