Horse Supplies

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Taking care of a horse is not easy. It requires much of your time; and horse supplies. Taking care of your horse is a routine that takes place every day; whether you do it yourself or someone else does it for you.

I'm going to share my opinion on horse supplies in 3 simple areas. First, there are the supplies you must have on hand in the barn for daily horse grooming and care. Next will be the supplies you need to compete in a horse show. And last I'll cover the basic essentials you will need on a trail ride.

At the top of this page, you will see a box that has links to share your opinions and also to read what others have said (or asked). My main purpose for this website is to put as many opinions out there as possible. Of course, as with mine, none will go unchallenged and the dialogue should help us all fill in any gaps we might have. Please share any contributions you might have; and feel free to use this to ask questions on this topic as well.

Horse Supplies For Barn Time

Your horse will have a daily need for horse supplies. Therefore, unless your barn provides everything, you will need to make sure you have what your horse needs on hand...all the time!

Getting Ready for a Horse Show

As I write this I am about to take 4 new students to a horse show in one month and we have to get our horse supplies ready. Most large show barns will supply the majority of the supplies you will need at a horse show . Your responsibilities are the horse(s), horse saddles, horse bridles, horse saddle pads, and girths. Most other supplies are the responsibility of the barn, but believe me you will pay for it! So if you don’t show with a large show barn here is what I think you need to do to be successful.

Try to do a lot of prep work at home before the horse show. As early as a week prior to the horse show, start packing the things you will need. Try not to over pack. You don’t want to make horse showing about packing and unpacking, you want to be able to focus on the show.

First make sure you have a tack trunk or tack box to pack items into.
Grooming Kit or Grooming Box. Since you have been working hard with getting your horse ready for the horse show for at least the past month, go light on your grooming box. For horse brushes, a medium and a soft brush are all you will need. Make sure you have a hoof pick with brush and several towels. You will also need rubbing alcohol and some brand of coat conditioner like vetrolin shine, healthy hair care, show sheen or cowboy magic. There is also product popular on the AQHA circuit is a product known as Pepi. This product smells like strawberries to me!

These should only be used on the tail. If you use any of these products on the horses coat you will end up slipping off your horse. Also don’t use these products as a cheater way to make your horse look better the day of the show. These products actually collect dust. Bottom line is groom your horse well daily and you won’t need a lot of these products!

Some of you may be wondering why rubbing alcohol is needed? Well it is a miracle worker on manure stains, and also great for a leg brace after a strenuous day of showing.

Make sure that your grooming box or bag is not too elaborate so that when you carry it to the ring for last minute touch ups it is easy to move.

Note please make sure your horse is clean and clipped before you walk into the show ring. Gray horse owners this means you! I am so disappointed with the way I have seen gray horses presented in the show ring recently. Wash your horse and wash the tail. There are a lot of products available…just use them!