Look for less toxic options: The greening of the world is creating all sorts of new alternatives to many common chemical products, so keep an eye out for them and use them whenever possible. But, never ever confuse "green" with "safe." There are many "green products" that can still be hazardous to your health--every solar panel system needs a battery with a corrosive chemical inside, and some green cleaners are still skin irritants and chemically reactive. Make certain to read the labels even on eco-friendly or natural products. Mother Nature has made some nasty chemicals all on her own!
Buy only as much as you need: Far too often people buy more product than they could possibly use in the year ahead. I don't know how many times we've had horse products that have gone bad before we used them all up.
Clean-up after your animals: Nobody wants horse manure in their drinking water.
This article is excerpted from the book Eco-Horsekeeping: Over 100 Budget-Friendly Ways You and Your Horse Can Save the Planet. To order the book, visit HorseBooksEtc.com.
