Cheap Alternatives

Okay so I sort of poached this topic from Fugly Horse of the Day blog, but with me being from Pony Club I have several cost/labor saving suggestions. Please comment and add on any ones you have!!!

Bucket Cleaning:

• Use a toilet wand purchased at the Dollar Store
• Use baking soda twice a week when scrubbing (it is safe if you don't rinse it all out)
• In big stock tanks scrub once a week with a capful of Clorox Bleach to prevent algae growth - make sure you rinse.
• When the horse is on a rotating schedule (in during the day/out at night or vise versa) empty the buckets while the horse isn't in the stall - this keeps scum to a minimum.

Storage:

• Recycle old supplement containers (usually the larger ones work) to use for hauling feed to shows, clinics, etc.
  
• The large plastic cat litter pails work for the same purpose.
• Cheap toolboxes or tackle boxes purchased at Wal-Mart are great for keeping stud kits, grooming/braiding kits, fence repairing kits, first aid kits...the list can go on forever!

In the Arena:

• For flowerbox fillers go visit the local cemetery - most of them clean up all floral decorations once a month - now I don't recommend the obvious grave markers, but as far as the plastic flowers go they work great in flower boxes and are free!
• Old Christmas trees or garland works great as well.
• Landscaping timbers work great for trot poles or ground lines - they may not be a full 12' long, but they are lighter and cheaper than purchasing or making extra poles. *They also work well when practicing narrows!*

First Aid:

• Buy your first aid stuff (gauze, adhesive wrap - aka VetRap, Ace Bandages, etc) from either the Dollar Store or Wal-Mart - it is much cheaper at these places than at vet supply stores!
• Triple Antibiotic Cream works just as well on cuts as the horsey dressings
• Use Desitin (baby butt cream!) for scratches/mud fever and for foal heat scours (around the foal's anus and hindquarters).
• Make your own Betadine Scrub by adding Betadine Solution and regular Dawn dish soap together.
• Feminine sanitary pads are great for wound dressings or girth galls - they are absorbent and cheap. If your horse has a girth gall or sore under the saddle/girth area apply the pad sticky side to girth/saddle pad during riding.
• Sterile saline solution for contact wearers are great to use for cleansing/flushing wounds - also if you have outdated lactated ringer fluid can be used to to clean/flush wounds.
• Purchase a digital thermometers from Wal-Mart -- much cheaper!
• For skin fungus or dandruff use Listerine or a similar mouth wash -- I don't recommend the Mint flavored kind b/c the flies like it as well!
• Frozen peas work great for icing legs, etc - I just don't recommend eating them after they have been thawed and refrozen several times!
• Panty hose work great on keeping bandages over eyes/legs/etc
  

Thrush/Hoof Care

• To kill thrush use a syringe and Clorox bleach to kill the fungus - just make sure you don't get it on the coronet band!
• For a clear hoof polish use a furniture/dust spray found at Wal-Mart - I have heard that Pam (the cooking spray) works, but I have never used it personally.
• Diapers or sanitary pads work to pack abscesses or protect a horse on turnout who lost a shoe. Just use duct tape and vet wrap to keep it in place! (funny note on this - my father just about died when I was 16 and came home from Wal-Mart with a thing of diapers b/c my horse had lost a shoe!)
  

Grooming

• Buy human shampoo/conditioner - it works the same and is cheaper!
• Brushes and sponges can be purchased at Wal-Mart and Dollar Store for cheaper!
• Tide for whites can be used to get white markings shiny clean
• Tube socks make great tail bags
• Tampons can be inserted into horses ears for clipping - it minimizes noise and hair falling into ear canal.
• Go to the sewing section of Wal-mart or a local fabric store to stock up on braiding supplies
• Loofahs purchased at Wal-Mart/Dollar Store for bathing!
• Baby wipes for quick clean ups at shows: noses/muzzles, etc!
  

Around the Barn/Misc

• Use pool noodles to cover butt chains/etc on trailers
• Use the rubber truck bed liners as floor mats for grooming areas
• Small sections of PVC pipes can be used as blanket bars when a rope or chain is run through them - same concept can be used for creep feeders (b/c they roll as the foal passes through) or stall guards.
• Homemade fly sprays (there are sooo many "recipes" I'm not even going to start naming them)
  
• Use febreeze in your helmet to keep it smelling nice - especially if you are in a hot/humid climate!
• If you have to take water w/ you to places (your horse is picky about drinking water) buy your water storage tanks from wal-mart
  

I will add to these as I remember them, but please help the list out and add any suggestions you may have!