New horse owner - what do I actually need?

AthenesOwl

AthenesOwl

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So, despite promising not to go horse shopping until spring, I viewed a horse on Saturday and, pending a vetting, will be bringing him home in a week or so.

He will be my first horse, and I realise that as well as a horse, I need lots of “stuff” to go with him. He’s coming with tack, but what else should I be getting? What is essential and what is just nice to have? What did yo buy and then never use?
 
What would you recommend having in an equine first aid kit? I don’t want to end up wasting money on things that are actually not much use in an emergency. That was one of the things I was very unsure about.
 
A couple of headcollars and Leadropes (good to have spares if one breaks or goes missing). Buckets of all shapes and sizes (for feed, water, bathing/washing etc - B&Q and wickes are good places for these). Dependant on where you’re keeping them, feed bins and storage boxes/bins, Haynets

Oh, and a good pair of scissors!
 
It depends on the set up/livery? Which is a point — to make sure you have things in place for your hay/bedding/feed. Storage, what you need and where from, supplier etc. But my first thoughts are:

- Grooming kit. You can keep this to the basics to start with, but I wouldn’t be without magic brushes or a proper mane and tail paddle brush
- Water bucket for stable (38L size by Red Gorilla or whatever they’re called) and feed buckets/skip (shallow and wide, 11L is the standard/average size I think!)
- Haynets
- Mucking out gear
- Rugs (ask current owner what they usually have on when rugged in each season/weather)
- One of my priorities would be appointments with a vet physio and saddle fitter.

Good luck!
 
AthenesOwl said:
What would you recommend having in an equine first aid kit? I don’t want to end up wasting money on things that are actually not much use in an emergency. That was one of the things I was very unsure about.
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Get some standard stuff, stick it in a Tupperware box. 2 x vetrap, animalintex, scissors, whatever the latest wound spray is. Aloe Vera gel. And ibuprofen and plasters for you.
 
Deep pockets.
Seriously, I wasted £££ when I first got a horse and I don't think there's a way not to do this, because you have to find your own way, try things, see if they work for you. Some do, lots don't. Things that have endured for me as solid long term buys are are:
Good feed bowls (the thick rubber ones).
A long leadrope (12 ft) and rope halters.
Circular curry comb for scraping mud off.
A damn good hoof pick (IMO this one is the best on the market https://www.stromsholm.co.uk/diamond-hoof-pick-14130-p.asp ).
A thermatex cooler rug.
Idolo ties.
 
AthenesOwl said:
So, despite promising not to go horse shopping until spring, I viewed a horse on Saturday and, pending a vetting, will be bringing him home in a week or so.

He will be my first horse, and I realise that as well as a horse, I need lots of “stuff” to go with him. He’s coming with tack, but what else should I be getting? What is essential and what is just nice to have? What did yo buy and then never use?
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How will you be keeping him - part livery, DIY, private stables? The answer to that will determine the 'absolute' essentials.

How exciting, and congratulations!
 
We need photos!!

I'd ask sellers if they will throw some rugs in too. If they care about him/her they will likely set you up with a couple of outdoor rugs to start you off.

Mucking out - depending on your set you.
Poo picker
Wheelbarrow (b&q is cheap and cheerful)
Fork (b&q again)
Yard broom (you guessed it b&q)

Grooming kit - just find a basic cheap set online to start with. A few microfiber clothes from halfords or b&q are useful. The rest you can get as you go or find you need.

First aid kit - you can pick these up online pretty cheap. Then add a few extras. Vaseline, sudocrem, wet wipes, a towel.

Buckets etc - b&q

Then for you - good wellies and water proofs.

Also tack sales will be your friend for picking up bits and pieces cheaply.
 
Basic… turnout rug and a spare.
Grooming kit
Couple of headcollars and lead rope

Yard may want you to supply feed/water buckets and haynet. But you will need to find that out.

If on diy, mucking out stuff.

