Supplies for your new horse

I have had several people ask me to create a list of supplies they should plan on purchasing when they buy their first horse, so here it is...

GROOMING SUPPLIES:
1. Grooming Caddy (Plastic buckets or specifically designed grooming caddies work best because they have an easy handle)
2. rubber curry comb
3. shedding blade
4. hoof pick (perferably one with bristles to sweep out dirt)
5. sweat scraper
6. body brushes (soft and hard, the kind with bristles)
7. brush or comb for mane and tail
8. shampoo made specifically for horses
9. sponge or soft hand cloths
10. fly spray for summer
11. show sheen or cowboy magic bodyshine - not necessary, but SO much fun!

TACK: Whether you will be purchasing English or Western tack, it is better to buy used and get high-quality, than to get cheap-quality new tack. Look for English leather. Argentinian leather is almost always lower grade and Indian leather is the cheapest.
I would prefer that most people purchase synthetic tack instead of cheap leather. Synthetic is a great choice for first-time horse owners and especially for buying tack for growing children.

1. Saddle - must be purchased according to the size of the horse and rider. Please consult a professional to get a correct measurement for your horse and for the rider(s) that will be using the saddle. Special attention must be paid to your horse's back - are his withers especially high? Is he very round with a wide back? All of these things matter.

2. Bridle - Look for simple, without a lot of flair. I would rather have a well-made bridle without all of the trim, than one decked-out in silver that is cheaply made. Make sure that reins come with the bridle you are interested in.

3. Saddle Pad - For Western, you will choose a medium to heavy-weight pad in a variety of colors. For Western, I prefer stuffed pads to folded blankets. For English, a plain, white, fuzzy, cotton pad works fine. You should not have to pay more than $40 for either of these pads.

4. Bit - I try to ride every young horse in a plain, full-cheek snaffle. English or Western, it doesn't matter. See John Lyons for my reasoning on this one. For horses with harder mouths, care should be taken to work with a trainer to come up with the best bit for your horse.

5. Girth - Must be measured for your your horse and vary greatly in size. Neoprene and leather girths are best, but girths come in a variety of materials and most are suitable - look for girths that are well-made and strong.

6. Other fittings for your saddle - when you purchase your saddle, ask the seller what other fittings you will need. Stirrups and stirrup leathers do not always come with the saddle.

HEALTH/NUTRITION/FIRST AID

1. Supplements and feed - find out what your horse is currently being fed and have a professional tell you if your horse is overweight or underweight. Does he need more or less hay? more or less grain? Would he benefit from some type of feed supplement? There are literally hundreds of these on the market. It is always best to consult your vet before changing your horse's feed or putting him on supplements.

2. betadine scrub or other antiseptic for wounds
3. wound care product - there are so many of these - ask the seller for more information on each.
4. buckets for feed and water...make sure you have a heated water bucket for winter
5. salt/mineral block
6. treats - apples and carrots are still the best and sugar/mints are the worst, but a range of treats can be found at any feed/tack store - most of them are fine but they may be very fattening!
7. wormer - does your barn worm your horse for you? If not, read about worming horses and do it every two-three months.

OTHER SUPPLIES

1. Blanket - get a waterproof, TURN-OUT rug if your horse will ever be turned out in her blanket. Wetherbeeta is just one of many companies that make good blankets. Your horse will need to be measured for a blanket as well.

2. Halter and lead rope - 'breakaway' halters have a piece of leather, usually over the crown of the horse's head, that will break if the horse gets stuck and pulls. These are much safer than all-nylon halters, but some horses know how to break them and will do so...regularly! All-leather halters are great, but cannot be thrown in the washer like a nylon one can. Lead rope....if you have a horse that pulls or drags you around, get a lead rope with a chain. If not, a plain cotton or nylon lead rope is preferable.

WHERE TO SHOP:

In Central Ohio, Dublin Tack Shop on High Street in Dublin is my absolute favorite store. The prices are fantastic, the owner is super informative and nice, and he sells wonderful used tack. Other places:

1. Tractor Supply Company - for feed, supplements, treats, basic supplies. They sell VERY cheap tack, so I do not suggest buying bridles or other tack there.

2. Keith's Saddle Shop in Pataskala - a bit too pricey for me, but they have TONS of Western and English gear and literally carry EVERYTHING you could possibly need.

3. Rod's Western Palace - Mostly Western, not cheap, but lots of bling and cute stuff for Western people.

4. Equus Now - never been, but have heard the prices are very high.

5. The internet - your best source for cheap prices on lots of horse stuff. Try Stateline Tack, Ebay, Tacktrader.com and a whole world of other sites. Please remember though, if it seems too good (cheap) to be true, it almost always is. Be careful!