Things that you didn't know how you lived without..

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3bh

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Thats a really convoluted confusing title but this is my gist...

A few weeks ago I bought a Gorilla Broom in a sale at a local domestic hardware shop when looking for something to fix the broken dishwasher - i work with horses, have three massive concrete yards to sweep three times a day, and I seemed to be destroying yard brooms at a rate of knots!


Is it really sad that I'm totally in love with this lightweight plastic yard broom? its so efficiant and light and easy to use - I already enjoy sweeping a little bit too much but now its even more obsessive!


Second of mine is Ariat Grasmeres. I've always had Hunters for yard work and struggled through winter in agony, then discovered Grasmeres through the Derby House sales. I don't know how I managed to do this job for a decade before! I've been so comfortable, no aching joints at the end of the day, no stiff knees, sore back, no cold toes, I wish I had some years ago!



Whats on your list of "things that you wish you had discovered years ago / can't live without" - interesting to share, we might all pick up some gems!
 
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Similarly, with switching from hunters to some actually dead cheap Harry Hall sheepskin lined boots - not the most attractive but even in -7 my feet were toasty warm, which with the chilblains I have is really saying something!!

We have a really good broom (possibly a cheap version of the gorilla) and it has worked wonders too!!

Probably lots of others I can't think of right now but will remember later!!
 
Electric blanket, I thought they were only for old people, but it's amazing to come home freezing from yard, shower and jump into warm bed

Old garden waste sacks/ the huge Asian hessian bags you get at markets. Use mine for carrying hay/ carrying feed buckets etc. Handiest thing I have ever owned.

Slow cooker, so when i put dinner on in morning and come home from yard late with dinner ready
 
Without a doubt, my Quad. (Arctic Cat 400)

Before I used a wheelbarrow, now my wheelbarrows have flowers in them ;)

Quadly does everything, ploughs the yard, pulls various trailers, hauls logs, hay and muck. Gets me from a --->b and is really good fun on ice! :D

2nd is my X-hose.

https://www.xhose.ca/

I can shove 300' of hose into a bucket and bring it indoors. No more frozen pipes - I would usually have heated water tanks but OH cleverly cut through the cable whilst building a new drive shed and hasn't got around to fixing it yet. :mad:
 
Gardeners' gloves from B&Q. They are woollen with rubber-coated fronts and fingertips - absolutely brilliant for doing waters and removing ice from field water trugs. And only about £5 per pair.
 
Great thread idea! Will watch with interest!

Having only had my boys for 18 months I don't have the years of experience that you do but I spent my first winter struggling with a tiny wheelbarrow - buying an enormous wheelbarrow had to be the best horsey purchase ever. Hours of trailing to the muck heap saved!

I've recently invested in a Trickle Net for my fatty horse - while it's only the first week it seems to be a miracle product. No more double netting and worrying that he's scoffed all his hay in half an hour then standing all night with nothing to eat.

And waterproof over-trousers worn permanently during the winter - no more wet legs from spilt water buckets and your clothes stay clean underneath.
 
My trugs, once used as water buckets, they get used for poo picking if I can't get wheelbarrow through the mud, collecting kindling, transporting straw for making beds, a nesting box for hens, a throwabout for my horse, a log box and a toy for my grandson, it keeps him occupied filling it with gravel
 
Snood - versatile, warm and thin enough to wear under riding hat = warm ears!! :D

Head torch - light and free hands :D

Ariat Grassmeres - bought for 'smart' but seemed to have found themselves being worn day in day out :o through mud, snow, rain ... :rolleyes:

Mobile cup - coffee en route to farm early morning :D

Ooohhh too many to list - but what a great thread !! :)

Ps - Rich hubby - NOT found one yet but wouldn't that be a Godsend??!! :D (tongue in cheek am resolutely single :p)
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Gardeners' gloves from B&Q. They are woollen with rubber-coated fronts and fingertips - absolutely brilliant for doing waters and removing ice from field water trugs. And only about £5 per pair.
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I shall be purchasing a pair as spares this weekend! :eek:

Erm -
electric blanket (have it on now :cool:)
my cheapo version of muck boots, so warm and comfy!!!
my stables!!! how did i cope when they were out!?
my nephew, sloppy kisses are the best!
my mane and tail brush, no more p***ing into the wind with a curry comb!
 
Donnie Darco said:
Ariat Grassmeres - bought for 'smart' but seemed to have found themselves being worn day in day out :o through mud, snow, rain ... :rolleyes:
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Ditto - when mine arrived I thought they were far too beautiful to let near a horse, and I polished them religiously every night.... however that soon changed and now they are utterly grim - I clean them once a week with saddle soap when I'm doing my tack, but do hose them off under the garden tap every day. They are certainly proving their moneys worth for me, I wear them from 6am to 9pm 7 days a week! (have had to replace laces for heavy duty ones but thats all!)
 
Not horsey... But will come in useful for aching horse people... A trigger point grid foam roller. Rolls away all aches and pains. It's a miracle.
 
Headtorch would have to be my number 1 can't live without.

Close number 2 are my Marmot goretex clothes. Actually don't mind going out in the dark rainy evenings when it's howling a gale as nothing gets through the trousers or jacket. The jacket has a fab hood which stays up in the gales and only leaves my eyes and torch looking out. They are also very lightweight.
 
