Stable yards use up hundreds of gallons of water everyday, from drinking water to watering the school to bathing horses, and that is before we consider things like washing buckets, cleaning tack, washing lorries, scrubbing hooves and washing out stables. That all adds up to a lot of water. Now some of these things we have to do for our horses welfare so we cannot cut them out completely, however there are loads of ways we can save water on the yard. Read on for some ideas

1. Fit water butts to all drain pipes, this will catch run off water which can then be reused for watering the school.
2. Check all tap and automatic water drinkers, including the ones in the fields, to make sure there are no leaks. If you do find any leaks get them fixed.
3. Switch from buckets to automatic drinkers. When we use buckets, how many of us tip away a full bucket of water that has got got dust or bedding in it? If we are doing this everyday for a few horses, that adds up to a lot of water wasted. If you do need buckets, look at other ways of using the water. For example pour it into a big water butt which is then used to water the school, use the water to soak hay and scrub out feed buckets or washing legs and hooves. When you do pour the bucket away pour it onto the school, if you pour each bucket in a different place you will cover a fair area of the school.
4. Look at switching from soaking hay to steaming hay and then use any left over water on the school. If you do have to have to soak hay again use the left over water to water the school.
5. When bathing your horse do it using buckets rather than the hose. Although time consuming and a lot more effort, it will save a lot of water.
6. Washing muddy legs and hooves off, consider if you really need to do this. Could you leave the horses legs to dry naturally and then brush off the mud? If you do have to wash them off again use a bucket and a scrubbing brush, rather than the hose. If you have fitted water butts around the yard water from one of these is perfect for this job, or use water from stable buckets that needs changing.
7. Washing saddlecloths, boots and bandages. Do you need to wash them every time you use them, or can you leave them to dry and get another go before washing?
8. Rug washing – send all your rugs off together to a rug wash, They can put them through on one cycle, whereas if you do it at home you will only fit one rug in your machine at a time and that will mean a few cycles, to get all the rugs washed.
9. Cold hosing legs – if you have to do this regularly look into the possibility of using cold water therapy or ice boots instead. Switching over could save hundreds of litres of water. If you are cold hosing for medical reasons be sure to get your vets advice before using the boots.
10. scrubbing out feed buckets – use left over water from stable buckets that needed emptying, or if you have automatic drinkers and want to clean them, scoop the water out and use it to scrub feed buckets. When one bucket is done pour the water from it, in to the next feed bucket and so on, until the buckets are clean.

If you can think up more easy changes you can make to save water, please share them with us.

We have put together a list of a few essentials to keep on yout transport to help you out in emergency situations.

First aid kit human – good items to include are:

• plasters
• painkillers
• ice pack
• arnica cream
• sterile cleansing wipes
• scissors
• saline solution
• gauze
• bandages
• insect bite cream
• Gloves
• tweezers
• thermometer
• eye wash

First aid kit Equine

• Vet Wrap
• Salt
• bucket
• Scissors
• Poultice
• Gamgee
• Bandages
• Thermometer
• Wound Spray
• Hibi Scrub
• Cotton Wool
• Heavy Duty Tape
• Nappy
• Small Bowl
• Syringe
• Hoof Pick

You can buy prepacked first aid kits from chemists and supermarkets and your local tack shop as well as online retailers.

I like to keep these first aid kits in my lorry/trailer all the time, so i know they are there when i need them. There are a few other essentials that i like to keep in the transport too, these are things that i will probably need at the show, but are easy to forget to pack. They include:

shampoo – for stains acquired during travel

Spare head collar and lead rope – in case the current one gets broken or goes missing

bucket – for water or carrying tings is and using as a mounting block

torch – for stay away shows

Spare batteries – for the torch

treats – in case you need to bribe the horse

lunge line – a variety of uses, including lunging, loading and leading

Sun cream – for you and the horse on hot days

hair bands – they always go missing

baling twine – can be used in pretty much any situation for any purpose

I have a big bucket that i put everything in, including the first aid kits, and then i am fully prepared if i have any emergencies. If you have more room on your transport you could look at keeping things like spare girths, hats, boots etc in there too. However i do find that most shows do have one or two trade stands you can purchase forgotten items from (although it is an expensive way of doing it) or most other competitors are willing to lend you things – just make sure you give them back. 🙂

For a first time owner it can very daunting knowing what kit you need straight away. Horses require a lot of equipment, some of it is essential and some of it is what we buy because we like it, but it is not essential. When getting your first horse/pony you can feel very unprepared and worried that you haven’t got everything you need. There is no need to worry, we have complied a list of essential items you will need to care for your first horse or pony. Once you have been an owner for a while you will begin to see more products that you like and find your own way for how you want to do things. Also remember that even if you have not got everything you need, fellow liveries will always step in and help you out. Find your local tack shop, most are open 7 days a week, so you can always pop down there, or with the internet most items are only a day or 2 away.

