These six products for use around the farm will make getting through the winter with your horse that much easier.
Make filling water buckets a snap, whatever the weather. Available in 12-, 25-, and 100-foot lengths, the electrically heated, no-freeze hose will prevent freezing down to -42°F. $109.95 for 12-foot; www.pirithose.com
Operates with any 15-amp 120-volt electric heater or fan, turning on when the surrounding temperature reaches 35°F and turning off when it reaches 45°F. It’s perfect for use with stock tank heaters and more. $10.99-14.99; www.jefferspet.com
Turn any vacuum cleaner into a horse vacuum. Soft rubber teeth have a massaging action that lifts the coat to allow the vacuum to remove dirt and dust in minutes. $19.95; www.valleyvet.com
Keep hands from getting wet and cold when breaking up ice in water troughs. A cushioned neoprene grip makes this chore even more comfortable. $29.99; www.sstack.com
Keep buckets from freezing in temperatures down to 15°F. The heavy foam insulation prevents water from freezing; the float top is easy for horses to push down. Can be used alone or with a 5-gallon water bucket. $74.99; www.statelinetack.com
A conditioning oil for coat and skin that doubles as a way to keep snowballs from packing into shod hooves. An added bonus? Spray it on shovels to prevent snow from sticking. $13.99; www.shapleys.com
In addition to these winter horse products, many traditional household items can be repurposed into cold weather barn helpers.
Dryer Sheets: Rub the horse with a dryer sheet before blanketing to prevent the shock of static the next time the blanket is removed.
Electric Kettle: Keep an electric kettle in the tack room of your barn if you don’t have hot water available. A small amount of warm water is perfect for spot-cleaning coats, cleaning tack, adding water to soak feed or make a mash.
Duct Tape: Make tabs on blanket hardware with duct tape to make the metal much easier to grab and handle without removing your gloves.
Plastic Sled: Live in an area that gets a lot of snow? Move hay bales on a sled for easier transport.
Grip tape: No one wants to hold a metal-handled tool for any length of time when temperatures plummet. Wrap tool handles with grip tape for an additional layer of protection between skin and metal, plus added grip.
Long-tipped Lighter, WD40 or Lock De-icer: There’s nothing quite as frustrating as a frozen gate latch during morning feedings. Carry a long-tipped lighter, WD40 or lock de-icer to make feeding times a bit more manageable.
This article about winter horse products appeared in the November 2019 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!
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