Unusual Solutions or tips.

[Myhorseeatsmoney]

I am sure there are plenty of gadgets or tips that we know and could share to make life easier around our horses.

Any suggestions would be helpful. Here is my tip:

If you are trying to keep your wellies clean a quick wipe with either pig or baby oil stops the mud clinging.

 

[Queenofdiamonds]

Microfibre cloths take poo stains straight off. Just wet it and squeeze it was you wipe the stain

 

[Batgirl]

I think your best tip is in your signature

I think mine is never buy anything horsey branded unless you cannot buy it non horsey (toolbox instead of grooming box, sponges, oils, shampoos etc).

 

[SaharaS]

I was about to post the same thread!!

Mine would be fruit! We all know about honey herbs & oils..but...in a 1st aid situation:
-banana skin pith used on infected cuts or as a poultice..the riper the better & it really draws out any gunk.
-coconut, especially the milk, canned or direct from fruit is a natural antiseptic/anti bacterial. Especially useful if performing open brain surgery/operations in a less than ideal environment-don't mock, you never know!and also for cleaning & soothing wounds.
-disclaimer I am not sure how this goes for those with nut allergies.
-elderflower cordial eases summer colds & wards off hayfever-local best.cucumber on eyes for hayfever and cold tea for bathing horses eyes if irritated with pollen/irritants-definitely do NOT add milk!
Might add some more later and yes am aware tea is not a fruit

 

[Queenbee]

Always use gloves for skipping out shavings then brush the loose dry shavings away until all you have left is the wet patches, minimal loss of clean stuff, unless u get lazy and deep litter, then just gloves

 

[Littlelegs]

Arrange all beds in a manner to reduce mucking out. Eg if horse spends a lot of time grabbing hay from back & walking to look out over door, crapping as it goes, move hay to front. If stable drains better on one side, put hay/water/feed on the other.
Use all manner of rubbish for jumps & fillers, cheap but also stops any issues when they first meet scary fillers, water trays etc.
Woolen blankets/throws from b&m make nice exercise sheets without much skill, the kids ones with stuff like hello kitty on are cute for kids.
Cheap soft broom gaffer taped to poles from broken ones are fab for de-cobwebbing even high old barns.
Have lots of strange solutions but these are the ones that spring to mind.

 

[mandwhy]

I like the fruit theme SaharaS! I am wondering whether I could bathe my own eyes with tea bags, hayfever is the bane of my life!! I wear a surgical mask when grooming etc, looks a bit weird but keeps all that dust and dander out of my airways!

 

[Queenbee]

Yeah, love the fruit tips, elderflower also makes a mean fly repellant, steep in hot water with a bit of vinegar or lemon juice and bath horse in it, bays especially look good with lots of little white flowers in their black manes, if I'm out riding and have forgotten repellent I grab a handful off a bush and rub into horses mane... Tres pretty.

 

[SaharaS]

Blindingly obvious tip, but foldable swiss army knife-always have one or a multi tool with me.if stuck you can use the tiny bottle opener tool as a hoof pick and some still come small enough to carry in your jods or jeans small pocket-tho prefer to have the multi tool with me incase I need to cut something free from wire/stock fence as the ones with pliers usually have cutter strong enough for stock fence or barbed wire..nothing worse than trying to free something that is struggling and all those seconds gained not having to run & find someone..sometimes seconds make all the difference...like the post the other day when one HHo lady passed a foal dangling from barbed wire (Cayla?) lucky she was passing.

 

[SaharaS]

I like the fruit theme SaharaS! I am wondering whether I could bathe my own eyes with tea bags, hayfever is the bane of my life!! I wear a surgical mask when grooming etc, looks a bit weird but keeps all that dust and dander out of my airways!

no reason why not, tho prob not peppermint,lemon or ginger! chamomile better or even plain old builders tea!

trying out a lemon recipe for fly repellant later so will do 2 batches with elderflower and let you all know

Elderflower as mentioned is good for summer colds/hayfever but elderberry cordial/or elderberry rob are both great as winter flu/cold zappers recipes should be google-able but yell if anyone would like them, happy to share

Lavender great not only as fly repellant, but helps heal wounds tho I've only braved it on congealed ones so far-hoping I can avoid testing out on anything open just for sake of posting-again its a natural antibacterial as well as soothing

 

[AprilBlossom]

I love this thread! Will be scuttling off to try out many of these later!!

Umm...suppose it's obvious but I baler twine a hoof pick to an old supplement or water bucket, then reminds me to always pick out into that - no muck to sweep off yard then!
I also keep any bits of rugs and other tack that are broken in a little box for emergency repairs - old flash as a pommel grab strap for novice OH, stirrup leather as a neck strap, various leg straps and fillet strings as necessary.

 

[jeeve]

I too use human shampoo on my horses as a lot cheaper than horse shampoo.

I also use olive oil to help prevent/cure rain scald. It is excellent, have a foal with lots of white, no rug, lots of olive oil along neck line, spine, rump, one week of solid rain, and the foal in perfect condition. Cheaper than what they sell at saddlery, I have also used iodine first and then olive oil where rain scald has started.