1. Saddle: Some horses you buy come with tack, other you will need to get your own. Your saddle is likely to be one of the most expensive items you buy after the actual horse, so it is really, really important to get the right one. Make sure you seek the help of a professional saddle fitter, even if your horse came with a saddle it is best practice to get it checked, to make sure it fits both you and your horse. There are some saddlers who do not carry stock and only offer a fitting service, and other who have wide range of saddles available to try. Make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to do with your horse and what your budget is, then give them a call and book an appointment. Make sure they are fully qualified and insured, you can find a list of them on the Society of Master Saddlers Website Also ask fellow liveries and friends who they recommend to use.
2. Bridle: Again there are lots of different types of bridles and bits available to use, they vary in strength and how/ where they apply pressure. A good start is to ask the old owners what they were using and get the same, again always seek help from a professional. Your riding instructor is a good place to start, and there are also professional bit and bridle fitters who hold clinics and conduct yard visits to help you get the best combination for your horse. If you are struggling with where to start a plain cavesson bridle with an eggbut snaffle is a good place, again be sure to get the correct size bit for your horses mouth. More advice on fitting can be found here: http://nsbits.com/2014/01/15/measuring-your-horse-for-a-bit/
3. Once you have got your tack it is very important to tack care of it. Tack should be regularly cleaned to prevent it rubbing the horse and also so you can check the stitching and make sure there are no splits or tears. For this you will need a tack cleaning kit. A basic one consists of 2 sponges and some saddle soap. There are loads of different types out there on the market at the moment. Bars, tuns, liquids and spray bottles. It really is a case of trial and error to see which ones you like best and which work best on your tack. My personal preference are the squeeze tubes, because i fins them very easy to use and store, my favourite brands are Renapur and Oakwood. If you are buying new tack some of them come with cleaners that are made by the saddle company, or you can ask your saddle fitter for advice, but ultimately it comes down to what you prefer. It is also a good idea to invest in a cover for your saddle and a bag for your bridle. Now days most new saddles and some bridles come with covers, however make sure the cover and bag is waterproof and machine washable, to give your tack the best protection possible. Again with these there are hundreds on the market and it comes down to your budget and preference to which ones you get.
4. Vet kit, this is an essential item. It does not have to be really fancy a basic one will suffice. Most tack shops or eBay etc sell complete vet kits, which are a good starting point. You can add to it as you go along. A guide to what you should have it there can be found here.
5. Grooming Kit – This is something you will use everyday, so make sure you pick one that you like. It is always good to have a feel of the brushes first to see how they fit in your hand, for comfort etc. There are literally hundreds of different types of grooming kit on the market ranging from a couple of pounds up to hundreds of pounds. It really is all about budget and personal preference. You will need :
   1. body brush
   2. dandy brush
   3. curry comb
   4. hoof pick
   5. mane comb
   6. face brush
   7. water brush
   8. Fly Spray

This is a very basic kit, again you can buy complete sets from any tack shop or online stores very cheaply. I would suggest getting one of these and then updating and adding to it as you go along.

Also check with the livery yard owner if they will provide any shelving or saddle and bridle racks as well. Some yards give you your own space equipped with racks and shelves, some provide lockers and other just provide the space.

If you are just getting space make sure you get saddle and bridle racks for your tack, you can get wall mounted ones you screw in, or you can get free standing ones if you do not want to attempt DIY. Also look in to some shelving or a big plastic box to put everything else in. DIY shops and Groupon always have really good deals on things like this. Again once you have settled into ownership you will gain a better idea of how you want to set up and store your equipment.

Finally it is always good to have a spare head collar and lead ropes to hand as well as a few extra hoof picks. These things are the bare essentials to help you get through the beginning of horse ownership. Other equipment you might need will depend on what type of livery you are on, if your horse lives in or out and also the horse.

The most important thing is to remember to enjoy the journey and have fun.

Don’t forget to check out all the brilliant tack room storage items we have, to help you keep your tack room organised as your collection grows.

