Owning a horse is a wonderful opportunity but also a big responsibility. These animals require daily feeding, cleaning, and exercising to stay healthy. Having the right barn tools on hand will make taking care of your four-legged friend easier. Stock your barn with the following farm supplies to get started.

What Are the Essential Barn Tools for Horse Owners?

1. Muck Fork

A muck fork is used to scoop manure, keeping the horse's stall clean. It has long tines, allowing you to extricate balls of manure from straw bedding. There are even motorized forks that shake gently to help sift the waste from the straw. Whether you get a manual or motorized model, get a muck fork with a long handle so that you don't have to stoop and stress your back.

2. Straw Broom

As people and animals walk from the horse’s stall through the rest of the barn, they track hay and food on their feet. A straw broom has extra thick, rigid bristles for catching and clearing away this debris. Regularly sweeping away hay and animal feed is essential to keeping your barn looking neat and tidy—and to keeping vermin like mice away. 

3. Wheelbarrow

A wheelbarrow can be used for everything from removing dirty bedding from the horse's stall to wheeling in fresh hay and straw bails. You can also use it to collect manure from open spaces like exercise paddocks and fields. A plastic wheelbarrow or metal is preferable to wood, since this material won't absorb scent or rot after holding damp, urine-soaked bedding.

4. Metal Rake

This is one of the most multifaceted farm supplies you can find. You can take it to gather uneaten hay, to level ground in the barnyard, and to distribute sand in exercise paddocks. You can also use it for basic outdoor maintenance, like collecting fallen leaves. Look for a metal rake, which will have sturdier tines and be able to carry more weight than a plastic one.

Bolivar Farmers Exchange has been providing Polk County with farm supplies, fertilizers, and animal feeds since 1920. They offer top-quality products, friendly service, and affordable prices. Over their 100 years of business in the local farming community, they have built up a reputation for trustworthiness and reliability. Visit the agriculture company’s website to view their products and call (417) 326-5231 to find out more.