Going Equine Green Tips from the Forum
We asked our EquiSearch.com forum members what they do to reduce their "environmental footprint" and here's what they told us.
Conserve Water
"Simple stuff matters!!! Put a sprayer head on your hose that you can easily turn off water flow during baths, between water buckets, etc." --Solaris
"Bathe with a bucket and sponge. Your horse doesn't need a shower! Soak, turn off the hose, later up, than rinse. There's no reason to keep the water running constantly." --Citabobita
"I re-use rain water. We have the down spouts run into tubs to catch the rain. If it's not clean enough for horses to drink (depends on your roof shingles), we use it around the barn for dust control and/or watering plants." --Spragueme
"In stalls, move your water buckets away from the feed buckets. A water bucket that is not located within 'dribbling' range of the feed tub will stay cleaner much longer, saving you both water and time." --Citabobita
Manure Management
"Manage the manure pile--closely packed and warm means less smell, faster composting and quicker kill of insect larvae. Keep it moist, but not soaked. Turn it and don't add animal fats. Surround the pile (3 sides or so vented slats work best for our northern climate) and turn it once a month or so--it'll be great for spreading on fields or into the garden. Or give it away or sell it, but it has to be well composted to consider that. Weed seeds are another concern in compost, so it has to be hot enough to destroy them also." --Karice
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"The barn I used to board at found a composting company that brought a BIG dumpster out for all the mucking, hay, etc. When it was full they would haul it off and replace it. It was great for upper body strength too, since by the time it was full, we had to lift the muck buckets way up!" --povertybyhorse
Barn Management
"Switch to straw bedding. Good straw is less dusty than sawdust/shavings, and once you get the hang of it, it is just as easy to clean. Straw is a much more easily renewable resource than trees, and in buying it, you help support your local farmers and preserve open space in your area." --Citabobita
"A wood burner/glycol system heats our barn. We throw all the muck from cleaning stalls in the burner. All the poop from scooping in the arena and in the turnout pens gets burned, too. We also compost poop for the garden, and neighbors will come get it from us in the spring. Several construction companies drop their scraps off at our place so we can burn it. And a few landscaping companies drop off their tree trimmings and grass clippings. They save dump fees and in the two years since we installed the wood burner we have not had to buy fuel to heat the barn!" --Tickin
Recycle and Reuse
"Buy as much as possible used. Local tack sales and shops often have used saddles, bridles, halters and leads, boots, wraps, saddle pads, attire, etc, that are cheaper, in good condition and by buying these instead of all new things we can 'recycle.' It works both ways, too--if you have something that would normally sit around in your basement or the tack room consider selling it or giving it away." --FlakeMusic
"We use large round bales or large square bales so I save the twines and braid them. I've made all sorts of items from a horse harness, bridles, breastcollars, scrimsheet (a fly sheet for the horse), hanging planters, hammocks, hay bags, rugs (crocheted)... and the oddball repairs--everything from gate ties, to emergency stirrup straps." --Karice
"I get shavings in very large paper bags which are recyclable. The plasticised bags that grain comes in are re-used for a multitude of things including the trash (the grain bags do eventually decompose unlike green garbage bags)." --Country Mouse
"I reuse both paper and burlap bags. I put the bags in trash cans, and I put garbage in one and the wire from the hay bales in the other. I re-use the wire as much as possible. What I can't re-use gets taken to the scrap yard, which makes me a little cash." --spragueme
"Rags, towels, T-shirts, etc. get stored and used during calving and foaling. I keep the better ones for wound washing and keep old sheets for wraps, saddle underpads, and old bed linen for emergency covers! At -40 we're not too picky as to what we can get a hold of to cover a cold animal!" --Karice
"I use old quilted bedspreads found at garage sales for making saddle covers, carriers and gear bags--I can make quite a few items from a queen size. I make saddle pads, saddle bags, and cantle bags. I find canvas, Duck and all sorts of items at garage sales." --Karice
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