Top 10 things to make horsey life easier

[Silvia]

This is inspired by Jane A. who listed some of her favourite pieces of equipment on another thread.
So - what are your "could not live without" things?
Among my top 10 are:
- toe stoppers on stirrups
- my reins with loops to slip hand through
- bridle made by Esther D. with clips instead of buckles
- lightweight dressage whip with rubber handle
- mounting block
- "ride and run" boots
- easy grip brushes
- Wintec Isabell saddle with suede-like seat

[8-legged-pony]

I'm gonna go slightly different here, and list the things I couldn't live without when teaching RDA (I hope this is ok - might still be useful to some people)

- Toe stoppers
- The leather straps that attach to the D ring of saddles to aid in balance
- Mounting Ramp - excellent for people with limited mobility who find the steps of the smaller block hard to manage as it's a ramp, also helpful for getting on the bigger horses
- Martingale rubbers on reins - helps the children to grip the reins in the right place without them sliding through their hands
- Rainbow reins - for the children esp with learning difficulties, much easier for them to know to always hold the reins on the blue bit
- Amazingly well behaved, safe yet not boring horses and ponies.

[sabreig]

Mine are mane and tail detangler, I can't even imagine life without it, what did I do for all those years? and plaited rope reins, I cant stand any other type.

[domane]

Spring clips on my haynets for clipping them rather than tying.

Hairbrush for feathers.

Hand-on-a-stick (homemade) for desensitizing back legs!!!

[NoviceNic]

At my old yard we had a conveyor belt that took the poo up into the huge trailer. Saved forking it up everyday. Hated it when it broke down...:)

Rubber Matting. Makes life a lot easier.......:)

I wouldnt be without my horse most of all........He makes my whole life easier.:D

[CurlyWurlyRach]

- quality dandy brush
- Hoofpick with a wire brush on
- shavings bedding!
- Hormonal mare supplement
- Stallion rope (really thick leadrope with a heavy duty clip that i got from a racing shop)
- suede seat on my saddle
- martingale neckstrap
- BIG wheelbarrow
- Squishy buckets
- snack-a-ball toy

[KarinUS]

#1 is OH who always finds a way to get me what I *need* - usually involving him risking life and health and spending lots of hours sweating so I can have my horses trimmed the way I want it, fed the kind of hay I want them to have, sheltered in a much nicer barn and ridden in a much nicer arena than we could have afforded had we paid somebody else. Without OH horsey life would be only about 10% of the fun I have now. :) Here's to my sweet OH, best horsey husband in the northern hemisphere (and perhaps world ?!)

#2 have to be my wonderful, smart and willing horses DJ, Bixby and Minose. I have learned so much from each of them and know there will be lots more to learn in the coming years. :) It's rare that people get this lucky once. I got this lucky THREE times!

#3 the bitless bridle that has made such a big difference for our worry child Bixby.

#4 the treeless saddles that made riding Bixby much more safe and comfortable.

#5 the Ergo baby carrier that allows me to take my baby with me every time I take care of my horses.

#6 the misting fans that keep my anhidrotic horse comfortable and content. And actually it's pretty comfrotable for us humans too... ;)

#7

#8

#9

#10

got to think about the rest... ;)

[ShariN]

Humm,, have to think about this one..

1.)Teenaged son to get most of the horsey chores done, when you are out for the count.
Without him, I would be in major trouble.

2.) loving husband to put up with my horses and help when needed. Only way I got on my Ice mare the other day was with his help and a chair.
Though chair is not recommend. Nice stable tight bale of straw is better.

3.) Using my Lodgerope Enduro bridle. While not bought for the mare I am using it on now..works great. Very easy to put on my horse myself.
They are going to make me special reins with knots about every 3 inches. That way the reins are a lot easier to hold onto.

4.) Right now I am just going to use a bareback pad. Though I need a new one. Have been looking at those Christ purewool pads.

