Go Green! Eco Friendly Equines

From the August 2013 issue of The Stable Magazine – www.thestablemagazine.com/august2013

As riders are often the ‘outdoorsy’ type, we’ve found that most of us have an interest in doing our own part to ‘go green’ and preserve the natural beauty of the environment. 

Here are our top tips for eco-friendly horsekeeping…

Recycle

Many of the environmentally friendly things we do in the home can also be used when it comes to our horses. The old adage reduce, reuse recycle is definitely one that can be put to use. Many of the things we need in our everyday horse lives can be saved and used for other awesome things around the stable or paddock. 

Supplement tubs & buckets

As we all know these come in all shapes and sizes. With just a little bit of imagination we can turn them into tools we won’t be able to live without. 

• Moving compost around
• Storage for our shampoos and other bits and pieces such as first aid gear.
• Store crops and whips
• Making jumps and dressage letters
• A stool for when you really just have to rest ☺
• Flower pots - place next to jump wings - or grow carrots!
• Extension cord container
• Rain water collection
• Transporting grain bags to shows and outings
• Store your repair equipment like fence nails or other tools
• Make shift on the wall shelf. By nailing or screwing small to medium buckets onto the wall you can have handy on the wall storage shelves. This same method can be used on the fence for storing your hoses neatly.

Baling Twine

Baling twine is a useful resource for all of us and with a little thinking can be used for all sorts of things.

• Plait them together and you have a great hay net (see http://www.thestablemagazine.com/june2013/#/110 )
• Temporary fencing repairs
• Emergency rug repairs for when the buckle goes
• A Hammock
• Ties for staking garden plants
• Tie down tarps
• If you saved enough you could make a braided door mat

Feed Bags

Generally speaking there are two main types of feed bags. One is the papery type that’s a few layers thick. The other is the single layer weaved plastic type. Both types can be utilized around both the house and paddock.

They can be used for the following

• Bin liners                                                 
• Moving hay
• Mobile bins for the paddock, float, horse shows etc
• Compost mover
• Under hooves when you’re applying hoof polish/oil

Horseshoes

Given that horseshoes only have a limited lifetime for their intended purpose it makes sense to reuse them. It’s also a great way to get crafty!

• Challenge your friends to an age old game of horseshoes
• Push them into wet concrete as a decoration for your stable (and inscribe your horse’s name if you like!
• Fix a fence - pull the gap together and use the horseshoes as a way to keep it closed
• Bookcase brackets
• Door handles
• Wine holders
• Rug hangers
• Hooks for haynets
• Recycling centres will take them for recycled scrap metal
• A horseshoe wind chime

Car Tyres

Horse owners seem to find uses for old car tyres - from tyre feeders (one thing that we couldn’t do without!) to using tyres as everything from jumping wings to arena walls (It’s been done!) - these are items that usually end up in landfill, and are expensive to dispose of.

Make Repairs

Where possible try to repair as much as you can before throwing it away and rushing out to buy new. Not only will it help the environment but also your back pocket leaving us more money for the fun things.

Old rug ripped? Save the fittings and legstraps for your next ‘home made under rug’.

Manure Management

Not only is it helpful in keeping parasites at bay, proper manure management can create a valuable resource for pastures and even the home garden. It also helps keep close water supplies clear of contamination. The best way to manage manure and bedding for that matter, is to create a compost system. Here’s some tips on how to create an efficient one.

• Look for a high place that is flat, if you put your compost in low lying areas it will get soggy.
• Make sure it’s in a location close to paddock areas or stables so it’s efficient and less labour intensive.
• Decide on how many bins you need, you will need at least 2, one for piling in the daily manure and bedding, once it is full start filling the other while the first one finishes composting. A third one can be added to put the already composted material.
• To manage your compost you need to have it covered, watered and turn it regularly
• Once it’s done composting you will know as the material starts to look more like soil than the original material. This generally takes a few months.
• Now it’s time to reap the rewards, when your pasture is growing spread out your rich earthy compost. It will help you get lusher, healthier pastures. You can also use it at home in your garden beds as a mulch or plant food.
• For more on manure management, see https://www.thestablemagazine.com/april2013/#/62/

Save Water

As horse owners we sometimes forget just how precious water is. Our horses need water so we give it to them in abundance. This is fine but we can take steps to help reduce the amount we use. Here are some tips to help you keep your property water wise.

• If you need to water your paddocks consider trying to use the water that might normally get tipped out of your troughs.
• If you are able to collect the run off from your stable or shelter roof is a great way to catch water. A simple down pipe can be used and caught in buckets, bins, an old bath, pretty much anything you have lying around. These can also be left out to collect rain water in your paddock.
• If it’s within your means automatic waterers are fantastic at saving water because they only use as much as your horse can drink.
• Make sure all your hoses and fittings are in good working order and not leaking.  You can save heaps of water this way.

Renewable Energy

If you have lights or are currently using an electric fence there are now solar options. They come with a decent battery that recharges with the solar panel. Not only are they good for the environment but can also save a lot of electricity bills!

Tack Cleaning: The Eco Friendly Way

There are many environmentally friendly solutions for cleaning your tack and more. 

• Clean your stainless steel bits and other metal fittings with vinegar, just make sure to rinse well so your horse doesn’t get a sour mouth. Vinegar also helps to remove rust.

Look for tips and recipes online for alternatives to using chemicals. Check out these from Frugal Living...

• To clean copper and brass harness, saddle or bridle fittings you can mix 1 tsp of salt to 1 cup of vinegar. Rub it on then wipe off, or you can soak the piece in the solution. Try this tarnish remover http://frugalliving.about.com/od/cleaningtipsandrecipes/qt/Tarnish_Remover.htm
• If your jacket, some leg wraps, a shirt or pants get left in the wet you can also use vinegar on the mildew or you can try this tip for mildew removal http://frugalliving.about.com/od/householdsavings/qt/Mildew_Remover.htm
• Your show shirts and bandages need to be nice and bright white, try these natural bleach and chlorine alternatives http://frugalliving.about.com/od/cleaningtipsandrecipes/qt/Natural_Bleach.htm
• If you have been working in the stable, greasing up some gate hinges, or just generally need a heavy duty soap like mechanics use here’s a great recipe http://frugalliving.about.com/od/cleaningtipsandrecipes/ht/Mechanics_Soap.htm

Be A Smart Consumer

There are a range of wonderful eco-friendly products on the market. Look for products made from recycled materials. Choose eco-friendly products for your horse - particularly in the way of grooming products. Eco-friendly alternatives are more likely to be free from harsh chemicals and gentle on your horse’s skin. 

This article was originally published in the August 2013 issue of The Stable Magazine – Australia’s FREE Online Horse Magazine. Read this article and many more online at www.thestablemagazine.com