Stuff I use and love, and you should too!
All of the products promoted on this page are things I use regularly in my horse training business. I can vouch for the quality and usefulness of the products. And by buying any of these products through the links below, you're helping us out as well because we get a small commission from every sale made through the links below! We appreciate your support and know you'll love these products!
*If there's any products you'd like to see listed here, please email [email protected] and I'll consider testing the product and listing it if I feel it's something I want to endorse.
*Also if you'd like to see a youtube video on how to use any of the equipment listed, send me an email and I'll prioritize making that video.
Knotty Girlz 4 Knot Horse Rope Training Halter
A good rope halter is incredibly important for handling your horse every single day. A rope halter allows more feel between you and your horse when you pick up your lead rope. These fit amazingly well. They have lots of sizes and colors, from this link you can browse all the different options and we'll get our commission on whichever option you choose, as long as you start with this link!
UGG Sheepskin Insole Mens Insoles
I don't know about you, but I hate cold feet! As soon as I step outside in the winter time with my cowboy boots on, my feet start to lose warmth. A lot of that warmth is going down through the leather sole into the cold ground or snow. This winter I started looking for electrically heated insoles. However, I found these and they're WAY cheaper! They made my boots so much more comfortable, and most of all, my feet stay way warmer even walking on snow and ice in cowboy boots. There's plenty of options in the sheepskin sole space on Amazon, just be sure to start with this link when you buy!
Pure Neatsfoot Oil
Your saddle and boots may be your largest investment, well other than your horse, your trailer, your barn, your arena... OK so it's not, but your saddle and boots are still expensive and you should take the best care of them you can. You should always use Pure Neatsfoot Oil on your leather tack. Don't use Prime Neatsfoot Oil which is what you typically see at your local feed store. Prime Oil causes your leather to stretch and degrade. This is the oil I use on my tack (not often enough, but still!).
Cowboy Magic Detangler and Shine
While there's no substitute for washing your horse's mane and tail with shampoo, conditioner and Infusium 23, the reality is sometimes there's not time for that. Especially for last minute brushes before a show, throw in some Cowboy Magic and you'll be amazed how many fewer hairs you break and how easily their manes and tails will brush out. Absolutely a must-have if you show your horse or just want him or her to look good.
*Note: I only recommend getting the large cylindrical bottle because the squeeze bottle kind leaks really badly.
Detangling Brush
OK let's talk about how poorly the vast majority of horse people brush their horse's manes and tails. How often do you see someone just swiping a brush through the tail breaking hairs with every swish. Did you know a horse's tail grows only about a foot a year?!! That means it may take 2-3 years to replace each strand you break every time you carelessly brush. If you're going to brush, you should commit the time to meticulously wash, condition, and dry the hair first. Then brush it carefully, removing all the tangles starting from the bottom and working your way up. You should break very few hairs during this whole process. This comb is the tool I like best for brushing manes and tails after they're washed and dried.
Rechargeable Headlamps
It's rare that I finish work before it gets dark, especially in the winter time when the days are so short. That means I'm always feeding in the dark. These headlamps are what I use every single day after dark. They have several modes but the ones I use the most are the wide area light which gives a consistent beam that seems like daylight in front of you, and the high beam which lets you see farther away. I also like having the red mode, because sometimes horses get spooked by the white light, but by switching to red in an emergency, you can handle a horse without them getting scared by the light.
Tail Boots
We've talked about the importance of brushing to keep from damaging your horse's tail, but what about keeping it in good shape the other 23 hours of the day? Every time your horse swishes at a fly, he weakens the strands of the tail and may break hairs. As I mentioned before, it can take 2-3 years for a strand of hair to grow back to full length. These tail bags protect your horse's tail for up to a week at a time while still allowing the horse to swish flies.
Fleece Cap with Bill
I'm just not a fan of putting a beanie over a ball cap. But on some of these winter days, you need both the warmth of a fleece beanie and the visor of a ball cap. I bought this hat to test it out last winter, and I still wear the same one daily this winter. The face mask is detachable and I rarely need it, but when you do, you do. This is an indispensable part of my daily wardrobe.
Wild Rags
I love wearing a good wild rag. They have so many uses from emergencies like slinging a broken arm or stopping bleeding to keeping you warm on chilly days and giving yourself a unique look. Wild Rags are a great addition to your wardrobe that you can wear branding cattle or to the cowboy ball!
Martin Headstall
This is my favorite headstall for a couple of reasons. First, I like a full browband, vs a one-ear or no browband style. I've had a bridle slip down the horse's neck before and it's not fun. The browband helps keep this bridle in place. I also like the balanced adjustability of buckles on both sides and the leather has a good weight and feel to it. Pair this with a good D Ring snaffle for beginner horses or a transition or port bit for your bridle horses and you have a quality rig to ride in.
Downunder Horsemanship Sweet Iron Snaffle Bit
I ride almost every horse in the barn in a D Ring snaffle. Until you get advanced enough to progress to a curb bit, everyone should be using a D Ring snaffle in my opinion. If your horse is not soft enough to be ridden effectively in this, then you should be spending more time teaching lateral and vertical flexion, not spending your money on bigger bits. Buy a quality D Ring snaffle and then teach your horse to be soft to it. Period. I've earned money in NRCHA shows doing a reining pattern and working a cow using a D Ring snaffle, so trust me, a bigger bit is not what will fix your horse.
*Note: For full disclosure, I don't own this exact bit. I currently have two other D Ring snaffles, but I trust Clinton's gear and as long as you're using a high quality D Ring Snaffle, the exact brand doesn't matter too much. This one is reasonably priced and looks nice. With any snaffle, you want to make sure the shape of the interlocking rings and the bars are such that they swivel and fit comfortably in a horse's mouth.
Anderson Bean Boots
Anderson Bean is the only brand of cowboy boot that my wife and I will wear. It's a great blend of handmade quality with affordable prices. When you put on a pair of Anderson Bean vs any off-the-shelf brand from your local western wear store, you will notice the difference. Anderson Beans conform to your foot and are just super high quality. Anderson Bean has their generic lines that are available at this Amazon link, but they also sell custom designs through particular western wear stores. I personally wear a design only offered through Outpost Western Wear, but you will be happy with any design you choose from Anderson Bean!
Trail Boots
I primarily use this boot on my horse's hind feet if I have to walk on pavement or trails with slick rocks etc when the horse has sliders on his/her back feet. Just like you wouldn't go for a hike in slick dress shoes, it's unfair to ask your horse to navigate slick terrain in slick shoes. These boots provide and quick and easy way to give your horse traction.