The list of things you can buy for your horse is, quite literally, endless. So to help you out, we’ve identified the essential items you need. These supplies will help you care for your horse and ensure you’re prepared for what horse ownership throws at you.
Stable Supplies
These are the must-have pieces of equipment every horse owner should have around the barn:
- Halter and lead rope (make sure you have an extra!).
- Pitchfork.
- Shovel.
- Broom.
- Muck tub (to make your job easier, find one on wheels or repurpose a wheelbarrow).
- Shavings for your horse’s stall.
- Box fan to hang in your horse’s stall in summer.
Grooming Tools and Tack
These are the accessories you use when you clean and ride your horse:
- Curry comb.
- Stiff brush.
- Soft brush.
- Hoof pick.
- Mane and tail comb.
- Shampoo.
- Detangler.
- Sponge and sweat scraper.
- Fly spray.
- Saddle.
- Saddle pads (at least two, for when one gets dirty).
- Girth or cinch.
- Bridle and bit.
- Leather tack cleaner.
- Shipping boots or standing wraps.
- An equine first-aid kit, which you can buy preassembled or piece together yourself. It might include a digital thermometer, stethoscope, gauze, duct tape, self-adhering bandage, cotton quilts, scissors, wound ointment, saline solution, an antiseptic such as iodine solution.
- Riding helmet.
- Riding and/or all-purpose gloves.
Equine Nutrition Needs
These items will help you meet your horse’s nutrient requirements and make mealtime chores easier:
- A feed bucket or rubber feed pan.
- At least two water buckets to hang in your horse’s stall.
- A secure storage bin for your horse’s feed.
- High-quality hay.
- A ration balancer or bag of concentrate feed designed for your type of horse (e.g., senior, maintenance, performance), if he needs the extra calories.
- A feed scoop.
- A salt block.
Optional Add-Ons
These are things that are nice to have or may or may not apply to your horse’s lifestyle:
- Bell boots if your horse is shod.
- Fly mask and/or sheet if you live in a region with heavy flying insect burdens during warm months.
- Sheet, blanket, and/or turnout rug if you plan to body-clip your horse in winter or live in a region that experiences extreme cold.
- Leg protection such as polo wraps or boots.
- A rubber stall mat for extra comfort.
- A slow feeder or haynet to extend your horse’s feeding time, which is good for his health.
These are just the basic horse supplies you’ll need to welcome your equine companion to his new home. If you plan to keep your horse at a boarding facility, many of these items (such as stall and feed supplies) might be provided for you. Ask the farm manager what they expect you to purchase yourself and what amenities are included in your monthly board fee.
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