From baling twine to bottles, South African riders are finding creative ways to go greener at home and at the yard

By Charlene Carroll

There’s a saying at the yard that nothing ever really leaves — it just changes shape. The feed bags become bin liners, the baling twine turns into emergency halters, and the stack of old horseshoes near the farrier’s corner is destined for a second life as a lucky charm, doorstop or art project. Somewhere between the dust, the manure heap, and the daily routines, recycling has become as natural as mucking out.

Let’s set the scene for greening your yard! On a warm summer morning, the yard hums with the usual rhythm: horses snorting, buckets clattering, and that one gelding performing his signature avoidance dance as someone approaches with a bottle of fly spray. Beside the tack room, there’s a crate marked Recycling that seems to swallow everything from rinsed supplement tubs to flattened feed sacks. What began as a small effort to tidy up has turned into a quiet revolution and a surprisingly creative one at that.

Getting creative 

Ask around, and you’ll find every rider has their own trick. The plaiting queen keeps fly spray bottles for mixing her secret blend of vinegar and essential oils. One inventive teen swears by turning feed bags into shopping totes, complete with duct tape handles, while another collects baling twine for plait practice and makes rope halters in the school holidays. It’s part thrift, part craft, and a whole lot of pride in being resourceful.

Even the blacksmith gets in on the act. Those worn-out shoes? They’ve become the yard’s most popular décor, nailed onto gates, shaped into hearts, and welded into hanging hooks. One set even ended up as a wine rack in the tack room (an inspired decision that probably deserves its own award). There’s something satisfying about seeing pieces of horse life live on, carrying a bit of their story into the next purpose.

Don’t toss invent

The same goes for rugs and gear. Old, torn stable rugs often get a second life as dog blankets. Stirrups and broken bits become curtain tiebacks or key hangers. A bucket that’s cracked on one side? Perfect for soaking teff or storing grooming brushes. Horse people have a remarkable ability to see potential in what others would toss out, perhaps because we know how much work goes into every little thing we own.

Of course, recycling at the yard isn’t just about quirky upcycling. It’s also about reducing the mountain of plastic that horse care inevitably creates. Many South African yards now separate plastics, tins, and glass for collection, and riders are getting smarter about refilling rather than replacing. 

Then there’s the compost heap, a glorious, steaming symbol of sustainability. Muck and bedding, when managed properly, can transform into rich compost for paddocks or veggie gardens. Some yards even share their compost with nearby nurseries, completing the circle of life in the most literal way.

Changing mindsets

And yes, it’s still an imperfect system. Someone will always toss a coffee cup in the wrong bin, and not every bottle gets rinsed out. But progress doesn’t have to be spotless. It’s in the habits, the small, mindful choices that build over time.

As one yard owner put it while untangling a string of twine destined for the recycling pile, “We don’t just throw things away. We give them a second chance. Kind of like horses.”