Enfys said:
Without a doubt, my Quad. (Arctic Cat 400)

Before I used a wheelbarrow, now my wheelbarrows have flowers in them ;)

Quadly does everything, ploughs the yard, pulls various trailers, hauls logs, hay and muck. Gets me from a --->b and is really good fun on ice! :D

2nd is my X-hose.

https://www.xhose.ca/

I can shove 300' of hose into a bucket and bring it indoors. No more frozen pipes - I would usually have heated water tanks but OH cleverly cut through the cable whilst building a new drive shed and hasn't got around to fixing it yet. :mad:
Click to expand...

So impressed with that Xhose must get one
 
Gorrilla broom
hibiscrub
thermatex leg wraps
wood pellets
horsemans one-step (saddle soap)
i-phone (very usefull to send photos of leg wounds ect, and to compare how they are healing)
goats hair body brush (anything rougher and my TB kicks me)
 
Love the X hose !!!

My essential items are

Sealskins gloves - warm hands which stay dry even when gloves are wet
Welly boots bought by OH for xmas - used in coldrooms - my feet are toasty warm at all times.
Heated seats in car - bliss and instantly warming when freezing and wet
Dog coat for collie - waterproof - covers all but the naughty bits so he stays cleanish
cage in boot for collie - fully lined so rest of car stays clean
Arena - for turnout on wet days/months/years
Haybars - chuck haylage in barrow - chuck in hay bar - done !

hehe
 
Pair of blue marigold type gloves bought at Costco on top of pair of fleece gloves from the pound shop - perfect warm and waterproof gloves.

4x water butts next to the stables collecting rainwater, so I don't have to trudge up the drive to the nearest tap.

My friend Jo, who let's me use her yard for my big horse and we share morning and evening duties. One of life's angels! :)
 
Mark Todd Reinga over trousers, they are just fabulous! I wear them to work all winter, generally just over long johns (damn cold in our feed merchants!), stay dry when lifting wet bales of haylage and bags of coal, waterproof zips, snow gaiters, they're fabulous, and I think this is their third winter at least. Also my Hitec snow boots, thinsulate lining, two pairs of socks, dry warm feet and good grip too. Ah, Yak Trax to keep me upright!
 
Corn/Witches broom- I almost enjoy sweeping (as long as its dry)
Head torch- Amazing inventions
Aldi garden sacks- Brilliant as I use big round bales and fill one of these sacks to transport hay and straw to and from field and stables
erm, a round metal curry for removing mud(I know naughty but im gentle and its quicker)
 
Oh yeah heated seats. My next car will have them, in the meantime when the weather is poo the husband has to drive me to the yard so I can have a warm bum on the way home!

Ditto the slow cooker, and the haybar.

I haven't let my grassmeres near the yard yet, because my aldi ten quid muckers are warm and dry and trippy even on ice, and with the addition of a cheap pair of lidl insoles very very comfy!

My buff, I have three, couldn't live without them.

Errr a husband who is ace at mucking out and shovelling snow and who has a 4x4 and who looks hot in jodhs who also says things like "if she needs another rug just get one" :D sadly not a millionaire :(
 
Ah can I do another one!

I've swapped all horse jackets for "XM Yachting" jackets - designed for open seas etc - they are much more warmer and waterproof than any "horse" brand I've ever come across!
 
If anyone can find a supplier for the x hose in the uk let me know because I've looked already. Maybe Enfys would export some :)

Pond heater to stop water trough from freezing. Gigantic water trough so I only have to fill with a hose when it's not freezing so no more carrying buckets of water. :cool:
 
My mum bought me a plastic sledge recently. It's been fab for pulling hay and buckets etc across the mud when the barrow really struggles. I was very pleased to have it in the recent snow as I was pulling buckets of water out to the field on it. Simple but incredibly useful.
 
Wood pellets- now I've found a brand I can get on with, I love them... clean horse, relatively clean stable, easy to muck out, no smell!

Acavallo gel out seat saver- not only does it stick my bum to the saddle and make me feel more secure it also, and far more importantly having broken my back twice, significantly reduces concussion through my back meaning I can now ride without getting back ache!

Something I NEED that I don't have but can't live without much longer is a fine-tined shavings fork to use with wood pellets...to get those irritating little bits of 'mashed' muck out with!
 
Fabulous shavings fork
Wood pellets
Heated seats
In built satnav in the car-stunning!
Electric blanket with dual controls so the hot running OH doesn't have to have his side on
Perfect mate at yard which means I need to go once, not twice a day and have occasional days off :)
Ipad
 
Flame_ said:
Champion Universal riding hats. They're just the same shape as my head, so comfy and light. They're like, my favorite random thing. :)
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Flame, snap! I have a Champion shaped head too! All the others I tried were too gappy at the sides, must have a very round head teehee :p
 
another round head here ! my other one used to fall over my eyes (not great when out hunting) champion is just right and stays put !
 
Full length leather chaps.
When I dig them out each winter, it's like my legs are having a hug from an old friend :o
They weren't cheap but they have lasted 20 years :eek:
 
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