Twelve Equestrian Products I Love

More and more equestrian companies are inventing and developing new and innovative equestrian products and trying to convince us that we can not live without them. Some are useful, others, not so much.

Over the years I have amassed a large collection of equestrian items. Some have proven to be invaluable whereas others were a waste of money.

I have put together, in no particular order, a list the 12 equestrian products (and some non-equestrian products) that I use on a regular basis that help me do my job.

1. Fly Spray - I have tried every fly-spray available. Some work better than others. Some don't work at all. The thing I don't like about, most, of the commercially available products, are the chemicals used to kill or repel flies. This is why we decided to create our own. 49% water, 49% white vinegar, 2% cedar oil. Mix together in a large container and put into spray bottles. It not only smells good but it is also harmless to the horses and can safely be used on people.
2. Fly Masks - No matter how well your fly spray works the effect only lasts a certain amount of time. During the hot summer months, when flies are more prevalent, our horses are in their stalls relaxing under the welcome breeze of their stall fans (see #3). They spend the nights out in the pastures. To give them relief from flies and gnats, after the fly spray has worn off, we make sure they each have a carefully fitted fly mask. I prefer the kind that covers the horse's ears to keep out the annoying bugs.
3. Stall Fans - Our stall fans are invaluable in the blistering heat of the summer. They keep the air circulating in the barn and help to keep the horses cool and stress-free. Having heard so many horror stories of box fans catching fire we invested in some high efficiency, closed motor fans. Yes, they are more expensive but even on the lowest setting, they are more powerful than a regular box fan. They are also safer as dust cannot get into the moving parts of the motor.
4. Hose Reel - Not only is it dangerous but it also looks unsightly to have a water hose strewn across the barn aisle. At each end of our barn, we have a hose that we use to fill and wash water buckets and also bathe horses. When it's not in use it is carefully and easily stored in our wall-mounted hose reel.
5. Sun Protection - I can not stress enough the importance of protecting your skin from the sun. According to The American Society for Dermatological Surgery skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million skin cancers in over 2 million people are diagnosed annually. There is no such thing as a safe tan, even if you tan easily without burning. I never leave the house without sunscreen, my sun hat, and my sunglasses. I use the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen. It goes on easily and is non-greasy (which I love). It also has a very unique handle set-up making it easy for me to spray my back. I use, year-round, Neutrogena Age Face Lotion on my face. It goes on smoothly and works great alone or under make-up.
6. Hay Nets - Some equestrians swear by hay nets and some will not use them. That discussion can wait for another day. I use them because we have so much grass that our horses, when stalled, really don't need to be filling their faces with hay. Of course, it isn't safe to allow a horse to go for long periods of time without food so I feed them good quality hay in a slow-feeder hay net. It keeps them occupied and their digestive system full without allowing them to gorge.
7. Pestle and Mortar - I know not everyone will need a pestle and mortar. We do because our cute, little Shetland has Cushings and needs daily medication. Originally, I was breaking up the medicine and mixing it in with her low-carbohydrate feed but after a while, she decided she didn't want to eat it anymore. So, now, the only way to ensure she gets the correct amount of medicine is to pulverize it into a powder, mix it with water, and administer it, orally, with a syringe. I couldn't do this without our pestle and mortar.
8. Footwear - I absolutely love my Ariat H2O boots. They are the most comfortable footwear I have ever owned. I wear them every day. They are made of soft, durable leather that is also waterproof. I wear them around the barn and also ride in them. The sizes run big so I recommend you get a ½ size smaller than you usually wear.
9. Water Container - According to healthline.com the average adult should consume 8 x 8oz glasses of water daily to prevent dehydration. This amount increases drastically in hot conditions. I am not only an equestrian but also an advocate for reusing and recycling as much as possible. I do not purchase bottled water. Instead, I use our delicious well water and carry it to the barn with me in my Yeti Rambler. I add ice first then fill it up and it keeps my water cold all-day-long no matter how hot the weather gets.
10. Shaving Fork - How annoying is it when the tines on your shaving fork break rendering it useless? I was lucky enough to stumble upon The Forever Fork four years ago. Yes, that's right. I have been using the same shavings fork for four years and it's still going strong. I have banged it, accidentally, against the wall more times than I care to remember. Horses and children have knocked it over. I have even run over it with the trailer I use to collect manure and it still didn't break. I can not emphasize enough how amazing this product is. It is more expensive than a regular fork and worth every single penny.
11. Schooling Tights - When the weather is hot and sticky it can be less appealing to ride. But, ride we must. Whether for pleasure or to achieve a goal it is important to keep ourselves and our horses in the best condition possible. My go-to riding pants for summer are Kerrits Ice Fil Tec Tight. They are comfortable, flexible, and breathable.
12. Gate Latches - There are so many different gate latches available these days it's difficult to know where to start. I've tried a few and always come back to the Tough-1 Qwikee Gate Latch. They are easy to install and, if positioned high enough, easy to open and close while riding on the trails. We have them on all our gates.

I hope you have found this list interesting and informative. What are some of your must-have equestrian products?

This list mostly applies to the summer months. I will write another blog later in the year to include winter items.

Disclaimer: We do not warranty any of these companies or products. These are items we use/have used and find them suitable for our needs. You should research these products before purchasing them. We are not sponsored by any of the aforementioned companies or products. These products have been bought by us for our own use. The links are affiliate links.

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