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During my time as a working student at my barn, I have worked in various conditions. I have found certain items are good to have available for your own comfort. You can work faster (that is, in a timely fashion), more efficiently, and finish tasks more carefully (and therefore more safely) if you are comfortable. Some are seasonal, some year-round. Keep in mind that I am in Virginia, so equipment you want to keep on hand for yourself may vary depending on your location.
Work shoes. They don't have to be steel-toed boots, but they should be comfortable, durable, water resistant, and something you don't mind getting dirty.
Extra pair of dry socks and/or a change of shoes. After you work in wet muck, mud, or puddles (and the water resistance of your footwear fails you), it is nice to be able to change into dry shoes and socks if you find it necessary. The next item supercedes the need for an extra pair of dry socks and/or a change of shoes, but sometimes you can't go back to change into more water-proof footwear (or you left them at home or somewhere you don't have access to them).
Rubber boots, Wellies, or some other water-proof shoes for working in and around sucking mud and puddles and during heavy rains. You can work with wet, squishing shoes, but it can become extremely uncomfortable (especially when you still have several more hours of work left).
Rain coat, poncho, or a big plastic trash bag (cut three strategically placed holes, and you have a makeshift poncho). You can work in the rain, but if you don't like getting rained on, or if you get sick easily, it is nice to have something, especially for hard, cold rains.
Pockets are often helpful.
Flash light.
Food and drink if none is available at the work site.
Tip - a lead rope with a broken snap can be used to drag large water troughs provided the trough has a lip to hook the broken snap under. this allows one person to move a trough facing forward without getting their heels caught under the trough. Also, a lead rope with the snap completly pulled off can be used in a pinch for leading/capturing a loose horse (no snap to hit horse, and if carrying a halter and lead around with you isn't feasible, such a rope tied simply about the waist is handy to have).
Sun-block.
Fly spray for humans - fly spray for horses can be bad for humans, the lable usually says something about that (ideally the barn won't be so horribly infested that you need the spray to keep from being driven crazy by flys and the like).
If you use polarfleece type socks you may want to wear a layer of normal socks underneath, because while polarfleece tends to wick moisture away from the skin, the moisture needs somewhere to go. This also helps them stay in place on your feet.
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