Today, let's discuss ways that we've found to use non-horsey products around the barn to save money and keep the horses happy and healthy. I was thinking about something along these lines after finding out about this great tip from a friend. My friend took a foam water "noodle" that cost her a whopping $2 and split it down the middle. When she is ready to load or unload a horse, she just puts it up on the top inside edge of the horse trailer and - voila - head protection! If a horse pops their head upon loading or unloading, the noodle cushions them from an injury. How smart is that? And it cost TWO DOLLARS!!!I know she's not the only one with great ideas like this. I mean, I think we all know that a great cure for rainrot and assorted other skin conditions is a mix of dollar store baby shampoo and iodine, that muck buckets are $4 - $7 at Wal-Mart which is way cheaper than you can buy them for in the feed store, and that you can make a handy-dandy bit warmer for your cold climate tackroom by installing a tin can with the ends taken off around a light bulb. But how about some more obscure uses of products not originally designed for horses? What have you found at the dollar store that you're using around the barn? We all know we can't get cheap hay, so we've got to save money wherever we can. What have you come up with?
Today's Friday Featured Rescue caught my eye immediately. His name is Denali and he's a ranch bred Quarter Horse available for adoption at Falcon Ridge Equine Rescue in Valley Center, California. While he needs an experienced rider, I'd say this guy is well worth the effort of a bit more training. They feel he has received some rough handling and needs someone kind and consistent to regain his trust. His adoption fee is a reasonable $500 and he is only approximately 6 years old so he would be a great project for a good rider who wants a super flashy horse to chase some cows on. They have many others available, including some that come with papers and have show potential. Check them out if you're in Southern California!P.S. FHOTD now has staff. Yes, it's true. I've realized I will never catch up on e-mail without help and have recruited a few snarky and knowledgeable friends to help out with e-mails. That means you'll be receiving responses far more promptly than in the past and hopefully I can get to the more urgent stories more efficiently. I appreciate your patience - as most of you know, I've been doing the two jobs thing to support the herd on top of several training horses, and it's just been impossible to keep up. Please know that I appreciate all of the e-mails and am never ignoring you deliberately - it's just been an expensive year (as everybody else out there buying hay knows!)