I have 2 horses that live outside and are often mistaken for pigs:D I am looking into getting a vacuum for them (both have experienced them before). I would love to be able to groom them everyday, but it is not feasible and we do go to a show or 2 during the winter and more in the spring. Looking for suggestions for horse vacuums or shop vacs that will work. I did try my own shop vac, but it wasn’t powerful enough.
I have a shop vac- not sure what the size is, but it is not the little one. It works great, and has held up using on two horses.
A shopvac on BLOW will just blow the dirt right off your horse. On mine, it works much better than vacuuming. Of course, this is something you’ll want to do outside the barn, or you’ll just be blowing dust onto everything else.
we have one of the bigger Electro Groom vacuums – the blue box shaped one. They are expensive but last forever so you might be able to get a good deal on a used one, we did. They have great suction and keep my horses from looking like horses more than wallowing pigs 
[QUOTE=Mango20;8483847]
A shopvac on BLOW will just blow the dirt right off your horse. On mine, it works much better than vacuuming. Of course, this is something you’ll want to do outside the barn, or you’ll just be blowing dust onto everything else.[/QUOTE]
I second this. I have a mini shop vac a little 5 gallon one and set on blow my horses winter coat comes completely clean.
Ditto Shop-Vac of your choice. Just get them used to the noise, etc. and they’ll be fine.
Also - if you’re not opposed to used - check with some local dairy guys. There are a lot of those old “Dairy-Vacs” that are the same thing as an “Electro-groom” sitting in the corner of someone’s milk house that they might be willing to part with.
A new cord, new filter - and still half the price!
I have this one, and have been very pleased with how well it works:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_549711-20097-9751611_1z11p8g__?productId=50159063&pl=1
(Shop-Vac 16-Gallon 6.5-Peak-HP Shop Vacuum)
It has enough suction to remove dust, dandruff, mud, etc. I also like the fact that there are disposable bags that can be used with this unit. For me, it’s much easier to toss the bag than to try to empty the container and clean the filter.
I found a gently used Metro vac for sale on FB…best $75 I have ever spent!!!
Not the quietest thing around, but it’s light and works great. My thin skinned TB and my friend’s wooly mammoth both appreciate it in the winter.
I love my Electro Groom but prior to this, I had the smaller (and cheaper) Rapid Groom. Both were super deals that I found on Craigslist.
I wouldn’t want to use a blower as I’d end up with it in my eyes and nose, and so would my horse. I won’t blow the barn aisle unless I’m masked and all horses are outside.
Our barn just got two new Shop-Vacs from Home Depot, on sale, $49 each! Work great!
I permanently borrowed DH’s big shop vac he bought at Lowe’s.
He finally bought another one for his workshop, when I announced he couldn’t have the first one back:)
A barn I used to ride at did something very ingenious and that they got a BIG shop vac like a really really big one and placed it in a utility closet. Ran some PVC to a certain crosstie and with some fittings made a connection for the hose to plug in too. Much like those central cleaning system. This thing had TONS of suction and was very quite, great for the greenies.
I use a little shop vac (40$ or so at Target) on the “blow” setting. Curry first to get any big mud off, then sit there for a while blowing the dust away. It takes a while until the air starts blowing clean. Do it outside. What I really want now, though, is a leaf blower. More power to blow more dirt faster!
If you blow the dust off your horse outside, you can position yourself (and your horse’s face) upwind so that you are not breathing in all the dust. It’s helpful to have someone else there to hold the horse and move it around as needed.
When I tried a shop vac it had static electricity which of course spooked my horse (years ago, horse long gone). How do you not get that?
I recently got a Shop Vac (mine is Rigid brand though) for around the barn AND vacuuming horses. It’s working wonderfully, and I was surprised at how quickly my horses got used to it since it’s so loud. Now I just need to figure out which attachment to use.
As far as static electricity - no problems… yet, but I have been using it where my horses are standing on a rubber mat. Maybe that helps?
My shop vac is a 5 HP and I blow the dirt out rather than vac. it out. I find blowing does a much better job. Best grooming tool out there. The only problem is the noise. It is loud however the horses get use to it right away.
Attachment for vac. horse - I have the upholstery tool.
http://ghk.h-cdn.co/assets/cm/15/11/54ff884bdf5ba-vac-tools-de.jpg
I looked at the shop vacs a while ago, and wondered if the hose was long enough. It seemed as though I’d have to have the vacuum awfully close in order to do the job. Do they make extension hoses? Or maybe it’s not a problem. Have you had any problems with the length of hose?
Static: I have static from everything here. Brushing. Vacuuming. Walking. Breathing. Everything. It doesn’t seem to bother my horse (unless I accidentally zap him on the nose, sorry buddy!), but you can use a small piece of metal/wire (like an uncoated wire coat hanger) to discharge it without so many big zaps, the same way you would destatic a sweater.
Hose length is not a problem for me, I hold the vac in one hand and the hose in the other, so the vac is right there. We’re outside so the noise is less overwhelming, and my horse is fairly tolerant of noise. Also the noise is loud but fairly consistent so they seem to get used to it quickly. You could also use ear poms if you’re worried about hearing damage.
