What products have improved your/ your horse’s quality of life?

[exvet]

As others have mentioned - fly masks, three step mounting blocks, bio-sponge (especially for those of us who breed), and slow feeders

I’d like to add:

1. Wireless cameras especially for the barn.

2. For those of us who show, without a doubt, a horse VACUUM. My horse isn’t thrilled with bathing though he tolerates it when forced to; but, I always felt guilty even when a hot water heater was available bathing my horses for early spring and winter shows here in the desert = the weather is still cold at night/early morning and even on some days. I love my horse vacuum and my horse does too.

[cnigh]

Aluspray liquid bandage is my new favorite thing since Bluekote is off the market.

My horse tried to kill herself 12 days ago and badly scraped up all 4 legs and between in her bum cheeks.

The Aluspray has kept the legs wounds from getting infected. I’m impressed since it is so so muddy here.

[sophie]

Ditto to the AluSpray. Very handy.

Muck-Itch spray for cannon crud and other skin problems.

For superficial scratches on Mare or myself, Homéoplasmine cream relieves pain and heals surprisingly fast. I use it all the tome on my cracked fingers.

For muscle aches, bumps and bruises w/o broken skin on both me or Mare: SoreNoMore. Mare bit me (by mistake, she was reaching for the hay and my arm was in the way - she was VERY contrite lol) and I found an old OLD bottle in my tack trunk, slathered it on, pain was gone immediately and my skin didn’t turn yeallow-blue-green-black like bruises usually do. I followed up with Arnica gel at home.

[Bluey]

Computers and web forums like COTH, that bring us all kinds of information and diverse ideas.

Some that is interesting, other laughable, at times scary, but always something to learn from all of it.

[BatCoach]

Herm Springer Bow Balance Stirrups and German Horse Muffins

[islgrl]

My horse vacuum is life changing, also the hot wash. I JUST discovered SSG winter riding gloves after riding in crochet back gloves all winter for years. Life altering…

[Puffergrrl]

For the horse:
Cavalor Dermawash: http://www.cavalor.com/uk/products/details/51/cavalor-derma-wash - Not a shampoo, so it is great for regular application on actual problems like scratches and fungus! Or mix in with a shampoo bath for some extra clean.

German Horse Muffins: https://www.chewy.com/equus-magnificus-german-horse-muffin/dp/226453?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=f&utm_content=Equus%20Magnificus&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQiAz53vBRCpARIsAPPsz8Xcgty0n6W-mdJmQWddMCHp3hwHCrYd18DXbd60Gzk-FAtSmEPJ350aAo88EALw_wcB - Split it in half, shove in your Equioxx tablet, stick back together. Boom! (Or horses just like them).

Massage Blanket (w/wout PEMF):
PEMF Luxury Version - I rented one for a horse rehabbing and it’s amazing - https://www.sportinnovations.info/massage-therapy-blanket-for-horses-2
More Affordable Massage-Only Option (recco getting 2 extra vibe panels) - https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=ca54422b-3cd3-4746-87ae-1da4b0164129

EquicrownFit Silver Compression Socks: https://www.equicrowncanada.com/equicrown-fit.html - Throw your standing wraps away! I had a horse with rehabbing from injury and even after the injury that would get some edema in 1 leg overnight and these socks pretty much completely prevented puffing. I also used them frequently in hot weather or with mildly damp legs and had no issues with fungus or scratches. (Supposedly the silver in the fabric helps with this). Also, their customer service with the measuring (which can be tricky on odd shapes/swellings/sizes) was AMAZING!

For the rider:
Soma Intimates Vanishing Edge Panties: https://www.soma.com/store/product/vanishing+360+hipster/570271629?color=1170&catId=cat4200004 - If you can see them under your breeches (even your whites) then you bought the wrong sized pants. :no: Seriously. Game changer for my entire barn ladies.

Pikeur Jacket: https://www.equineandcountry.com/us/catalogsearch/result/index/?cat=24&q=pikeur+jacket+women's - If you live in an area where you need one. They last forever.

[Palm_Beach]

@kaya842

What product(s) have seriously made your/ your horse’s life easier, more fun or just overall better?
**Let’s keep big purchases such as truck, trailer, arena, farm out of the discussion please!

OK. Wine.

[quietann]

My mare has allergies, and I’m having great luck giving her Ranch Life Naturals Allergy Relief. It’s herbal so may test, but we don’t show anymore so it doesn’t matter. The owner of the company is a Morgan breeder.

Also SmartHoof Circulate. She can get “laminitic changes” from too much rich forage. It wouldn’t do a lot for a horse with full blown laminitis, but for a horse that occasionally threatens to head that way, it’s helpful. This one will test, if that matters to you.

[beowulf]

Hayhut - Really expensive, but I still don’t regret buying this. I’ve noticed way less paddock scrapes than when they had a metal bale-feeder, it reduces food aggression, and reduces wastage.

Roundbale - Huge QOL improvement from both a management and a horse-health perspective.

Tiger Tongue - I’ve used this for everything - from grooming horses to getting mud off of rainsheets, scurff off of old tack, etc!!

Three Step Mounting Block - I just got one a month ago. WOW. I wish I got one sooner.

Pocket Pen LED Light - $6 at my local hardware store, clips to my coat front zipper, and SO convenient for after-dark feedings/checking horses over. Because it clips to my front zipper it’s perfect for picking out hooves after dark, etc.

Belharra Soap Conditioner - Expensive ($40 or so) but I could not live (happily) without this stuff. I use it on my Dublins and on revitalizing those bargain-basement/consignment shop tack finds, and it smells amazing and really extends the longevity of tired leather.

Fig Newtons & Gingersnap Wafers - such a game-changer for sneaking in pills/medicine and liquid supplements (like APF).