The rest of the junk will be aquired as you go along with horse ownership!
 
Depends on where you are keeping your horse, if diy then you will likely needs buckets, bowls, mucking out stuff. You may not need this if on full / part livery.

At this time of year get a head torch!

Put a spare hoof pick in your first aid kit because you just know yours will go missing when your horse comes in lame with a massive stone in his shoe.
I’d say don’t go nuts on the purchases, you can buy most stuff as you go along.
Decide on how you want to do rugging ( if you need to rug). Do you want separate turnout and stable rugs or will you use turnouts in the stable?
If he’s not a really cold horse you could start out by just buying lightweights for the moment (say 50g) and see how he goes as winter progresses.

You say he comes with tack, does that include a numnah / saddle cloth?

First aid kit essentials:
Few rolls vetwrap
Cotton wool, clean bowl to use for cleaning wounds
Scissors
Hibiscrub
Poultice
Clean syringe (useful for flushing wounds / frogs)
It’s useful to have tools available to pull a loose/ twisted shoe if needed (not that I’ve ever needed to, but the nippers are good for tidying chestnuts too!)

Are you signed up with a vet & farrier?
Is he fed hard feed? Get a bit of what he’s currently on so there are no sudden changes. You can then wean him onto different feed if you choose to.
Do you need feed bins / dustbins for storage?
Do you need to supply electric fencing where you are keeping him?
Do you need to source hay or is it supplied where you are keeping him?

Headcoller & lead rope.
Basic grooming kit.
Haynets (unless you want to feed hay from the floor)

Does he currently need boots to work in? (Ie does he brush / overreach)?
 
Before spending a fortune on rugs ask the current owner - size, and whether he is a 'hot' or a 'cold' horse. I use turnouts all the time, stabled or out, as its just easier as they can do both but stable rugs can't. And it means if you can't get there to put out or bring in there is no faff for whomever is doing it for you. A 50g or 100g outer with liners is a good solution.
Your livery set up will determine what tools and buckets etc you need.
Find out what he is currently eating and buy the same to get you started, any changeover will need managed gradually
Check what bit he is being ridden in and the size (bit size is hard to guess from the size of the horse. some big ones have narrow mouths and vice versa)

I might be in the minority here but I am not one for 'giving them time to settle in' without being ridden and worked with. I always crack on as normally as possible so that they get used to their new life and routine, and don't get fresh. Find out what his current routine is like for riding, turnout etc and bear that in mind with what you are doing.
If you don't get a saddle with him, (and do check the fit anyway if you do) make that your number one priority. If you have a coach who can help, you may be able to use pads to get a borrowed one to fit provided he's not really odd and get started before the saddle fitter comes. If you can't, then get long reining / lunging / hacking out in hand. I do tend to feel that before choosing a long term saddle for the horse it is much more helpful if you have got at least a bit used to riding them to know what feels good and normal and recognise when it doesn't- for both of you. I know this isn't always possible.
 
Thermometer and take your horses temperature regularly and record it. We do temperature checks every month, and as and when needed. You can tell alot from their temperature.
 
A poop scoop - handy for poo picking paddocks, taking poos out of the stable between muck outs, taking poos out of horsebox / trailer, and picking up poos from certain areas of the yard (tying up areas, washing areas, etc). Much easier than using a broom and shovel for these.
 
if you’re buying buckets remember ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ t rugs are good but it’s worth checking they’re good quality or they won’t last long. The very expensive very heavy buckets last forever abd you can sometimes pick them up secondhand.
 
Shavings fork, poop picker, wheelbarrow , a couple of big buckets for water and a few dinner sized buckets, grooming kit, a good turnout rug (can be used indoors too , liner system ones are handy !), headcollar/leadrope, a few haynets, salt lick, some good wellies and waterproof coat for you ! And of course feed/bedding. These are the things I use daily. Then you have the lotions/potions/medical things just in case.

