Stable Equipment: Practical Helpers for a Well Organised Horse Stable

Stable Equipment: Order and Safety in the Horse Stable

Stable Equipment is the set of tools that keeps your horse stable running every day. It ranges from tethering accessories with safety snaps to forks, bedding and the fittings for box, tack room and stable aisle. Stable mats, lighting, a camera and paddock grids for the turnout area complete the picture. With it you create a stable where your horse feels at home and you can work efficiently.

Tie up safely, muck out cleanly

During grooming and tacking up, your horse usually stands tied in the stable aisle. A safety snap or panic hook can be opened quickly in an emergency if your horse takes fright. Mucking out tools are needed every day too: with a manure fork, shovel, broom and wheelbarrow the box is done in no time, and the right bedding absorbs moisture and smells. Rubber mats in the box or aisle protect joints, cushion hooves and save bedding.

Fit out, light up, keep an eye on things

In the tack room, a saddle cabinet, saddle racks and bridle hooks bring order to your kit. At the box itself, a door sign, box bag, horse toy and a scratching brush provide overview and variety. Bright, glare free stable lighting makes working in the evening safer. With a stable camera you can check on your smartphone that all is calm, for example when a mare is close to foaling.

Frequently asked questions

Why should I tie my horse up with a panic hook?
If a tied horse takes fright and pulls back, it can injure itself badly. A panic hook or safety snap can be released with one hand even under tension. Always tie your horse with a quick release knot as well.

Are stable mats worth it in a horse box?
Yes, rubber mats give a non slip, joint friendly surface and insulate against cold from below. You usually need less bedding, and mucking out is easier. A thin layer of bedding on top still makes sense so urine is absorbed.

How bright should a horse stable be?
For working in the stable you need even, glare free light with no dark corners. Daylight through windows and roof lights is most pleasant for horses, and artificial light adds to it in the morning and evening. At night, horses should be able to rest in the dark.