Gear you wish you bought earlier, Horse edition.

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

As the title states, what are some items you wish you had bought earlier regarding horses and horse ownership? We are moving our horse home from the boarders pasture in the next few weeks and want to know what tricks or items make life easier. We will have a max of maybe 3 horses, large lean-to for hay storage, and I’m picking up a shelter kit this week to build. Planning 3 12x48 runs and a turn out area, along with a round pen. This isn’t the first time to have them home but it’s been a few years and first time at this new house. Water is on irrigation that turns off Nov-March or April. Have a frost-free water line being dug this week for year round water to the barn.

Picture of Mule packing cannons somewhere in Rome.

 

[rayporter]

adjustable pack saddle. best investment you can start with.

how hot does it get there? i wired my barn for 220v and have 5 old heat pump fans for cooling. most were free, some were 10 bucks.

 

[Mojave]

Takes a lot of everything.

I am guessing the following is sorted. Big enough truck, big enough trailer. Fencing, water, dry place for them to stand, shelter.

I don't know why you are separating them. They are a herd animal, they need to work out their own drama.

They need to be ridden outside of corrals, regularly. They tend to bolt at in opportune times when they are outside of corrals when they aren't used to it.

Good farrier. My father had horses from the time he was a kid until he was 75. He's still alive, and misses it most of all. But he hated farrier work. he didn't even like to trim feet. Always paid someone.

Saddles that fit you and them. .

Pack saddles that fit that you understand the system on. I am a swinging decker guy, but I have not owned horses in a long time.

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

Takes a lot of everything.

I am guessing the following is sorted. Big enough truck, big enough trailer. Fencing, water, dry place for them to stand, shelter.

I don't know why you are separating them. They are a herd animal, they need to work out their own drama.

They need to be ridden outside of corrals, regularly. They tend to bolt at in opportune times when they are outside of corrals when they aren't used to it.

Good farrier. My father had horses from the time he was a kid until he was 75. He's still alive, and misses it most of all. But he hated farrier work. he didn't even like to trim feet. Always paid someone.

Saddles that fit you and them. .

Pack saddles that fit that you understand the system on. I am a swinging decker guy, but I have not owned horses in a long

Essentially just building them separate but they’ll be together 90% of the time. I have a feeling everything at this house horse wise is going to be rebuilt and adjusted 50 times before we get it the way we like it.

Saddles and tack for riding is figured out but a pack system is on the horizon. Have to decide on which new horse first. Dependable middle aged horse or a 4 yearish project for the wife to rope on.

As far as running fans in the barn it tops out triple digits for maybe two weeks then cools back down. North Idaho. Our horse has been in the pasture its whole life without anything fancy. Just cover from the sun.

What’s the best tank heaters nowadays? Used to have the drop in style but maybe something new is out there?

 

[missjordan]

The biggest one for me horse wise (not items for their care) was a quality riding saddle. It’s comfortable for me, fits lots of different horses, great leather, and the most important is the saddle tree. It will last a life time with proper care.


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[doverpack12]

If you are digging in a water line then why not at least one automatic waterer so you don’t need a tank heater?

Filling water tanks and either running extension cords to them or keeping them from burning out or horses from playing with them is a pain. And that’s before you string the hose out then try to drain it in single digits and coil up for use a few days later.

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

If you are digging in a water line then why not at least one automatic waterer so you don’t need a tank heater?

Filling water tanks and either running extension cords to them or keeping them from burning out or horses from playing with them is a pain. And that’s before you string the hose out then try to drain it in single digits and coil up for use a few days later.

Fair point. I’ll look into them

 

[bmart2622]

Use a tank heater that goes in place of the drain plug, then the horses cant mess with it

 

[doverpack12]

Use a tank heater that goes in place of the drain plug, then the horses cant mess with it

Yep they work better but burn out if the water drops below the heating element.

 

[lonespur]

Bar Bar Drinkers out of Utah are well worth the investment. I’ve got several of them installed in southern Idaho and have had minimal issues compared to the hassle of tank heaters. Power free, and horses always have fresh water, which leads to better hydrated, healthier critters.

 

[lonespur]

Correction, Bar Bar A Drinkers is the company name.

 

[Procision Arms]

-Freeze proof automatic waterers
-large hay feeders, preferably ones you can load from the other side of the fence
-if you live anywhere it’s wet, a rock/stone dry lot with good drainage you can lock them into
-fly predators
-good manure management plan- in a perfect world, a composting setup is pretty nice

 

[bmart2622]

Yep they work better but burn out if the water drops below the heating element.

Pretty easy to avoid that

 

[hoodoo406]

In no particular order.

Good farrier that knows what they are doing.
Saddle that fits both you and the horse.
A little knowledge on horses. Amazing how many people own horses, and know literally nothing about horses.

 

[Wyomuleskinner]

drinking post
totally life changing

shoemaster for shaping shoes

 

[bmart2622]

I think the best and most over looked thing someone can invest in is themselves. Lots of people want to buy gear, gadgets, fancy horse trailers, send horses to trainers but dont invest in making themselves better riders and more knowledgeable about horses. And I think most people drastically over estimate their own abilities when it comes to horses or mules if thats your thing.

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

I think the best and most over looked thing someone can invest in is themselves. Lots of people want to buy gear, gadgets, fancy horse trailers, send horses to trainers but dont invest in making themselves better riders and more knowledgeable about horses. And I think most people drastically over estimate their own abilities when it comes to horses or mules if thats your thing.

Are you talking going to clinics or trying to mop up as much knowledge as possible?

Problem with horses I’ve found is just like guns. Everyone is an expert online and it’s hard to find information that isn’t very nuanced.

 

[missjordan]

I think the best and most over looked thing someone can invest in is themselves. Lots of people want to buy gear, gadgets, fancy horse trailers, send horses to trainers but dont invest in making themselves better riders and more knowledgeable about horses. And I think most people drastically over estimate their own abilities when it comes to horses or mules if thats your thing.

Seriously best answer here for real.


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[bmart2622]

Anyway you can gain knowledge and experience. Take riding lessons so you can ride all gaits, go to clinics, take a packing class, talk with a trainer if your horse happens to be at a trainers. I agree completely about on line experts and agree it can be hard to filter thru the nonsense.

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

Anyway you can gain knowledge and experience. Take riding lessons so you can ride all gaits, go to clinics, take a packing class, talk with a trainer if your horse happens to be at a trainers. I agree completely about on line experts and agree it can be hard to filter thru the nonsense.

I’ve been diving head first into whatever my wife seems to be doing that weekend so my riding has become much better than I expected this year. Mounted shooting. Roping. Play days. Anything with a little stress involved. My biggest hangup is the logistics. It’s some stuff you just won’t learn until you try it, is specific to your mission and animals.
I’ve really been hit in the face with realizing I have a young family and need to be happy just doing one thing a day with the horse, let alone multi day hunts every time I’m home from a work trip.

Things that aren’t realistic but would be nice :
1.skidsteer to handle/unload 1,000lb square bales. They are so much cheaper around here and nobody has grass hay for sale right now.
2. Round pen.
3. Smaller trailer for day trips.