I have a friend who braids her horses and all three of her daughters horses. She was complaining about standing on the step stool to braid. I would like to buy her the “Mercedes Benz” of stools for Christmas.
Any one have any great suggestions?
I don’t like anything besides your run-of-the-mill 3-step ladder. I don’t like the ones that have the high handles as I always find them in the way and if I turn the ladder around so the handle is behind me I am too far from the horse.
I have a wooden 3 step ladder and always liked the idea of painting it and decorating it cool colors (ladders like to disappear at horse shows and I figured a custom one would be hard to miss if I saw it at another barn’s stalls!)…now I have had the same ladder for 3 years and have still yet to paint it. Maybe some day. Maybe that would be a good idea as a gift? Adds a personal touch! And the wooden ones last a lot longer because they don’t bend if the horse knocks the bottom of it like the metal ones do.
I have three. But, I braid so many horses I need the variety I suppose.
My every day one, I have stuff in the compartment like extra combs, lights, latch hooks, etc., and it is light to carry around. I have the black one-
http://www.western-heritage.com.au/viewproduct.aspx?id=466
I also have this one for some of my taller horses, it is not as sturdy feeling as my box but it is great for 17+ hands or nervous baby giraffes–
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Folding-Steel-Step-Stool-2-Step/17209082
Aaaaannnndd I use this one rarely but it is for my gentle giants that I have bene braiding for a while. I feel a little unsteady on it, it is pretty high, so I won’t use it with babies or horses I don’t know-
http://www.wayfair.com/DAVIDSON-LADDER-INC.-Louisville-429-Aluminum-Two-Step-Stool-with-Side-Locks-DADL231102BX-UCO1005.html
I am buying this one for next year, I have always hated the carry bar on the second one, this should be better-
http://www.containerstore.com/shop/laundry/stepStoolsLadders?productId=10020451
What I see at shows for people who just do a few horses is this big heavy monster that holds literally everything for braiding a couple horses. Of course, they wouldn’t need to carry it all over, right?? Everyone seems to like it! I don’t have any idea who makes it but it is big, sturdy, and lots of storage. I bet someone will know of it 
Being short, I need the top step of a three step ladder for nearly every horse. Hence, that is what I use, in the aluminum variety. A braided friend wraps the steps of her ladder with padding and widens the second step so there is more to stand on. I would love to see a three step ladder with wide treads be made.
A friend uses this trunk to braid - http://www.homedepot.com/p/Contico-Mobile-Work-Box-with-Wheels-PW1921YWBK-1/202559497?MERCH=REC--product-2--202300294--202559497--N#.Ukq8XVMxFZo
It has wheels, so is easy to drag around, seems high enough, and has a ton of storage inside. It’s stable beside the horses, and is really nice in that it doesn’t have any spaces or rungs for them to try to get their feet through. The only issue might be getting on and off of it, depending on your friend’s age.
http://www.lowes.com/Ladders-Scaffolding/Ladders/Step//N-1z11pq8Z1z11w2p/pl?cm_sp=Building Materials--Ladders|PopularCat--Merch|PopularCat_Step_Ladder&cm_cr=Ladders+and+Scaffolding--Web+Activity--Ladders+and+Scaffolding+Top+Flexible--SC_Ladders++Scaffolding_TopFlexible_Area--10415069_2
Tired and true. Would be improved with wider treads but height is great and very sturdy.
For the trusty steeds (like my own), I use this http://www.homedepot.com/p/Werner-39-1-2-in-x-12-in-x-20-9-16-in-Aluminum-Work-Platform-AP-20/100662616?N=aqfm.
Love it!!! You can just step to the side to move down the neck instead of climbing up and down the ladder. Unless, of course, they step away from the platform.
[QUOTE=justdandy;7194213]
For the trusty steeds (like my own), I use this http://www.homedepot.com/p/Werner-39-1-2-in-x-12-in-x-20-9-16-in-Aluminum-Work-Platform-AP-20/100662616?N=aqfm.
Love it!!! You can just step to the side to move down the neck instead of climbing up and down the ladder. Unless, of course, they step away from the platform.[/QUOTE]
I’ll be needing one of these! Cool! And you have a Honey Badger sig.
A friend had a wonderful braiding bench made years ago that I admired; I believe it was made by McGuinn. As I recall, it had a textured rubber inlay on the top - great for stability and it was also pretty durable. It was similar to the braiding bench shown here: http://www.mcguinnfarms.com/shows_p1.html#
Obviously that is not as easily portable as your basic step stool, so if your friend will need to move it around from stall to stall, it may not be the best option. We tended to braid the horses in the grooming stall, so it just lived there and provided great storage in addition to being used for braiding.
