Buyer’s guide
Shop for mucking out tools
Bedding down
The best tools for mucking out are always the ones that have been specifically designed to work with the bedding you use. If you bed your horse on shavings, then a shavings fork will do the best job. A more traditional pitchfork will work best with a straw bed. There are a number of forks that have been designed to work with several different types of bedding. Known as crossover forks, these will work on a variety of bedding types, such as large flake shavings, straw and chopped straw. “Whichever fork you choose, the balance of the fork is critical as this reduces the amount of effort you need to put in to muck out,” explains Leon. The design of the fork also has to reflect your personal requirements, as well as what type of bedding you prefer to use for your horse. Your height, for instance, can have a big influence on which tools you’ll find easier to use, so you’ll need to consider what length of handle will suit you best. Some manufacturers also offer different styles of grip — again, this comes down to personal choice. The weight of the handle and the head of the fork, whether made of metal or plastic, are all factors you need to consider before buying. “It’s true to say that mucking out is a very personal thing,” says Leon, “and if you don’t have the right fork for the job, mucking out takes longer, puts more strain on your back and can be an expensive mistake if you make the wrong decision.”
Clean sweep
The type of broom you choose is also an important and personal consideration. Do you go for a traditional brush or one with synthetic bristles? There’s also the decision on what size of broom to go for. “The range of brooms available is simply mind boggling,” laughs Leon. “The level of passion that people have for their favourite yard broom is frankly a little scary!” Corn brooms are popular and work really well in those hard to reach places and on uneven areas such as cobbles. Sweeping the yard is hard work, so finding the best broom to suits your needs may mean you need to try out a few different ones before making your choice.
Practical addition
Scoops and rakes are a really useful addition to any collection of yard tools. They’re great for poo-picking in the field as they make lifting droppings from grass much less time-consuming — and easier on your back and shoulders. A scoop is a practical accessory that’s quick and easy to use in the arena too, or take it with you in your trailer or horsebox.
Matchy, matchy
The fashion for colour coordination is no longer just about you and your horse’s kit — it’s expanding into yard tools and accessories too. Increasingly, it’s not just the function of the mucking out fork or yard broom that’s important, but also its appearance. Bright colours, especially pinks and purples, have become hugely popular in the stable yard. Many horse owners opt to have a colour theme whereby their fork, wheelbarrow, feed bowls, buckets and even haynets are all the same hue.