Image credit grimaldojr
Society in general has been wasteful for far too long and we’ve hit a tipping point where the weight of the world literally lies on the shoulders of every one of us.
The main problem most people have with natural and sustainable products is the higher price tag associated with them.
Money doesn’t grow on trees you say. And to that I reply, it’s a small price to pay, if we don’t do something soon there will be no trees left anyway…
Green is Cool
That said, the *green* trend is en vogue right now, which has its benefits and its drawbacks. Earth & animal friendly products are emerging at a rapid rate, but so are products that pretend to be. Reading labels is the key.
Giving Something Back
Regardless of your personal beliefs you cannot deny the fact that without the earth, none of us would exist. It’s about time we all did our part to look after it, even if that requires a little sacrifice on our part. Here is a list of greener options for some common products used by horse people.
Leather Care
Bee Natural
This company makes leather cleaning and care products for all types of leather. Their line is natural, environmentally safe and can even be used on delicate leathers.
Bioproline
They offer a leather cleaner that is 100% natural and made using beeswax and jojoba oil. Products are manufactured with respect to the environment and made from organic ingredients.
Moss Soap
This company was founded by a professional dressage rider. They offer a great selection of saddle soap and leather cleaners made from natural oils & organic ingredients.
Mosquito Repellent
EcoSmart
They sell a number of natural, environmentally friendly pest control options. Their bug repellent is made from plant oils and works against other pests like ticks & gnats too.
Mosquito Fighter
This repellent is designed to cover grassy areas, parks & fields so it can help cut back on infestation in stables & pastures too. Made from a concentrated garlic solution that isn’t harmful to anyone but the little buggers themselves.
Refreshing Organics
Buzz Free Zone Personal Spray is made from essential oils and organic herbal extracts using no chemicals. They also make a large line of skin, baby and home care items worth checking out. Ingredients for each item are listed (and pictured) on the page.
Riding Apparel
G.R.A.S.S.
This company has a great code of ethics and offers a line of equestrian clothing made using a variety of environmentally friendly, organic, sustainable and recycled fabrics.
Horseplay Clothing
This company offers a line of eco-friendly bamboo clothing. So far it’s just tees, lets send some business their way so they expand their selection.
Tuffriders EcoGreen Bamboo Line
A line of the Tuffriders brand with socks, breeches and shirts made from bamboo which is a renewable and sustainable resource.
Work Boots
Blackspot
A company designed with anti-big brands in mind. They offer a sneaker and a boot, made from organic hemp & recycled tires in family owned factory.
Timberland Earthkeepers
While I think purchasing eco products from big brands is sort of hypocritical, this is a recycled product and Timberland is a company that would be lost without nature. There is a whole line of Earthkeepers and while the boots are leather they still leave a smaller footprint than most of the other major brands.
Lowa Boots
Their products are made following strict environmental rules and they only purchase materials from companies who follow the same rules. They do use leather in some of their products, it comes from cows bred for meat production – no cows die for the sake of their products. Their boots aren’t specifically for equestrian use, but they have a big line of rugged options.
Sativa
This company offers a line of hemp boots and sneakers. Granted the boots are more like hiking boots than work boots, they still offer an eco friendly option. P.S. Check out their handbags too.
Work Gloves
Organica Deluxe
These hardy gloves are made from recycled plastic water bottles. (They have them for women too – but that page didn’t have a pic).
Rawganique
They make a wide variety of hemp products and have several types of hemp gloves to choose from. They also sell hemp rope.
West County Gardener
Like the company above, these gloves are made from recycled water bottles and their purchase actually removes plastic waste from landfills. Unlike the company above, this one is dedicated solely to gloves.
Going Green
Doing this research has been an eye opener for me, I’ve learned to always read the fine print and pay attention to labels above all else. Not everything is as it appears.
Here are a few more helpful lists.
Have you heard of hemp horse bedding? It is non-allergenic, low dust, and 2x as absorbent as pine pellets or shavings. This bedding is more environmentally friendly and green than timber based products, because it is an annual field crop that takes 90 days to reach its harvest date. American Hemp in Winston Salem, NC has more info (http://www.americanhempllc.com/#!horse-bedding/c1iam)
Hi Paige,
I’m a part of the web team for Mosquito Magnet, and I would like to discuss opportunities for sharing resources on vector control and developing potential partnerships.
I noticed that you don’t have any mosquito and vector control information on your Earth & Animal Friendly Products for Horse People page. We specialize in mosquito control techniques, and we also have an excellent biting insect library filled with facts and accompanying photos of mosquitoes that I think would be a great addition to your site. Would you be interested in adding us to your list?
I look forward to your reply at your earliest convenience, and thank you for your time.
Best,
Troy Myers
Mosquito Magnet®