What You Need for a Horse - Your First Horse Equipment Checklist

Whether you are a first-time horse buyer or you want to bring your horse home for the first time, we know it can feel overwhelming to consider all the items you need to purchase. After all, you want the best for your horse and you want to keep them safe! That’s why we created a checklist that includes everything you might need to get started, including horse equipment, stable items, and gear for yourself.

Horse Equipment List

What horse equipment do you need for a healthy, happy horse? Here’s a high-level list that we will break down into more details below:

• Feeding Equipment; includes hay and grain feeders, water buckets, and feed scoops.
• Grooming Supplies; covers everything from brushes to hoof polish to mane and tail shampoo.
• Shelter; make sure your horse has adequate and safe fencing, gate panels, and protection from the elements.
• Manure Management Tools; such as pitchforks and a manure bucket, wheelbarrow, or cart.
• Tack; encompasses the essentials, like a halter, saddle, pad, girth, and bridle, as well as boots, lunge lines, and more.
• Blankets and Sheets; no horse’s wardrobe is complete without options for every weather occasion.
• Fly Gear; more than just fly spray - your horse will also need a fly mask, and potentially a fly sheet and set of fly boots, depending on their needs.
• First Aid Supplies; will help you be prepared for emergencies and minor injuries.

If you plan to board your new horse at the trainer’s or another facility, you may not need to purchase certain barn equipment or worry about building fences. Generally, you will still need to buy the basics, such as buckets, grooming tools, tack, blankets, fly gear, and first aid supplies.

Feeding Equipment

While setting up your horse’s stall or run-in shed, there are a few items you will need for proper feeding. Slow feeders are known to offer digestive and behavioral benefits, so you might need to decide whether a hay bag, net, or rack best meets your horse’s needs. Of course, every horse needs a couple of water buckets to stay hydrated in their stall and pasture. Similar to hay feeders, you will need to determine whether a mounted or ground feeder best suits your horse’s needs and the configuration of the stall. Don’t forget a food scoop to measure out your horse’s grain.

1. Hay feeders; choose between hay bags, nets, or racks
2. Water buckets; for the stall and pasture
3. Grain feeders; mounted or ground feeders based on preference
4. Feed scoop; to ensure the right amount of grain is given

If you attend shows or go trail riding, consider purchasing additional buckets, ground feeders, feed scoops, hay bags, or hay nets. You can store away or keep extras in the horse trailer, so you won’t have to take anything out of your horse’s stall and will be less likely to forget items on your travel checklist.

SHOP ALL FEEDERS

Grooming Supplies

For both a healthy and glistening coat, horse grooming supplies are key in removing dirt, dust, and mud. You will want a variety of brushes and bathing tools as well as products for your horse’s hooves, mane, and tail. A set of clippers will come in handy if you need to tidy up your horse’s face, mane, or coat. Depending on your personal preference, you might want a grooming tote or rack to stay organized.

1. Brushes; at minimum, you should have a stiff brush, medium brush, dandy brush, soft brush, small face brush, and curry comb. Each brush can help you lift, loosen, and wipe away stubborn dirt and mud from your horse’s coat.
2. Bathing items; like us, your horse needs shampoo and conditioner for a full bath. You might even want separate shampoos and conditioners for your horse’s mane/ tail and coat, depending on your horse’s hair texture and how deep of a wash they need. Consider finding a few different shampoos for different purposes, including one for stain removal, color enhancement, or whitening. Medicated shampoo is good to have on hand when you need to help treat irritated skin conditions. Don’t forget to add a sweat scraper for wiping away water from your horse’s body after getting hosed off.
3. Hoof picks and oil; to pair with your set of brushes, find a hoof pick (or two) to help remove dirt, debris, and rocks from your horse’s feet. Likewise, keep a bottle of hoof oil to treat dry, cracked, or sore hooves.
4. Mane and tail care; your horse will undoubtedly need various beauty products for their mane and tail, such as a detangler, leave-in conditioner, brushes, and a tail bag.
5. Clippers; both clippers and trimmers are designed to remove a horse’s hair from their body or smaller areas, like their ears, muzzle, or legs, either for a clean, trimmed–up appearance for the show ring or functionality. You should choose clippers based on the area of your horse you are planning on clipping. Horse body clippers are meant for removing large amounts of thick hair and are usually quite powerful and have wider blades. Horse trimmers, or finishing clippers, are great for cleaning up around the face, eyes, muzzle, ears, and bridle path, often coming in small sizes with a quiet motor.
6. Grooming tote or rack; storing all your grooming supplies in one designated place simplifies the process of grooming your horse. Bags or portable totes are convenient to carry around the barn, whereas a hanging rack is useful for extra storage. If you travel to shows, you might want a cart, too, so all your grooming supplies and related items are kept together for easy transportation.