Check with owners if he comes with wardrobe as may be no need for rugs/headcollars if so.
 
Generally, buy anything you can from a builders' merchant, (barrow, buckets, fork, even wellies & overalls). The same quality things will be cheaper than any that say "equine" on them.
Can't have too many saddle cloths/numnahs, they always seem to be wet when you need one!
2 lead ropes- they hide!
Little folding knife to cut bale strings?
Don't buy a ready-made first aid kit, they're mostly very expensive & shoddy. I'd get a strong tupawear box & then add bits to it as you go. Start with thermometer, vet wrap, cotton wool, something to clean small wounds, a syringe, plasters for you.
Put your grooming kit in a box of your own & buy a brush at a time, don't get a complete "kit". I always have 2 freezer bags labelled "face" and "dock" , each with a sponge in it. - saves a lot of rinsing & cleaning.
Are you going to be riding more often than you're used to? You may need extra clothes to allow for that but don't over do it - remember Christmas is just round the corner! :D🎅
 
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AthenesOwl said:
So, despite promising not to go horse shopping until spring, I viewed a horse on Saturday and, pending a vetting, will be bringing him home in a week or so.

He will be my first horse, and I realise that as well as a horse, I need lots of “stuff” to go with him. He’s coming with tack, but what else should I be getting? What is essential and what is just nice to have? What did yo buy and then never use?
Click to expand...
you will buy lots of stuff and not use it so waste of money. You need a head collar and rope, a brush (just one not a whole tack room full of them) a feed bucket (expensive strong one) vet wrap, animalintex, hoof pick and a thermometer.
After that give it a few days to work out how you are going to keep him and buy as you go along what you really need.

More important than what you need is to find out how the horse has been kept, how he has been handled, has he been rugged, shod, clipped etc etc. Does he go out at a set time each day and come in at night, live out, like having friends to go out with, prefers to be alone (not many) does he respect fencing, stay alone in a stable. Does he ride alone, first or last. Will he be better ridden the first day or allowed time to settle in. How does the old owner expect him to behave in a strange home, will he need tying up to do anything with or better loose, how does he lead/tie etc. Hopefully you can buy the rug (from the old owner) he comes with if he needs rigging. How is he to shoe, is there a good way to deal with him with the farrier and vet.

New horses and first time owners are more likely to go wrong because the owner hasn't sorted all that out rather than if they have bought the correct brush for that part of the grooming regime. I appreciate that wasn't your question but it will be the first part of your journey.
good luck with him, we await pics.
 
AthenesOwl said:
So, despite promising not to go horse shopping until spring, I viewed a horse on Saturday and, pending a vetting, will be bringing him home in a week or so.

He will be my first horse, and I realise that as well as a horse, I need lots of “stuff” to go with him. He’s coming with tack, but what else should I be getting? What is essential and what is just nice to have? What did yo buy and then never use?
Click to expand...
You can always ebay it ...

- Feed and water bucket (large water - mine needs 2 38L overnight)
- Hay nets / hay bar
- Feed bins
- no need for a stirrer tbh I just give it a swish or use my hands
- scoops

Decide on bedding choice:
- wheelbarrow
- broom
- then fork / or shaving fork
- I love my stable tidy for a quick skip out

- Headcollar - I like to have a nice one for myself and a 'mucky' one I dont care about for the turn out service
- Lunge line and bridle lunge clip (useful for just walking them about and getting used to the area etc if youre not a big lunger)
- First aid kit
( purple spray, poultice, duct tape, saline solution, iodine spray, cotton pads, and a few bits for humans plasters etc.. hibiscrub, silver wound cream lincoln products fab - as were heading for mud fever season )
- A good pair of scissors for opening bales etc.

