Have you noticed? Things seem chaotic these days—so much so that some days, I have to center myself by going out to the barn to hug my horse and breathe in his wonderful, rich horse smell.
No matter what side of the political fence you might find yourself on these days, we’re all still horse people. We all still want to enjoy our favorite activities with our horses. We still want to take good care of them and manage our properties well. We still want to enjoy the great outdoors. And I think we all want to figure out how to get along.
At HCW we just want to help, so we’ve come up with some ideas. Recent market instability suggests that for the near future, we may all need to be mindful of expenses. The good news is that cost-cutting efforts often present us with opportunities to build community and make environmentally friendly choices. For example:
- Wherever possible, repair worn and broken items rather than just throwing them out. Visible mending is a great way to add your own creative touch while extending the life of clothes, saddle pads, fly sheets, winter blankets, etc., and learning how to repair equipment can even turn into a lucrative side hustle.
- Shop at thrift stores, especially those that support underserved and at-risk populations in your community. There are also online thrift stores that specifically cater to equestrians, allowing you to purchase second hand riding clothes and tack.
- Plant a garden that includes treats for your equine buddies. We’ve all given our horses carrots or apples after a good ride, but they can also enjoy a variety of garden goodies like cucumber, beets, turnips, celery, melons, berries, snow peas, pumpkin, and grapes. Offering your horse a new treat is a fun way to provide some enrichment. On hot days this summer, you can even freeze fruit and vegetables in water for a fun “horse popsicle.”
- Get to know your neighbors and trade services and equipment where needed. Help each other load and stack hay, trade composted horse manure for fresh eggs, or offer to trailer their horse to the vet in exchange for barn sitting.
- Repurpose items that might otherwise end up in the landfill. Turn old tractor tires and cable spools into obstacles for your trail course. Turn food-safe 55-gallon drums into rain barrels or feed bins. Give a broken fridge or freezer a second life as a rodent-proof feed storage area. And before you buy new stall mats, check with your local quarry to see if they have any old conveyer belts they’re throwing away.
Do you have a cost-cutting tip to share? Tell us about it over on Instagram!
Alayne
