Whether you are bringing your horse home, or boarding at a DIY livery yard, it is important to have the equipment needed to properly care for and clean your horse’s stable. Here is our comprehensive list of must-have tools, and supplies that will make light work of mucking out.
Bedding
Before your horse even moves into their new stable it is important to find a bedding that is suitable for their needs, locally sourced, and fits your routine. You can read more about bedding choices in our previous article here.
Forks
This is one piece of equipment that is worth splurging on as it is often the most-used tool in your stable kit. When selecting your fork(s) it is important to consider your flooring, bedding, and use. We recommend purchasing at least one good metal traditional pitchfork, and one shaving fork. There are a ton of shaving fork companies that offer extended warranties – these forks may cost a little more, but a two-year warranty could very well save you from buying multiple replacements.
Shovels
Shovels are great for avoiding dirt, dust, and debris getting left behind when mucking out. They are also great for those piles and surfaces that are too hard, wet, or heavy for your fork to handle. There are a variety of shovel shapes and types to choose from, but we love our snow shovels. Snow shovels typically have a bladed edge great for removing hard-packed manure while also being light enough to lift easily, and wide enough to get a good load to dump in your wheelbarrow.
Brooms
There is nothing like a good broom when mucking out. This tool helps provide the finishing touch, and there are many different styles to choose from. You will want to consider the size of the broom head, the bristle type, and what your handle is made of. We highly suggest avoiding metal hollow handles as the pressure of brooming a stall can often lead to breaks and bends in the handle which can lead to a nasty injury.
WheelBarrows
An absolute must at any yard. Wheelbarrows are used to cart around feeding supplies, equipment, and of course provide the perfect vehicle to remove waste and soiled bedding from your horses stall to the muck pile.
Skips
Skips are great for picking out the stable, or just having around the yard for the odd poo pile in that inconvenient place. It saves so much time having to chase after the wheelbarrow and other tools. They are lightweight, easy to use, and are relatively compact making them easy to store and travel with.
Muck Buckets
Another great alternative to a wheelbarrow. Muck buckets are great for the midday picking-out routine, or great for use in an arena during lessons, as they offer a larger storage capacity than a skip, and can be a more permanent fixture without the safety hazards of a wheelbarrow.