We’ve looked at products we share with our horses. But another money saving strategy for horse owners is to reuse, repurpose or recycle items around our homes for our horses, especially stuff that would otherwise end up in the trash or recycling bin. Here are just a few of the many items that can be used in your stable or on your horse.
Old Clothes
Old clothes, and an old sock in particular can come in handy around the barn. Anything made of an absorbent fiber like cotton can be used for cleaning up, drying and polishing everything from your horse to its equipment. Socks are very handy, and since all of us seem to have odd socks because one of a pair has slipped into an alternate universe, there never seems to be a shortage. You can use an old sock as a tail bag to keep a tail tangle free overnight. They can also be used inside a tail wrap is chaffing is a problem. A big stretchy sock can help hold on a leg bandage. A sleeve from a stretch shirt can be used in a similar fashion. Use pieces of panty hose to make a fly cover for an injury. Old panty hose with runs can also get a bit more life if you were them under your riding pants or jeans to prevent chaffing. As ValstandswithOrlando mentioned, old jeans can provide patches and covering for bandages.
Belts
Old belts, whether made of leather or synthetic have many uses. They can be used to repair broken halters or blanket straps. A belt can be used as a temporary cribbing collar. Old belts shouldn’t be used for anything that requires a lot of strength, like a billet strap or stirrup leather.
Plastics Jugs
Plastic jugs can be used as is to store liquids like oils you may be feeding, insect spray that requires diluting and powders you’d like to store. Just make sure to label the contents clearly. Scoops of all sizes can be made by cutting off the bottom of jugs with handles.
Old Plastic Crates
Sturdy plastic crates, like those used to transport milk containers can be used for all types of storage and are strong enough to put a salt block in. The handles make them easy to move and they rinse off and drain easily.
Paper Plates
Use extra paper plates for signs, jump numbers, dressage numbers and other labels that need to be large and obvious. If you’re marking a trail, draw arrows or other instructions on them. If you use biodegradable plates, you don’t have to feel too guilty if you miss one while cleaning up.
Pill bottles
Old pill bottles, and if you can find them, old film canisters are handy for storing little things like number pins, elastics, and other odds and ends. Depending on what you feed as supplements, you may be able to premeasure portions so feeding goes quickly.
Zipper Closure Bags
Once zipper closure bags have done their work in the kitchen, they can find lots of use in the stable. Some are larger enough to put dressage tests, maps or other paperwork in which protects them from the weather.
No Glass
Lots of glass jars go in the recycling bin, and they should probably not make their way to the stable. Glass containers are easily broken, and can pose a hazard to both humans and horses.
We reuse feed bags. Because I work in the racing industry a lot of feeds have different components for different horses, and bins are expensive to buy when there are loads of horses to feed. Plus they're hard to carry. So we reuse the bags feed comes in. All the separate elements get put in an old sack with the horse's name on it and get shaken up before being fed to them. If a sack rips or gets wet you can just throw it out and make a new one from other old sacks.
We reuse feed bags. Because I work in the racing industry a lot of feeds have different components for different horses, and bins are expensive to buy when there are loads of horses to feed. Plus they're hard to carry. So we reuse the bags feed comes in. All the separate elements get put in an old sack with the horse's name on it and get shaken up before being fed to them. If a sack rips or gets wet you can just throw it out and make a new one from other old sacks.
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