Be more GREEN

SPENDING TIME IN the countryside and enjoying nature is one of the huge benefits of horse riding. Happily, there is much that horse owners can do to look after their environment, and to reduce both waste and the all-important carbon footprint.

“Reusing water is a great way to be more eco-friendly on the yard,” says Oonagh Meyer, head of approvals at the British Horse Society. “This can be done by using automatic water bowls or troughs to help reduce waste from buckets being washed out and refilled. Water could also be recycled for hay soaking, and some centres even collect rainwater to use for dust control in arenas.”

There are also some simple ways to reduce water consumption and wastage.

“For example, switching from a hose pipe to buckets of water for washing horses tends to use less water,” adds Oonagh. “Installing self-closing