SHOP ALL GROOMING SUPPLIES

Shelter

When building horse amenities at home, one of the number items on your checklist is ensuring that you have safe, sturdy fencing and adequate shelter. If you are unsure about installing your own fencing or shelter, hire professionals who specialize in building safe facilities for horses.

1. Fencing; Wood, pipe, PVC, wire, and electric wire or tape are the most common types of fencing. The terrain, aesthetics, amount of maintenance you are willing to put in, your horse’s behavior, and your budget are all factors in determining which type of fencing to build. Many barn owners install electric wire alongside more solid fencing, like wood, to prevent horses from leaning, itching, or chewing on the fence.
2. Shelter; whether you have a barn built or not, your horse still needs access to shelter in their pasture. Run-in sheds are perfect for providing protection from the elements, such as rain, snow, hail, extreme heat, and high wind. They are often positioned where the opening faces opposite to the direction rain and wind usually come from, acting as a shield for your horse to escape into.

SHOP SHELTER AND FENCING

Manure Management

Manure management involves the ability to successfully collect, spread, and store manure in an environmentally sustainable manner. With the right tools, your horse manure management process can be streamlined, which will keep your barn clean and prevent flies from taking over.

1. Manure forks, shovels, and brooms; every horse owner has a favorite pitchfork and shovel. Personal preference will lead you to a wooden or metal handle in addition to many different types of forkheads. The possibilities are endless!
2. Muck buckets, carts, and wheelbarrows; also personal preference. Depending on the number of stalls you have, the size of your pastures, and the distance to the manure pile, you might opt for a simple muck bucket or a heavier-duty cart or wheelbarrow. Many riders have a second bucket or cart that is portable enough for shows and live in the horse trailer with another pitchfork.
3. Tool holders; wall-mounted tool holders are perfect for keeping your pitchforks and other tools off the floor, freeing up space and helping you stay organized.

Interested in learning more about manure management? Check out this step-by-step guide on How to Clean a Horse’s Stall.

SHOP ALL MANURE MANAGEMENT

Tack

Whether or not you plan to ride, show, trail ride, or ride for pleasure at home, your horse will need various types of tack. Your discipline and your horse’s level of training will dictate which type of saddle, bridle, pad, stirrups, girth, and boots you use. If you are uncertain which pieces of tack you need for your horse, ask an experienced trainer or friend.

1. Halter and lead; no matter which activity you do with your horse, you will need at least one halter and lead rope for daily handling. There are several different types of halters, consisting of nylon, rope, leather, and breakaway. You can even find fancy silver show halters for showmanship or halter classes.
2. Lunge line and whip; even if you do not plan to lunge your horse before riding, a lunge line and whip are handy in case they are feeling more energetic than usual. Plus, your veterinarian may need to watch your horse move on the lunge line for lameness checks.
3. Saddle; if you have plans to ride, find an English or western saddle that fits both you and your horse. Different disciplines have different saddles to suit the unique purpose that your horse might be doing.
4. Bit, bridle, and reins; similar to a saddle, there are different bridle setups you might use, depending on your discipline. It is especially important to find the right bit that your horse is comfortable in if they do not ride bitless. You can play around with the different types of reins, too. For western, you will find leather split reins, leather or nylon single/ one piece reins, or leather romal reins. English reins are only found as a set of single reins, which are often laced or plaited. You can buy them in leather or rubber.
5. Saddle pad; to go with your saddle, you should find a pad that is comfortable and fits your horse. Many riders have a saddle pad they regularly ride in at home as well as a nicer pad, or a show blanket if they ride western, that they reserve and keep clean for shows.
6. Stirrups and stirrup leathers; many saddles do not come with stirrups. As a result, you will need to find a pair that is comfortable for you and helps keep you balanced. English and Western stirrups are not the same, so make sure you find the appropriate type. If you ride English, you will need a set of stirrup leathers as well.
7. Girth; your girth or cinch is a fundamental piece of tack that secures your saddle in place. There are girths for Western, dressage, and other English disciplines. Depending on your horse’s preference, how they move, and how sensitive their skin is, you can choose from neoprene, synthetic, leather, string, or fleece-lined girths.
8. Boots and polo wraps; to protect your horse’s legs under saddle, find a set of boots or polo wraps. Different disciplines and horses prefer certain forms of leg protection. If your horse overreaches or pulls front shoes off, they might also need a pair of bell boots.
9. Leather care and silver polish; to preserve the quality of your leather tack, regularly clean each piece with saddle soap, polish, cleaner, conditioner, and a sponge. Use silver polish for those shiny parts of your bridle or saddle, too.

SHOP ALL TACK

Blankets and Sheets

If your horse lives in a four-season climate, it is worth investing in durable blankets and sheets to protect them from all the elements. Winter or summer, rain or shine, your horse will appreciate having an extra layer to protect their coat.

