Every horse has different needs, but there are a few horse care essentials that every horse owner should have on hand. Whether you are a trail rider or avid competitor, your horse deserves to have the best care possible, and these six items will help you make sure he gets the care he deserves.
Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned. All of these products are items I have bought myself and use every day. I am not receiving any compensation–monetary or otherwise–for this post.
Cold Poultice for Sore Legs: Icetight
Icetight is pure magic in a can. If your horse stocks up or has any heat in the legs, this is essential for fixing it. Icetight is a medicinal clay poultice that is just what the name implies. It is ice-cold and it will make your horse’s legs nice and tight. Just make sure you’re wearing gloves when you apply it because it is very potent. You’ll be feeling it for hours.
Liquid Bandage for Hard-to-Bandage Wounds: AluShield
Here’s another magical horse care essential that should be in every tack room. AluShield is a liquid bandage that was recommended to me by my vet when one of our horses ripped up her leg pretty bad. It is great for those wounds that can’t be stitched. AluShield protects the wound from infection, keeps flies away, keeps the wound clean, and encourages healing.
Essential Preventative Treatment: Ceramic Quick Wraps
If you need some heat therapy instead of cold therapy, ceramic quick wraps are a godsend. The most well-known brand is Back on Track. However, there are other brands popping up all over the marketplace now. I personally use the Tough1 Refresh Quick Wraps because they are significantly cheaper than the Back on Tracks. I have Back on Track Work Boots and see no difference between the effectiveness of the Back on Track and Tough1 technology.
Refreshing Treatment for Sore Muscles: Cooling Liniment
What could be better after a hard workout than a refreshing liniment rubdown? I’ve had great success with cooling liniment. Horses love it and it is a great addition to ceramic quick wraps and similar ceramic-infused products. I use it two ways; either sprayed on directly under the quick wraps and work boots or as a brace diluted one ounce of liniment to one gallon of water. It’s become an essential part of my post-workout horse care routine. The two brands I have are the Back on Track Limber Up Liniment and the Absorbine Cooldown Herbal After-Workout Rinse. They are both fabulous.
Essential Protection for Sore Feet: Hoof Boots
Hoof boots are important to keep around even if your horse is shod. Shod horses love to pull shoes at inconvenient times and hoof boots are great to keep around as a spare tire in case of an emergency. Of course, if your horse is barefoot like mine, then hoof boots may be necessary for riding on rocky trails or pavement. However, I’ve found that most horses only need boots on the front. Although it’s good to have boots for the back too just in case. I personally use Cavallo Entry Level hoof boots.
Whenever I get a new set of boots, I save the old boots as long as they are still serviceable. They still have their uses even if they aren’t ideal for riding anymore. Most horses get stone bruises from time to time. If your horse lives out on pasture that is pretty rocky, turning him out to heal can be a problem. I’ve found that putting on an old, but serviceable, pair of hoof boots can provide some extra cushion that speeds up the healing process and keeps the horse comfortable without requiring stall rest.
Disclaimer: This should only be done with a horse that is used to wearing hoof boots on long rides on all terrain. If your horse is thin-skinned and gets sore from wearing hoof boots too long, don’t do this. Do not leave boots on for longer than 24 hours at a time. Give the hooves at least 6 hours to air out before reapplying boots. Make sure hooves are completely dry before reapplying the boots. If the boots get wet/muddy, take them off immediately and let both the boots and hooves dry. Consult your veterinarian for an official diagnosis of your horse’s condition before deciding on a course of action.
Treatment for Hoof Injuries: Hoof Packing
Hoof packing is a common practice to treat a variety of hoof maladies. Everything from abscesses to stone bruises can benefit from hoof packing. Despite being 1,000lb creatures, horses a remarkably good at maiming themselves. Hoof packing material is an essential horse care product to keep on hand because you never know when you are going to need it. Now, you can mix your own cocktail of ingredients, but I prefer to keep a premixed hoof packing compound on hand. I used Rebound hoof packing. It’s very convenient and effective.
There are many products out there to choose from. However, these are just a few of my favorites that I keep on hand at all times. What are some of your favorite horse care products? Share your favorites in the comments below!
I was cured___________it’s AWESOME!!,!
Sure Treatment for herpes!!
Email Robinsonbuckler11 (at) gmail…com