10 ways you can be more sustainable as a horse owner
It doesn’t have to be done in large-scale, expensive gestures – these small, low-cost changes can make a big difference
Sustainability has become part of daily life for many people and our efforts to be more sustainable in our everyday lives are increasing, and rightly so. But what can we do as horse owners to make our efforts go further? And what does being more sustainable and eco-friendly mean for us as equestrians?
Why is being sustainable important for equestrians?
Equestrians have plenty of reasons to get behind implementing sustainable practices in their home and yard lives, Ruth Dancer, CEO of sustainability consultancy company White Griffin, explains.
“Horse sport depends entirely on the health of the environment,” she tells H&H. “Whether it’s decent turnout with healthy grass, the quantity and quality of crops that farmers grow for feed and bedding, access to water, or even the risk of infectious diseases coming to our country – climate change is a major factor in all these issues.”
Ruth is a chartered environmentalist and has an MA from Cambridge University. She specialises in sustainability projects in the sporting sector and her company supports the sport and culture industries with transitioning their operations to a sustainable future.
How you can be more sustainable as a horse owner
There are many routes to sustainability for horse owners. It doesn’t have to be done in large-scale, expensive gestures – rather, lots of small, low-cost changes can make a big difference.
Being more sustainable – by using less electricity, fuel, and water – is also one of the best ways of saving money.
Read on for some simple ways you can become a more sustainable horse owner.
1. Limit your waste
Most of us have at least two bins at home, with recyclables in one and general waste in the other. So, why not do the same at the yard, especially as many feed companies are now using recyclable packaging.
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If you don’t have good recycling provision locally, some bedding companies will also collect your plastic wrap and recycle it – there is even one that has reusable bags that you can return – so this is worth considering.
Separating waste and recycling at the yard is an easy step for many horse owners
2. Harvest rainwater
Good water conservation practices are becoming increasingly important, and harvesting rainwater is something almost anyone with a stable can do in some capacity.
Ruth warns that by 2030 many parts of the country will experience extreme water shortages. As a results, water will become much more expensive and regulations will be put in place surrounding the use of water.
Water is too precious to waste – before discarding water from your horse’s stable, consider whether there another way you could use it?
“Water is fundamental to our sport and we can never be in a position where drinking water is restricted for our horses,” she continues. “So, as the third biggest user of water in the leisure sector, we must start investing now in infrastructure and technology that enables us to harvest rainwater for washing horses and tack, and if possible, consider the use of boreholes and arena surfaces that require far less watering.”
Most horse owners can invest in a large water butt (like this one) to collect water from gutters for general cleaning or washing horses down, or buy a limiter (like this one) to turn off water supply once buckets are full automatically.
3. Make use of biodegradable waste
Harness biodegradable waste to level up your grazing.
“One of equestrianism’s biggest waste streams is manure,” says Ruth. “Where possible, opting for bedding types like chopped straw and storing muck heaps effectively means manure becomes an excellent resource that can be harrowed back into the land. This provides nutrients and helps move us away from the use of chemicals.”
4. Consider your buying habits
Next time you go to buy something, ask yourself: “Do I really need this? If so, does it need to be brand new?”
Ruth says that one of the biggest factors driving environmental problems is excessive consumerism.
“By buying less, or buying second-hand, you can save a lot of money while being more sustainable. Basic principles of reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle are all part of both a sustainable and low-cost way of living.”
Buying less or second-hand can save a lot of money
5. Give old things new life
In the spirit of reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle, think about how you could use something that no longer functions as it once did. For example, you could reuse old containers and sacks to cut down on landfill.
Leaky water trugs can be reused for storing equipment, and if you’re mulching down your muck heap, why not provide old sacks for a fill-your-own service for local gardeners?
If you have no use for functional kit, consider selling or donating it before you reach for the bin.
6. Buy in bulk
If you’re on a livery yard and have space to store, bulk deliveries can save money, reduce transport costs and the associated emissions caused by multiple deliveries or trips to the tack shop.
7. Build sustainably
If you’re in the position of building your own yard or upgrading your current facilities, consider the materials you could use before you start the job.
Timber is a more eco-friendly option than brick or block-built stables and, as it relatively lightweight and transportable, needs fewer deliveries and promotes cleaner roads
In order to build more sustainable stables, you could consider using:
- timber, which naturally keeps stables cooler in summer and warmer in winter, from suppliers that are FSC [Forest Stewardship Council] certified (so you know it comes from sustainably managed forests)
- a non-concrete base, such as HippoTile flooring, which reduces the amount of high-carbon concrete and bedding required
- landscaped areas to break up concrete and tarmac
- solar panels on roofs to generate your own power
8. Vary your grasses
According to Ruth, we can even manage grazing more sustainably and make our horses’ forage more sustainable – better for them and the environment.
“We can do so much better than over-grazed paddocks containing nothing but ryegrass,” she says. “Herbs and wildflowers can be a wonderful natural aid to digestion, and reduce inflammation. By giving our horses options, we give them the chance to ingest what benefits them.
“I’d always recommend speaking to a vet before making dietary changes, but by introducing different grasses and herbs into your setup, you not only help your horse with a more varied diet, but create a better habitat for nature, enhancing carbon storage in the soil and even a more resilient root structure to help maintain the soil and reduce poaching in winter.”
Varying grasses and growing wildflowers can improve the quality of your soil
9. Grow wildflowers
Growing wildflowers is good news all round, low-cost and easy to do, but Ruth adds that horse riders have the opportunity to make a big impact on biodiversity, which could be a boost for social licence.
“We have lost around 97% of our species-rich grassland in the UK,” she explains. “If equestrians make changes now, in the long term we can hope to restore some of what was lost. We could be key players in beginning to see our native British wildlife thrive again.”
10. Switch off
Whether it’s lights, electric fencing or phone chargers not in use. This saves energy, cuts bills and reduces the risk of electrical fires. Solar-powered electric fencing is an option where it needs to stay on.
There is also a wide variety of solar lighting suitable for arenas and stables, which are not only more sustainable but might also make your life easier in the winter.
Where you can’t go solar, swap to lower energy – The Energy Saving Trust advises that swapping standard bulbs and halogen spotlights for energy-saving LED bulbs can save £45 per year, and 35kg of carbon dioxide.
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Georgia is Horse & Hound’s deputy website editor and equestrian products expert. She curates content across the website with a particular focus on upcoming equestrian events horse care and buying advice. She also manages all the ecommerce opportunities that allow us to give you easy access to the best products at the lowest prices via our buying guides. Georgia has first-hand knowledge of all the equestrian brands and their ever-evolving product lines, having been working with them closely since she started in equestrian media in 2015.
- Bethany StoneFeatures Assistant