1. Waterproof turnout blanket; is typically the heaviest-duty blanket for your horse to insulate them from cold temperatures and snow during winter.
2. Turnout sheet; waterproof turnout sheets are the best choice for turnout sheets since they are the perfect layer to protect your horse from rain or mildly chilly temperatures without over-blanketing.
3. Stable sheet; usually the next lightest layer, a stable sheet is not waterproof and is best to protect against a light nighttime chill or simply to keep your horse clean at shows.
4. Cooler; offers optimal moisture-wicking abilities to help absorb sweat after a ride or when your horse exits the show ring.
5. Sleazy slicker; can keep your horse clean from nose to tail. A horse sleazy or slicker is a stretchy “underlayer” that is designed to prevent your horse’s coat and mane from getting dirty at shows.
6. Therapeutic sheet; every horse deserves to be pampered. Magnetic, ceramic, copper, or ionic sheets are a great way to relieve your horse from muscle soreness and stiffness after a long ride or competition.

SHOP ALL BLANKETS AND SHEETS

Fly Gear

Keeping your horse protected from flies is one of the most vital health and comfort concerns for any horse owner during the warmer months. If you want to keep your horse free of pests and protected from the sun's harmful UV rays, outfit your horse in fly spray, a mask, a sheet, and boots.

1. Fly spray; a staple in every barn; your horse will not want to leave for turnout in the morning or go for a ride without a thorough coating of fly spray. Check out our Top 18 Fly Sprays and Repellents.
2. Fly mask; protect your horse’s eyes, face, nose, and ears with a properly fitting fly mask that will survive daily turnout. Learn everything you need to know about fly masks.
3. Fly sheet; block out pesky insects and UV rays with a fly sheet that covers your horse’s entire body. Most fly sheets are lightweight and breathable, so your horse will remain comfortable throughout the day. You can even add a neck cover for increased fly protection. Learn more by reading Fly Sheets 101.
4. Fly boots; reduce stomping and pacing by fastening a set of fly boots on your horse’s legs, which can also mitigate the risk of tendon and hoof injury. Learn everything you need to know about fly boots.

SHOP ALL FLY GEAR

First Aid Supplies

Unfortunately, accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. Since we cannot outfit our horses in bubble wrap, we can prepare for the worst by creating an equine first aid kit to store in your tack room, locker, or trailer. By compiling first aid supplies at home and on the road, you can care for certain ailments yourself or help stabilize emergencies while the vet is on their way.

COMPLETE LIST OF HORSE FIRST AID KIT ESSENTIALS

Horse Rider Equipment List

If you ride in the comfort of your own backyard, your fashion choices when it comes to riding are up to you. There are a few pieces that you should wear, regardless, such as a pair of riding boots and a helmet for your own safety. Fortunately, there are many styles for all elements of riding equipment, so you should be able to find what feels the best for you.

1. Riding Pants or Breeches; are most commonly worn among English riders. Breeches come in a full seat or with knee patches and fit easily under tall boots to prevent chafing. Dressage riders often prefer full-seat breeches and show in white pairs. Hunter or equitation riders typically prefer knee patch breeches and opt for tan to show in.
2. Western Jeans; should fit comfortably in the thigh, allowing freedom to swing your leg over. They should also have a long enough inseam not to ride up, revealing your boots while in the saddle. If you are considering western jeans to show in, you may opt for a pair with a high waist to fully tuck your shirt in.
3. Riding Helmets; no matter your discipline, you can wear an AST/SEI-certified helmet. However, most english disciplines do require a helmet to show in. Since so many styles are available and equipped with the latest safety technology, you are sure to find one that fits both your head and your taste.
4. Cowboy Hats; if you show in a Western discipline or work on a ranch, you might want a cowboy hat. These hats look good and are functional as they keep the sun and dirt off your face. Depending on the season, where you show, and your preference, you may desire a felt and straw cowboy hat.
5. Riding Gloves; although not all equestrians enjoy riding in gloves, they can offer a better grip on the reins, keep your hands warm, and prevent your fingers from blistering.
6. Riding Boots; if you ride english, you will likely want a pair of riding boots.
7. Cowboy Boots; western riders generally wear cowboy boots.
8. Half Chaps; some english riders wear half chaps with paddock boots to save their nice tall boots for shows. Other riders simply find the combination of paddock boots and half chaps to be more comfortable.
9. Full Chaps; while most western riders do not wear half chaps, many dress in full chaps for horse shows or days working on the ranch.
10. Spurs and spur straps; not every horse needs spurs, so be careful when determining whether you need a pair. If your horse is not too sensitive, you can find English spurs or Western spurs along with corresponding spur straps.

While it can feel intimidating to start shopping for every item you need for both you and your horse, remember that you only need to focus on what is truly necessary. Meet your horse’s basic needs from this checklist first, then purchase the extras later. If you take the time to source the right equipment now, you won’t need to repeatedly find replacements later or feel unprepared if an emergency occurs. You can also ask a trusted friend, trainer, or vet which products they prefer best around the barn, their horses, and themselves. Just think about what your horse likes best and go from there. Good luck with your new adventure of horse ownership! You got this!