TIME SAVING TIPS

[MEL H]

As an extremely busy, full time working horse owner, I am constantly on the lookout for time and money saving tips. Some things i do already include -
- buying things in bulk (birthday cards, tights, lottery tickets) to save time 'nipping' to a shop
- filling the car, washing and vacuuming it out during lunch times at work rather than the weekend.
- have magazines delivered
- mail order as much as possible - delivered to work
- trade favours on the yard so we all get at least one lie-in a week
- fill and soak all haynets at the weekend

I'd love to hear of any more hints and tips as I still don't seem to have 5 minutes spare
cheers
melanie

[aussie_eden]

*Pumpkin added to the feed makes coats shine like a million dollars!!(Microwave 1st)
*Sand paper rubed on bot fly eggs tends to remove them better than the knife.*After plaiting up place a nylon stocking over the horses plaits then 'rebabble' them with elastic bands over the top. This is a cheapeer version of the skinny hood
*Put a bar of soap in an old stocking and attatch it to the tap. Simply wet hands then later up. No more soap going walk-a-bouts!!
*Bra straps or stokings are great for attatching hoods to rugs,
*20min of medium exercise is more effective then 45min of 'lazy' exercise.
*Rent a movie and have a tack cleaning afternoon. job gets done and you get to relax.
*Put bits in the dishwasher. They come out like new!!
*I put my PVC bridles and girths in the washing machine(please wrap material around the buckles!!) Then wash with wool wash or similar. Then on the PVC use a furnisher polish-spray or car cleaner (Armorald is used in Australia) this protects the PVC and stops it from fading. Make sure that you dont use it on the reins, as they will become slippery.


iam still thinking of some more, but i will post them when i think of more
TaTa

Eden

[Baby_angel]

* make up feeds in advance and leave them all in an empty barrel (with lid on) outside the stable to save having to unlock feed shed and make them in the morning/evening.
* write down exactly what your horse has in his feed and tape in to the lid of his feed bin so that a friend could feed him if you couldnt get to the yard.
* But a lightweight neck cover for when your horse is turned out - it saves time if he rolls!
* spary coat conditioner into the mane and tail to stop them getting to tangled
* Fill a barrel with water so that if the tap frezzes over you can use it to fill water buckets/the kettle!
* use a summer sheet under stable rugs as it it easier to claen a thin rug than a heavy one
* if you dont have a school/area use soiled shavings to form a large circle in the corner of a field you can then use this to lunge on when the weather is bad.
* tie a large loop of baler twine through a hoof pick so that it can be hung by the field gate, picking out your horses hooves here will save time sweeping up later.

[snuggly_elf]

you can make an under rug/stable rug for a small pony from an old douvet.

[lleeaannee]

Loosely plait the horses tail when turing him out. Stops tangles and bit getting stuck in. Also stops the end getting muddly if he has a long tail - just dunk the end in a bucket of cold water before unplaiting.

By bucket covers. Make up enought feeds as you have buckets and stack them with the cover on top. Remove from the bottom.