Rugs (mine is a hot horse)
- lightweight sheet 0g (look for 1200Denier ripstop fabric cheaper ones just rip!) (we're probs getting too cold for this so perhaps can wait til spring)
- 50g rug
- 100g with neck
- 200g rug for heavy snow
Its good to have small increments so if ones sopping wet you can put one either side on

Grooming
Hoof pick ... and a spare
curry comb
softer body brush
mane brush
mane and tail spray

a bucket just good to have on hand

Things I never use - indoor rugs, fancy coolers / show rugs

I would book in a farrier appointment asap as mine were desperate when arrived
Saddle fitter (as they rarely fit properly! what they come with)
Vet for vaccinations if not already up to date
 
Find out what rugs, feed, bowls floor or on door, hoof care, hay nets or hay from the floor, etc.; he has now and then copy it as much as you can. Trying to keep some consistency when they move home can help the settling-in process and can avoid some niggles cropping up.
 
Pinkvboots said:
Stubbs buckets I've had mine 17 years
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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
 
AthenesOwl said:
So, despite promising not to go horse shopping until spring, I viewed a horse on Saturday and, pending a vetting, will be bringing him home in a week or so.

He will be my first horse, and I realise that as well as a horse, I need lots of “stuff” to go with him. He’s coming with tack, but what else should I be getting? What is essential and what is just nice to have? What did yo buy and then never use?
Click to expand...
Most of this list is from my own experience : Headcollar (invest in a cheap leather one because they tend to break whereas nylon can be very dangerous), rope x 2 (1 spare), safety tie up quick release clips, rugs, tools, wheelbarrow and a shoe removal kit if you can afford one.
~Make sure you have a list of contact names, vet and farrier details on your stable in case of emergency and make sure it includes your number.

Start as you mean to go on with riding, don't spend a week leading them around the yard and the school, just ride!!
Watch what food you feed so go for some low energy stuff until you have the horses temperament and workload sussed before you start upping feed.

Most of all have loads and loads of fun - photos are necessary!! ;)
 
Good contacts!

* A farrier
* Hay supplier
* Feed merchant
* A good vet and dentist
* A good saddler/saddle fitter
* A good instructor

Also a good horsey community around you to give (constructive) help and support. I've had horses for over 40 years, and I can tell you now that a lot of horsey people are an utter pain in the arse. So find some good ones!
 
Also, don't be afraid to buy second hand. Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to think of all the 'stuff' you might need. Of course there are some things that you will want to buy new, but there are many opportunities to buy some great horsey swag at a good price if you buy second hand.
 
AthenesOwl said:
What would you recommend having in an equine first aid kit? I don’t want to end up wasting money on things that are actually not much use in an emergency. That was one of the things I was very unsure about.
Click to expand...
Mine has grown a bit with each vet call over the years. :) It has a digital thermometer (with a string on - trust me you don't want to lose it!), small pot of vaseline for the thermometer, scissors, a spare hoofpick, a couple of rolls of vet wrap, gauze, hibiscrub, iodine, animalintex, silver cream, filtabac, nappies, duct tape, a clean syringe and a pack of mints. I have a few sachets of bute for just in cases, but they are leftovers from previous incidents. It also has jars of baby food for any meds I need to disguise and syringe into my horse and plasters (for me).

I don't have bandages & gamgee, but my barn neighbour has enough for the entire yard - and bandaging is a skill I just don't have yet.

What I would really recommend is getting to know your horse's 'normal' - breathing rate, heart rate and temperature - it will really help.

If you aren't on a yard that worms quarterly as standard, investing in a pack of worm counts is helpful. I get mine from Westgate Labs and have loved the advice line, but cheaper options are also available.

There's loads of really good advice on here, as well as on the forum more widely. I've been really grateful for the help from people with a lot more knowledge and experience than me. (Also a first-time horse owner here!)

My experience was that I bought too many accessories straight off, and I now have a crate of (new) stuff that I just don't need. And other than turnout rugs, hats and body protectors, I trawl FB groups and ebay for secondhand things.
 
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