New horse checklist

[NineChickens]

Just looking ahead. Does this look right, should I add anything?

Bathing:
[ ]Bucket
[ ]Rubber curry
[ ]Sponge
[ ]Sweat scraper
[ ]Shampoo
[ ]Detangler
[ ]Tote

Grooming:
[ ]Tote
[ ]Hold picks
[ ]Stiff brushes
[ ]Soft brushes
[ ]Rubber curry comb
[ ]Fly spray
[ ]Sleekez

Stall:
[ ]Bedding
[ ]Grain feeder?
[ ]Water tote
[ ]Bucket cart for poop bucket
[ ]Pitchfork

Gear:
[ ]2 halters per horse
[ ]2 lead ropes per horse
[ ]2 fly masks per horse
[ ]2 Lunge lines

Pasture:
[ ](Covered) hay feeder x2
[ ]Toys

Extra:
[ ]Rubber curry
[ ]Course rubber curry
[ ]Metal curry
[ ]Treats
[ ]Trailer

First aid:
[ ]Tote
[ ]Fly mask
[ ]Easy boot or poltice boot
[ ]Hoof tester
[ ]Swat fly repellant cream
[ ]Destin diaper rash cream ( to protect heels from the moisture that can cause dew poisoning (a.k.a. scratches)
[ ]Tail wrap
[ ]2nd skin bandage
[ ]Rectal thermometer
[ ]Safety scissors
[ ]Small sharp scissors for suture removal
[ ]Stethoscope
[ ]Vetrap (or self sticking bandages)
[ ]3x3 or bigger gauze squares
[ ]Vaseline
[ ]Medical adhesive tape
[ ]Gauze bandage
[ ]Cold pack
[ ]Stable bandage
[ ]Antiseptic wound cream
[ ]Spray on wound cream
[ ]Hydrogen peroxide
[ ]Betadine (antiseptic scrub)
[ ]Gloves
[ ]Flashlight
[ ]Saline solution
[ ]Sterile cotton
[ ]Premoistened alcohol swabs
[ ]Rubbing alcohol
[ ]Tweezers
[ ]Epsom salt
[ ]Quick apply poultice
[ ]Thick sanitary napkins
[ ]Hoof knife
[ ]Duct tape
[ ]Towels and cloths

 

[NineChickens]

I will add any riding tack after I end up getting some horses

 

[Alaskan]

oodles of extra cash

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

oodles of extra cash

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Wow, that is quite a list.
All I can say is that times sure have changed. We raised horses when I was growing up. We didn't have any of those things except saddles, blankets, halters, bridles, some rope and maybe a curry comb. They were pastured with the run of 100 acres of fields, forest, creeks and rocky slopes. Over the years we had hooves trimmed once and never a vet. They did have access to a barn which they never used - even in inclement weather.
They had hay, cut from the farm in winter and a few ears of corn once a week (also picked free on another farm).
I can't imagine the bank account one would need today for a single horse let alone 20.

 

[Alaskan]

more realistically....

you don't necessarily need bathing stuff. Depending on the type of horse, your climate, and what you are doing with the horse.

Same with fly masks.

Some horses have very thin skin that requires more care (anything with thoroughbred in it), but some breeds have excellent thick easy to care for skin... ditto on hooves.

I always just had 1 tote and 1 crate. The tote had fly spray, hoof stuff, groomIng stuff. The crate was the med stuff you didn't usually need.

I never stalled mine. ... I had a run-in barn for them.

You do need a mineral something. The mineral wheels are good if they are in a small paddock and get bored. And if they don't have a tree to scratch on a floor brush head nailed to the side of the barn can be good.

 

[paintedChix]

Is your horse going to be staying at home or at a boarding facility?

Wow, we currently have 28 Shetland & ShetlandX ponies and 1 purebred arabian mare. I don't think I've got that much separate equipment (though I am a brush collector, in colors for the kids/now grandkids to use their own). After many years, I finally got a medical kit put together. We then moved - and in 3- 1/2 years that tub hasn't even been opened. Guess I need to go back thru it - pretty sure a lot of the items in it aren't any good. You can make a lot of your products that are similar to what you have listed already. For leg wounds - I keep sugar, meat tenderizer & Prep H on hand in the house & take out to the barn when needed & it stays out there - heal fast, cheap, clean. We had a couple of ponies & 1 arab mare in the past that were accident prone...

If you are on a budget, you can combine many of these things. I am a big fan of the scrubby gloves in Walmart (MUCH less expensive than one made for horses & even better if you have small hands) - works for grooming - removing mud & winter hair, on the face and great for sudsing at bath time. Also, our ponies & arabs love them when they are hot & sweaty - I carry one w/ me to every event & use them under halters/bridles after a work out.

Buckets from deli's or grocery stores work and are usually free (or Firehouse subs sells their pickle buckets for $2). The buckets from TSC, Lowe's & Home Depot do not last as long as these free food grade ones have! Of course, the way the Farnam & Little Giant feed buckets are made now - they don't last long either. I still have some of the original feed buckets purchased in 1995, but new ones from last year - split/crack/break & have become used for many other things other than feeding or watering with equine with.

