How to Select Equipment for a Horse Stable

A stable serves as a home for your horse, but it also houses the equipment needed to ride him, to care for him and to keep his living space clean. You need to select equipment that answers the needs of your horse stable and store it in a place where you can get at it quickly. Even the smallest stables usually have a place for equipment.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Determine the number of horses you will be keeping in your stable. A stable built for one or two horses needs fewer amenities than one built for more. Hay lofts can be smaller, drainage runs can be less elaborate and mucking tools don't require multiples. A larger stable housing more horses requires larger space for such amenities.

2. Learn how much room you have in your stable for equipment. A small storage place necessitates minimal equipment (or storage elsewhere) centered on the absolute necessities. A larger stable will let you select more equipment.

3. Confirm that any storage area you have is clean and dry, without leaks or exposure to inclement weather. Some types of equipment can stand up to inclement conditions, but most need to be kept in good condition.

4. Find proper cleaning equipment. A horse stable needs to be mucked and cleaned every day to prevent waste from building up and sickness from spreading. You will need a good shovel, a set of rubber boots, a wheelbarrow, a pitchfork and a bedding fork at the very minimum. You should also look into scrubbing brushes, hoses and buckets for periodically washing out the stable.

5. Secure proper feeding equipment for your horse. Hay feeders and water troughs should be clean and secure, allowing the horse to access his food in the proper amount. Pitchforks should also be available for distributing hay.

6. Keep enough saddles, bridles and riding gear to meet your needs. Many horse owners prefer to store such equipment in the stables, near the horses. You don't necessarily need one saddle, blanket and bridle for each horse, but each horse should have equipment that is comfortable and that he is used to wearing.

Tips & Warnings

• Select equipment tailored to the particular needs of your horse. Most day-to-day equipment should be functional and built to last during many years of regular work. If you have racing horses, you will need proper training equipment and any horse involved in a formal competition requires a saddle and gear fit for the occasion. Such gear should almost never be used in day-to-day activities, but your horse should be comfortable enough with it so that he isn't thrown when the time comes to use it.