15 Must-Haves for stable chores

Not every stable offers full livery where the horse owner does not have to contribute to their horse’s care or to keeping the stable clean. Often, these are part- or DIY livery arrangements, in which case the livery has to muck out the stable themselves or feed their horse themselves.

Those who look after their own horses have their own tips and tricks to make daily yard chores easier and effectively cut down on the time spent working. After all, you still want to spend time with your horse and, of course, go for a ride.

To inspire you, we’ve put together a list of useful stable tools that can help with your yard chores. Some accessories are obvious and form part of the basic equipment in any yard. Others are handy little tools you may not have realised could make your daily routine easier.

Tools for mucking out

Pitchfork and shavings fork

Manure fork, shavings fork, pitchfork – they have different names, look slightly different too, but they all do the same thing: Clear the horse stable. Depending on the type of bedding, different types of forks are more suitable than others:

For straw bedding, the classic pitchfork with four or five tines is best suited for separating dirty straw from clean straw. Multi-pronged plastic shavings forks are becoming increasingly popular: they are particularly easy to handle, allowing you to separate the shavings from the poo clumps with a tilting motion. Although shavings forks are primarily designed for shavings or other chopped bedding, they are also very popular in horse stables with straw bedding.

Wheelbarrow

Of course, no mucking-out session is complete without a wheelbarrow, into which the poo and dirty bedding can be thrown and transported to the muckheap. There are various sizes and models:

Classic single-wheel wheelbarrows, balanced two-wheel wheelbarrows or, ideal for hilly paddock terrain, electric wheelbarrows.

Do you spend a lot of time at competitions? Then a folding wheelbarrow is just the thing for you.

Manure scoop

Has your horse dropped a bit on the way from the field to the stable, or whilst riding in the arena? Or do you want to quickly skip out any droppings in the evening before you leave?

Instead of fetching all of the equpiment with a shavings fork and wheelbarrow, simply use a manure scoop with a rake: this allows you to quickly and effortlessly collect and remove the horse droppings.

A manure scoop is also the number one tool for poo picking fields.

Headlamp in winter

Need to quickly poo pick the paddock in the dark after work in winter? With a headlamp, this is no problem. It lights your way whilst leaving both hands free to work or lead horses.

Headlamps are available as clip-ons for caps or riding hats, with elastic straps, or integrated into headbands and bobble hats.

Stable tools for feeding

Feed scales for bucket feed and hay

Many horse owners treat their horse’s weight with the utmost care. And rightly so! Because many horses are, in some cases, severely overweight due to a lack of exercise and an excessive amount of feed. Long term consequences can include EMS, sweet itch, laminitis and reduced performance. Weighing the feed down to the gram is therefore often not an overreaction, but necessary for the horse’s health. With a digital feed scale for either hay and/or feed, you can weigh out exactly the amount of feed that is sufficient for your horse.

Haynet fillers

Does your horse receive hay in haynets three times a day or more? Make your work easier by securing the nets in a haynet filler. This ensures you always have a large opening and can fill the net easily from above. Haynet fillers are available to hang up and fold away, or as a sturdy stand to place on the floor.

Brooms

Once the work is done, it goes without saying that you need to sweep up again. Various brooms have proven their worth for sweeping the stable aisle: Rice straw brooms are the classic choice in horse stables. However, bamboo brooms, colloquially known as ’witch’s brooms‘, are also frequently used. For particularly wide stable aisles or for those who need to sweep the entire yard, there are wide stable brooms.

Yard safety knives

How much time can be wasted when you have to open a new bale of hay or straw! To avoid spending ages with twine, nets, untying knots and unwrapping, simply cut it open in seconds – with a yard safety knife. Sharp as a razor blade and practically shaped so you never miss your target.

Work gloves

Fine splinters of hay aren’t just a nuisance; they can also cause infections. So make sure you wear gloves not only when handling the horse, but also during your daily work at the yard. Non-slip, abrasion-resistant work gloves are ideal for yard chores, giving you a firm grip and providing excellent protection against splinters of wood and hay.

Stable tools for here and there

Manure scoop holder & broom holder

Even though shavings forks, manure scoops and brooms are in daily use, they should be stored safely: for more tidiness and safety in the stable. So why not hang them on the wall? This prevents cluttered corners.

Scratch brushes and massage strips

Are you wondering why scratch brushes and massage strips are listed here as stable tools? They can protect the ’interior fittings‘ of your stable. Horses that like to rub against the fittings extensively, without regard for their stability or aesthetics, can be redirected by fitting scratch brushes. Namely, to areas where a scratching horse won’t cause any damage.

Weed removers/sorrel weeder/ragwort fork

On your way to the field, you spot a bright yellow plant – poisonous ragwort. Or you discover a sprouting sorrel plant, which horses won’t eat. Before these unwelcome plants invade a field, they must be removed immediately, please. And to tackle the problem at its root, practical weeders are best suited.

Heated drinkers

An absolute must in every horse stable where they can be fitted: heated drinkers. They make life so much easier, especially in winter, when you don’t have to lug buckets and watering cans around several times a day to provide the horses with water. Heated drinkers are safe for horses in terms of their power supply, prevent the water from freezing and thus keep the pipes clear.

Tack boxes

Tidiness is half the battle. This also applies to the stable, where dust, feed residues and bird or mouse droppings can soil rugs, saddle pads and other equipment. Anything that isn’t used for a long period of time can be stored in large, lockable boxes. This way, you not only protect your equipment but also improve the overall appearance.

You can find further tips for keeping your stable and tack room tidy in our guide on the subject.

Gaffer tape holds the world together

Fabric tape, gaffer tape or duct tape – this all-rounder adhesive tape has many names. Duct tape is versatile and can be used to carry out quick and easy temporary repairs in the stable. Tear in the turnout rug? Duct tape. Broom handle no longer sitting properly in its holder? Duct tape. Hoof bandage needs securing? Duct tape. A roll of duct tape should be a staple in every tack room.