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Discussion on Vacuum Recommendations
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Message |
Member:
9193
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005 - 12:35 am:
Hello,
Our Justin loves to be vacuum groomed, but I am not so crazy about my daughter hauling my good Miele canister type vacuum to the barn several times a week.
Does anyone have a recommendation for any of the horse vacuums that are listed in Dover/Stateline or any of the popular horse magazines? I saw in the archives that Dr O used a Shop Vac, but I really would prefer something that has a low decibel level.
I am thinking of getting this as a Christmas present for her OR I suppose I could give her my old vacuum and get myself a new one...(grin)
Smiles,
Debra
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Member:
Shirl
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005 - 12:59 am:
Debra,
That's exactly what I did. Got a new canister type for me, and Sierra got the old one. I also ordered one of the attachments meant for grooming and she loved it. They sell them in most catalogues. Think I got mine from Valley Vet. Besides, Christmas is coming and you deserve a new vac.
Cheers, Shirl
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Member:
Qh4me
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005 - 11:26 am:
Deb,
Check out the following link. I have a friend who has this one and loves it. It is light and portable and really sucks!!  I think I am heading in to pick one up for myself. And I see it is now on sale!
https://www.greenhawk.net/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/scstore/p-STE9277.html?L+scstore +hrvk3695ff5e415e+1132781591
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Member:
Brandi
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Posted on Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005 - 11:46 am:
If you've got the budget for it, Vac-n-blo also makes a larger model designed to hang on the wall, it's called the Pro-Ag Deluxe something. You'll have to call them to get the right model number, it's not advertised very much...but you can see the garage version at Autosport.com It's been on my wish-list for years. I find that the roller ones can spook a horse easier, and the over-the-shoulder ones have no business being used by anyone who cares for their back! I have an over-the-shoulder Vac'n Blow that sits completely unused because of that, and I use my old shop-vac with the grooming attachments. It works great, but like I said, it can roll somewhat unexpectedly and startle a snoozing horse lost in a great grooming.
...that is, if you don't decide on that new miele for yourself!
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Member:
9193
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Posted on Thursday, Nov 24, 2005 - 1:13 am:
Wow!! Wonderful suggestions and I thank you for the great link Shawna. I've never heard of Greenhawk, but when I get past the T-day festivities I plan to check out the website and vacuum! Do you have any idea what the weight actually is of your friends vacuum? And does the cannister need to be held the whole time you use it or can it be placed on the ground and pushed around?
My daughter is about 100 lbs dripping wet, so I believe she would prefer to be able to place the cannister on the ground while she uses it, altho Brandi's point regarding spooking horses is well advised...
I'm gonna have to price compare and see which one of us gets a new vacuum!!
Smiles,
Debra
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Member:
Qh4me
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Posted on Monday, Nov 28, 2005 - 9:44 am:
Debra,
I am not sure of the weight of it, but it's pretty light. She hangs it with a bungy cord beside the cross ties, that way she doesn't have to hold it or worry about it spooking the horses. It doesn't have wheels on it, so it wouldn't really work on the ground. The bigger model does have wheels, and I guess as Brandi said, there is a model that bolts to the wall as well.
I liked the idea of the portable one so we can take it to the shows as well. But I guess there is pro's and con's to each.
Maybe Brandi is willing to sell her portable one that she doesn't use much  ???
I was just checking, I guess Greenhawk is only in Canada. They do ship to US though, and all prices are in Can and US.
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Member:
Mwebster
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 29, 2005 - 9:38 pm:
I bought a Fein shopvac for our barn. It's the quietest shopvac on the market (it's quieter than our home vac) and cost about $120 new on eBay (much, much cheaper than horse vacs of similar capacity). NO problems with it, and we've been using it 3 years. Gets the ponies very clean and is very easy to empty. Doesn't fall over when you yank it around by the hose. The hose survives being stepped on by horses (over and over again). Can't say enough good things about it.
Melissa
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 3, 2005 - 3:54 am:
Erm... what is a shopvac please?
I can't imagine any of our horses having any truck with a noisy vacuum cleaner.
Thanks
Imogen
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Member:
Mwebster
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 3, 2005 - 6:34 pm:
Imogen,
As I think you have guessed, shop vacs are utilitarian vacuums designed for workshops, and yes, they are typically deafening. The Fein is quiet, though. The key is to look at the decibel rating, which by the way is an exponential rather than a linear curve -- i.e. a vac rated 45db is much, much quieter than one rated 55db.
As you, I was convinced there was no way my sensitive mare would put up with some noisy vacuum cleaner, if she were to put up with a vacuum cleaner at all. But neither of them batted an eye. My husband's gelding seems to really enjoy it. My mare just doesn't care at all, and I even do her cheeks and behind both ears with it, as she loves to apply a nose-to-tail full body mud pack. It really cuts down on the amount of time it takes to get her clean every day, and keeps the dust level down in the barn too. And of course it's great for getting rid of cobwebs and spring cleaning. It does a good job on muddy turnout rugs too.
Melissa
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Member:
Mwebster
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 3, 2005 - 6:41 pm:
One other idea - a friend of mine has a shop vac with a very, very long hose, and puts the vacuum itself in her hayloft overhead, with the hose through the floor. That will also cut down on your noise level if all you need to use it for is grooming!
M
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Saturday, Dec 3, 2005 - 9:16 pm:
Since I'm allergic to dust, I use a vacuum cleaner a lot. I love the idea of the long hose through the floor. Better yet, would be a built in vacuum system like some people have in their houses! Of course, that's the money's no object scenario.
I used to use an old canister vac from the house, but now have a small shop vac. I use it around the barn a lot, cobwebs, dust, etc. I think the horses get used to the noise, or there's some other reason the noise doesn't bother them, because it never has, even from the first time they are vacuumed. They all seem to love it.
I first start the young ones out with just the brush end, then brush end with hose with out the vacuum being turned on, then work our way up to turned on vac. At first they don't know what to make of the suction, but soon seem to enjoy it like the older horses.
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Member:
Sailor7
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Posted on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 7:35 am:
Our new Paint has a very thick coat, and it seems as if we can groom him forever and the hair keeps coming off. The vet said it was just normal for him. Anyway, we want to get a vacuum, but if a horse has never been vacuumed before is there something we should do before we try it out on him? Get him used to the noise for a few days. He is rather curious, so he might just come over to investigate.
I was going to buy one from a catalog but I will look into the recommendations mentioned.
Thanks!
Dee
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 11:36 am:
I hate to admit it, but I use an old Sears canister vac and a small shop vac on my horses. I got them used to it by first just having it run while I groomed them, then by running the attachments over them without the machine on, and then with the machine running. They seem to enjoy it.
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Member:
9193
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Posted on Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 3:17 pm:
I puchased the 4.0 hp Vac N Blo offered in Dover or Stateline (can't remember which right now) and I wish I hadn't.
It is SOOO noisy that even our normally placid Justin(who loves being vacuumed with my Miele) was uneasy about having the thing around him. And forget having it on when any of the other horses in the barn are cross tied. They were just too uneasy with the noise level. It is NOT a relaxing decibel level. And to carry it on your shoulder is a tiresome and unsafe way of working around horses in my opinion.
Thought it might be helpful to share the end result of my initial post..
Smiles,
Debra
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