5.) teach your horse to move back, foward, side to side with just hand cues. Makes it a whole lot more easy on people with handicapps. She will not tug, push or hurt someone that can't walk well. Takes awhile to train correctly but the benifts are tromendous.

6.) make sure the paths too where the horse(s) are are smooth and level.

[NZdressage]

1= my gorgeous horse jetty!!!
=my trainer who is there every day to support me

others, not nessicarily in order because I couldnt decide!
my isabell werth dressage saddle
jets very pretty pink stable rug
baby oil for manes and tails
my cavallo breeches
my car
my kentucky dressage coat ( very expensive but so worth it on comp days!)
my horse truck
my haas body brush
the rocket fuel Jet eats to make him very hot and powerful!!

[Bay Mare]

My SBS dressage saddle .... soooo comfortable

HM wide tread stirrups ... don't 'encourage' your toes to poke out and are brilliant for jumping in

Stephens/Bartl sheepskin saddle cloth .... luxury and Saffy loves them :)

Simple Systems feeds

CalMag/MagOx ... makes life a LOT easier!

Enlightened Equitation book

Perfect Manners/Perfect Partners by Kelly Marks. Great for groundwork

Oster grooming kit. You're worth it!

Elevator bridle .... just lush

My Fhoenix jumping saddle when I get it .......

[tabithakat64]

My lovely horses
My friend who looks after them when I can't
roller buckles on my girths
elastic on my girth straps
my heather moffett seatbone saver
Fudges be-nice halter (he's an angel to lead now)
Easy grip brushes
mounting block
my half chaps
24/7 turnout if I need it

[elise]

Our best feature at therapeutic riding is a hydrolic lift. We can wheel right onto the lift and up we go to whatever height we want, even up to our fresian!

Top that off with a carriage that also has a hydrolic lift. Wheelchair can wheel right up, lift up to the carriage, and clamp right in ready for driving.

Couple other good things:
-tiny brushes for tiny early childhood classes
-short lead ropes (no sidewalkers tripping over extra rope)

[india]

I couldn't be without any of these.....

- Best Friend bareback pad
- natural hackamore
- CD player
- rubber matting
- stables
- car
- mounting block
- goat hair face brush
- mobile phone

and last but not least......my precious neds :)

[x.fat-pony.x]

People at the yard who realise you need help and offer it in the most subtle but helpful ways :)
And obviously the hosses themselves!

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

elastic bands...

riding instructors who want to help you overcome your problems and work with them...

and body protectors :)

[Monty]

In no particular order:

Haynet filler mate,
Caged endurance stirrups.
My Wally-made canter handle (now used for dismounting).
Chev
My mounting block.
OH and kids.
My COB1 scooter.
My Tui Bar in the trailer.

Oh yes, and of course, my HM seatsaver, without it I couldn't ride, or not AND stay in the saddle!!

[weelass]

Wally-made canter handle : can i ask what this is and what its used for?

[Sammii]

Oooh.

This is in no particular order by the way.


Plastic Curry Comb!
Fly rugs
Shavings fork
Red's owner and her daughter (my best friend)
Yard lights! (electricity basically)
Winter turnout field connected to the stable block - much easier to bring the 6 horses in when you're on your own.
Hoof picks with brushes on the end.
Farriers!
Bit banks.
Polyjumps <3

[smellophant]

I work at a disabled riding centre and would definately have these items on my list, tho not sure what order!

Mounting block, with a ramp, an an extra smaller block for bigger horses.
Rainbow reins.
Back support, for when side walking.
Removable ramps for carriage.
Neck Straps.
Seat savers/gel pads.
Amazing horses and ponies.
Hole punch, for extra holes in stirrup leathers.
Side reins, attached to D-rings, crossed over neck, then attached to bit; used to stop strong ponies pulling their heads down with small riders on board.
Fantastic volunteers, couldn't be done without them!

[stormy's mum]

1. fly spray
2. good horses ponies
3. pain killers (for bad knee and shoulder days) all i can think of