A water tote in the stall? Do you mean bucket? A "tote" usually will not hold up to an equine's habits for very long. Too lightweight.

I also make a lot of our equipment - from rope, from paracord, from haystring. Sew - saddle pads, leg wraps, tail wraps, fly masks.

I'd wait on fly masks until you have your horse. Find out what the previous owner used and SIZE (can be very important). When we use them, we've been thru many, many types and brands of fly masks. Most - our horses & ponies just destroy...

Bathing - you can tuck everything into your bucket. No reason to have a separate tote. I often used the same shampoo/conditioner on the ponies as I used - so would pre-mix w/ water in an empty bottle. I LOVE Mane & Tail products - for mine & the pony's tresses. Then have purchased fungicide shampoos as needed (a couple of times) OR made it by adding Betadine to the shampoo.

For the medical kit - wow. If you invest in a horse that needs that much stuff - wow. Better than me, as I sure as heck would not. A lot of what you have on your list will "dry out" in the barn or in the case of vetwrap (of any brand) will stick to itself/become one solid roll as will duct tape, if not in a climate controlled situation. I only get those on an as needed basis - but then I have feed/ag/big box stores w/i a few miles here (& we keep duct tape in the house & invest in new rolls if needed for a horse/pony injury/hoof issue). I really think you can trim down your medical kit - unless you totally live out in the boondocks?

Hoof tester? Why? Is the horse you are getting a problem with his hooves? IF so, AVOID for your first horse... All reputable vets and farriers carry hoof testers to test a horse if there is a problem. And hoof issues require a vet or farrier to check them out, soonest.

Easy boot - same as above. You can make a "boot" for emergencies with a shopping bag/feed bag and duct tape (already on your list). Then invest in a pair of easy boots to FIT your equine WHEN or IF needed.

I guess getting two of everything is admirable. I still have halters I haven't used in 23 years of horse/pony ownership (this time around). Have regifted, & sold & will be selling some again. Got a couple at reasonable prices - the hardware rusted quickly & the nylon turned "funny" (stiff & shedding shreds of nylon) all while stored in the tack area of our barn (have never had a climate controlled tack/feed room). Replacing them with better quality was pricey - but again worth it. I recycle/reuse all hardware from worn out halters. Throat latch snaps have the tendency to break, though I do like having them - eh, sometimes.

Toys & covered hay feeder in the pasture... Well, maybe check to see if your horse(s) will play with them before investing. I have loose buckets/tubs and balls - they really aren't played with. I feed round bales outside - I have enough ponies in each paddock that they don't usually last long enough to go bad. But putting them under a cover would be cool! Again, not sure that that is an investment a first time horse owner needs...

MOST IMPORTANT - line up a vet and a farrier who will work on/with the horse you have, is reliable and can come out to your farm if you don't have a truck/trailer right away. We always seemed to have a problem with one right when either the truck or trailer went in for repairs/maintenance... I still have the old 1969 stock trailer (don't plan on replacing the canvas roof again, though) and in 2012 invested in a new stock type trailer (14.2 hh arab mare doesn't fit in it, too short)...

Also find a reputable hay provider - if you don't have acres of good pasture available.

************

Now really curious to see what you invest in for 1st time riding gear...

 

[paintedChix]

We have had stalled horses & small ponies jump out of stalls when a top door was open during storms (don't recommend only a 1/2 door or 1/2 wall situation anymore). I have had open stalls & run-in sheds in pastures that none will use during inclement weather - but at least having one available is good.

Here in NC, our ponies will shelter behind the round bales in wind/rain/snow


and under the trees during the sunny days (both during the summer & winter). In the 1st pic above, the barn door left open during the storm - checked several times during the night - none came in or stayed in it. Manure piles showed several had at least "visited". They just use the shelters as rubbing areas - slowly destroying them over time... They will also destroy/kill the trees if not careful (rubbing, pulling leaves/bark, digging up ground under the tree).



I love my home made hay feeders for the ponies (made from a single cattle panel wrapped around the bale of hay) - but our arab/shet Xs and arabs can reach over the top of the "feeder" - bending/wrecking the panel. I used the round bale feeders - both horse and cattle types & our shetland youngsters (foal to 2yrs) would get in them and be trapped. PITA to get out...

 

[Folly's place]

My horses live outside on pasture, with run in sheds. I feed hay (round bales) in the winter, and also don't have most of the stuff you have on your list! I have a good group equine veterinary practice who always has someone on call, and I have a good farrier.
Fly spray or a spot-on product
Water and feed buckets
A stock tank with an all-weather hydrant and electricity nearby
Wound ointment
Emergency bandages
Stethoscope and big rectal thermometer with cord attached
Scrub and gloves
Hoof knife (maybe)
Flashlight in the house
Everything ages out, and your vet will have stuff to use when you need it!
If you are a medical person, then maybe more supplies, but really, when a problem occurs (and it will!) you will need something new that you won't have anyway.
Mary