EasyCare EasyBoot and Easyboot Epic - I use these boots for when horses pull shoes and/or have abscesses, instead of dealing with the hassle of wrapping, duct-taping, etc. I still pack the sole, wrap with diaper and vet wrap, but then just slap the boot on. It stays on great in all conditions (horses are out 24/7) - I do notice the EasyBoot with velcro does not stay on well in deep snow (1-2ft), since the snow gets stuck in the velcro. The Easyboot with wire, however, works excellent on staying on 24/7 especially if you wrap hoof with vet-wrap first.

Livestock Drench Gun - GAME changer for me for the horses that have multiple medications that it is imperative they eat. Rather than mix into feed, I load it into a drench gun and give orally. It works so much better than dosing with a normal oral syringe as often I’ve found the oral syringes can get blocked/plugged and be difficult to load up.

[Casey09]

For my ancient horse with Cushings, I would say Equiderma. He was getting a lot of skin infections/fungus from being kept in a field and getting rained on, and I found that Equiderma clears it right up even though my vet says that it makes no sense that it would.

[Laurierace]

@Casey09

For my ancient horse with Cushings, I would say Equiderma. He was getting a lot of skin infections/fungus from being kept in a field and getting rained on, and I found that Equiderma clears it right up even though my vet says that it makes no sense that it would.

Why would it make no sense? Chlorhexadine is very good at clearing up bacteria and fungus.

[seabreeze]

I think most of my “life improvers” have been mentioned: Shoo-Fly leggings, Bow Balance stirrups, HayChix nets (what a money-saver!!!), and technical fabrics (and I’d add Goretex). Here are a few more:

Electric tea kettles: Not having hot water in the barn, I’m really happy with them. I keep a couple of them in the feed room, and I can have boiling water in a very few minutes. Works great for bathing, soaking alfalfa pellets, etc.

Blow dryer: No heated tack room, so I use this as a bit warmer. I open my bridle bag, and, when I put the saddle on, I hang the blow dryer on the browband, pointing down. I turn the blow dryer on low, and my bit is the perfect temperature by the time I finish tightening my girth.

Tank de-icer: Need I say more?

Crushed asphalt: Putting a couple of loads down in high-traffic areas has saved my sanity. I seriously would’ve considered giving up horsekeeping last winter if I’d had to contend with mud at each end of the barn through all the rain we had during the fall/winter of 2018.

[Kyrabee]

Hoof boots.

My mare decided from the outset that she didn’t appreciate anything being nailed to her feet. She was shod a few times with me doing hours of work trying to get her used to the hammering. She acted like each strike of the hammer went straight to her brain :grief:. She has good hard feet but they are small and not the rock crushers one would like for a BF horse. So, I told her we would try hoof boots (when necessary) or it was shoes with pharmaceutical assistance. Her last set of shoes was 11 years ago. I think I have ordered 4 pair of boots for the fronts and 3 sets for the back over those 11 years which is quite a savings over the years. If she really needed shoes she would get them but the boots have worked great for us.

Susan

[Punkie]

@Marla 100

Punkie, care to share the brand of cattle fly spray you use? That’s interesting!!

Martin’s Permetherin 10!

[imaginique]

Heated water buckets, Stinky fly traps, slow feed nets. I also use the electric kettle in the barn since I don’t have hot water available. Pocket water hose. Leaf blower for cleaning the barn aisle. Cleats for my boots on icy days. Tractor with FEL. I’m sure there are other things but I can’t think of them right now.

[Bluey]

@imaginique

Heated water buckets, Stinky fly traps, slow feed nets. I also use the electric kettle in the barn since I don’t have hot water available. Pocket water hose. Leaf blower for cleaning the barn aisle. Cleats for my boots on icy days. Tractor with FEL. I’m sure there are other things but I can’t think of them right now.

Oh, tractors with FEL and pallet points.
Those are definitely one of the better tools to manage barns.
Everyone that uses one for the first time always exclaims, “how wonderful, wish I had one sooner!”

Wind screens/strips.

Versatile and in the right places they can help with flies, wind/rain/snow and make good horse neck and back scratchers in open stall doors.

[asb_own_me]

@beowulf

Hayhut - Really expensive, but I still don’t regret buying this. I’ve noticed way less paddock scrapes than when they had a metal bale-feeder, it reduces food aggression, and reduces wastage.

This is what I was going to post - Hay Huts. Absolutely the number one thing, as it benefits every single horse regardless of age or if they are in work, as well as benefiting me from a labor perspective and a financial perspective.

While the initial investment is a chunk, $800-900 depending on where you buy and if you qualify for some type of discount (military, etc), the amount of hay saved is mind-boggling. The U of M studies back this up, but it’s somewhere in the range of 50% waste with nothing on a bale going down to less than 15%waste with a Hay Hut. Cover that bale with a HayChix net and then add a Hay Hut? You’ll get less than 5% waste. It is a game changer.

They are also durable, for anyone concerned about spending that type of money and having the hut be damaged. I’ve had my original for close to 10 years now and it’s survived many severe storms, straight-line winds from tornadoes, a lot of misbehaving horses and the move from IA to KY. And a lot of abuse from me with the tractor bucket You only need one person to move it/pop it over a bale but I tend to abuse them with the tractor since I’m already out there moving bales. I now have three - one for each pasture in use.

[demidq]

Small hole hay nets !
Also an easy load net frame for the stall- that makes BO pretty happy too.
Quick wrap stable bandages.
The grooming attachment for a vacuum which makes dealing with a shedding or muddy horse SO much easier

[OzarksRider]

Grazing muzzles. My two easy keeper geldings would have to spend 9 months of the year in a tiny dry lot otherwise. The muzzles allow them to go out and be horses all day long, and they stay slim and trim.