Photo: Unsplash (free licence).
Quick answer: to look after a horse you need, as a minimum: a grooming kit (curry comb, brushes, mane comb, hoof pick, sweat scraper), a headcollar and lead rope, hay nets or hay bags, a feeder and water bucket, a fly mask in season, rugs to suit the weather and a basic first aid kit checked by your vet.
Checklist by category
Grooming
- Rubber curry comb, dandy brush and body brush.
- Mane and tail brush or comb.
- Hoof pick.
- Sweat scraper and sponges.
- Shedding blade for moulting season.
Handling
- Stable headcollar and lead rope.
- Boots or protectors to suit the activity.
Feeding
- Hay nets or hay bags (slow-feed ones reduce waste and extend eating time).
- Clean feeder, nosebag and water bucket.
Protection
- Fly mask in spring and summer.
- Stable or turnout rugs depending on temperature and coat type.
First aid kit
- Basic wound care supplies and bandages, as recommended by your vet.
- Thermometer, plus your vet's and farrier's phone numbers to hand.
How to organise it
- One labelled grooming kit per horse.
- Hooks for headcollars and lead ropes next to each stable.
- Hay stored somewhere dry and ventilated, off the floor.
- A monthly inventory of what gets used and what is missing.
Recommended equipment
Slow-feed hay netView product
Stable headcollarView product
Fly maskView product
Hoof bootsView product
Feed nosebagView product
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