Sustainability Tips You Can Incorporate Into Your Day To Day At The Barn Or On The Road

There are many ways we can help to decrease our collective equestrian carbon hoofprint. Below are some ideas I have put together that you may be able to incorporate into your day to day.

Tips for when you are on the road:

When our club travels to polo tournament we try and stay as sustainable as we can. Here are some ideas to think about when on the road

1.     We use a product called tail clinch to fasten our tails and polo wraps so we don’t need to use electrical tape

2.     We use reusable cups/plates/cutlery

3.     When recycling is not an option at tournaments we will take our recycling items back home in order to recycle them

4.     Consider using animal feed containers that you are no longer using as water buckets

5.     We use solar power to recharge our devices

Tips for Day To Day At The Barn:

1.     Recycle what you can. For example consider taking your old grain/food bags to your local feed store to be recycle.

2.     Purchase items from stores that have a refill program. I get fly spray from one our local tack store Horseplay that have a refill program.

3.     Check out your local second-hand tack shop for items before purchasing new ones when appropriate. Some of our local horse rescues and other equine based non-profits often have tack sales and tack swaps too.

4.     My girths are from Oaklyn tack which are assembled from sustainably sourced and recycled material

5.     Consider buying riding wear that is sustainable and lasts longer rather than buying cheaper items that only last one season. Environmentally friendly equestrian wear may cost a little more but this reflects the true cost of using materials that are less damaging to the environment and fairer to the factory workers that make them. For example my riding wear from Honest Riders has lasted season after season.

6. Look after the tack you have. Our Polo coach has saddles and bridles that are over 20 years old because he carefully looks after them and we do the same.

7. Use a reusable coffee mug for those early morning barn chores and reusable water bottle for those hot days to stay hydrated.

8. Switch to natural horse care in recyclable containers.

I’d love to hear your tips for sustainability at your barns. Please comment below.