Now the beautiful (typical ) British summer time is here, it is the perfect time to get your tack room organised and ready for summer. Over the warmer and drier months most of us like to get our horses out and about to competitions, long distance rides, the beach etc which means we need a different set of kit to what we were using. Also as our horses/ponies tend to sweat when we ride it often means a clean saddlecloth / saddle pad is needed for every ride, and we have to clean our tack more frequently. It also means we are now into bathing and sloshing off after work. So whilst we can discard of all those winter rugs and wellies, we now need fly rugs and buckets. So what can we do to make life easier for us, and give us more time with our precious animals enjoying the summer.

Start with the winter rugs, drag them all out and check them over. If you need to get them washed etc get that organised now. Any rugs you are not keeping put in the bin or on selling sites. Dig out those fly masks too.  Also look at how you are going to store the rugs you are keeping. There are many different ways of doing this. You can get a big trunk form any DIY shop or eBay, Amazon etc and pop them all inside. These boxes are great because they are relatively cheap to buy and you can lock them, however the downside is that they are not rat/mice proof. They can still chew through the plastic, and although all the rugs are away they are still jumbled in together which makes it difficult when you come to use them. However we have a solution for that too – our rug storage bags, they fit in these boxes very well and with the labels keep all your rugs organised and to hand, as well as adding an extra layer of protection.

If you have shelving then again our rug bags can be used on this too, again they protect the rugs from dirt, dust and water as well as bird poo etc

Once all the winter rugs are packed away it is time to dig out the lighter weight summer rugs, fly rugs, hoods, summer sheets etc. Check them over to make sure they are not broken / damaged and then store them in an easy to reach place, ready for use, we can help with this, with our range of bags specially designed for lightweight summer rugs.  Also check over your travel boots, make sure they are clean and ready for use. We also have a handy waterproof storage bags for travel boots here. Next its time to look at the saddlecloths. Have a sort through and check for rips or damage, make sure they are the right shape and fit for your horse and they are clean. Get rid of any you wont use again and wash any dirty ones. Then look at how to store them for ease of use. The saddlecloth / saddle pad i am using i put over my saddle and the rest go in a storage bag on my racking. I have different bags for each type of saddle cloth to make it easier to find the one i want. When i have used a saddlepad and it needs washing i take it home and use the laundry bag for washing that and the bandages, i also get the next one out over the saddle ready for my next ride. I also like to have my boots and bandages to hand. I store all mine in a wraps bag which are fantastic for organising and protecting everything, plus they hang up making it super easy to find the matching boots or bandages for your matchy set.

Now have a look at your tack, thoroughly check it all over including any tack that has been stored away or not used very much. Also have a look at your cleaning kit, do your sponges need replacing? Is your soap running a bit low? Now is a really good time to take apart all that tack and clean and check for any damage, loose stitching etc . Once that is all done pop it all back on its pegs and hangers. If you are short on hanging hooks grab some wreath holders from the pound shop to use, they do not need fixing to the wall, meaning you can place them anywhere and dont need tools either.

Next look at your vet kit, make sure all the lotions and potions are up to date, and that you have all the essentials. A guide to what to include in your vet kit can be found here. Remember to move anything that needs to be kept cool into  the fridge. I like to store my vet kit in a brightly coloured easy to grab grooming bag, that way it stands out and is very easy to grab when needed, it also makes it easy to pop it on the lorry or trailer for taking on trips out etc, and it makes it very easy to direct someone to, if you have sent someone else to fetch it for you.

Make sure you get your clippers out (if you have them) and check them over and oil. Do your blades need sharpening? a new set of blades for the trimmers? if so get those sorted out now ready for the next use.

Moving onto your grooming kit, get everything out and give your brushes a good wash, you can do it in a bucket of water with some horse shampoo, just remember to change the water before it gets too dirty, also make sure to thoroughly rinse off the shampoo. Give the box/bag a good clean out and then check if you have all the summer essentials?

Fly Spray

Plaiting Bands

Needle Thread

Pulling Comb

Plaiting spry / gel

Whitening Shampoo

Chalk

Show Shine

Hoof Oil

Stable Rubber

Sun Lotion

Sponges

Slosh for after work

Proscceco

Finally give everything a really good sweep out and dust down, remember to de – cobweb the walls and ceilings too.

If you need to stock up on anything write a list and get it in now, so your are prepared – we all know how changeable the weather is in Britain!!!!!!!!

You might want to pop up some fly catchers and also look into wall planners, to help you keep organised and on top of entry closing dates, vaccinations, height certificates  and membership renewals.

Most importantly remember to have fun 🙂