How horse care has evolved
When I was young, which was quite a few years ago there wasn’t this need to look our best whilst spending time and riding our horses, now its about who’s got which best matchy matchy set, the top of the range ergonomical bridle and what brand of leather boots, its blows my mind.
Life was so much simpler in my day. I didn’t have a gazillion brushes in my grooming box or 7 different weighted rugs, it has become quite complicated at times, lets take a trip down memory lane
Grooming Then vs. Now
Back in the day, our grooming kits were simple and built to last. All we needed was a dandy brush, body brush, metal curry comb and maybe a rubber curry comb if you were lucky. Mane combs were often plastic and harsh, perfect for pulling but not so gentle! Hoof picks were basic and rarely ergonomic, no fancy handles or brushes attached. Now grooming has become more spa like! With ergonomic brushes, soft-touch grips, and specialist brushes for every part of the horse. Massagers, shedding tools, shine sprays, and hypoallergenic shampoos, grooming kits are colour-coordinated, branded, and sometimes rival the contents of a salon!
Tack & Colour Coordination
Back then tack was plain, practical, and usually brown or black. If you had a coloured numnah, you were considered flashy! Fast forward to now where we have saddle pads in every colour of the rainbow (with glitter, logos, or embroidery), matching ear bonnets, brushing boots, and rider outfits are the norm. Brands like LeMieux, Weatherbeeta, and Premier Equine have transformed “matchy-matchy” into a lifestyle! What was once a basic numnah is now part of an equestrian fashion statement.
A Rug for Every Reason
In decades past, a horse’s rug wardrobe typically consisted of a jute rug with a wool lining, I remember these well and believe me they stank! A waxed canvas turnout if you were lucky, these were hard and probably uncomfortable and maybe a stable rug if they were stabled full-time in winter that was it. You’d reproof your turnout rug with wax, patch it up by hand, and hope for the best. We also had the sweat rugs that resembled Onslows holey vest on Keeping Up Appearances! Or we would load up your jute rug with straw underneath to dry off the horses this was called thatching. Now! Horses often have lightweight turnout rugs, medium weight and heavyweight options, coolers, fly rugs, sweet itch rugs, exercise sheets, stable rugs, under rugs, liners… Many made from high-tech breathable fabrics with clever fastenings and weatherproofing. Modern rugs are designed for comfort, breath-ability, and movement – a world away from the old stiff jute rugs we used to wrestle with!
From Bran Mashes to Balancers
Feeds! OMG how did we cope! A typical feed consisted of bran mash, oats, barley, sugar beet, and a glug of molasses, pony nuts or coarse mix were the go-to commercial feeds, salt blocks were the main supplement. Today, horse nutrition is science-led and highly tailored, balancers, conditioning cubes, fibre-based feeds, and oil-based energy sources, supplements for joints, digestion, calming, skin, hooves, and even gut microbiomes, soaking times, sugar/starch analysis, and forage-based diets are the norm, there are feeds for veterans, laminitics, competition horses, and even grain-free diets. We’ve come a long way from chucking in a scoop of mix and hoping for the best!
From Dustbins to Devices
Our riding hats were the velvet covered ones, worn without a chin strap or just a piece of elastic, then skull hats were introduced with the biggest chin contraption that made your chin sweat! These were worn with silk covers, no where as fancy as todays! No body protectors, tie up your horse with baler twine and feed bins made with old dustbins. Now, body protectors and air jackets are standard, Safety head collars, breakaway ties, and quick-release clips are everywhere, Apps for tracking health, shoeing, feed plans, and even worming schedules, video calls with vets, motion sensors in stables, and smart monitoring tools
Horse ownership today is undoubtedly more advanced, more informed, and more customised. But ask any rider who grew up in the golden eras of the 70s, 80s or 90s – and they’ll tell you, the heart of horse care hasn’t changed.
It’s still about early mornings, muddy boots, cold hands, and the sheer joy of spending time with a horse.
Whether you’re old school or modern matchy, there’s one thing we all have in common:
A love for horses that stands the test of time.
