Ten tips for climate protection in the barn
Warendorf (fn-press). Climate protection and equestrian sport cannot be combined? Yes, they can, and very well. Equestrian athletes and horses are always closely connected with nature. Hardly any other sport is as dependent on active climate protection for the benefit of the four-legged friends as equestrian sport. Green pastures, swallows' nests in the stables, field and forest paths for riding out - all this is worth protecting. Doing something for climate protection in equestrian sports is not even particularly difficult. Below are ten tips that everyone can use to make a small contribution!
Tip 1: Climate protection starts on a small scale For example, by recycling feed containers or separating waste at the stable. Old habits usually only need to be changed minimally.
Tip 2: Save electricity and water! "Light on" only when needed in the hall and in the barn reduces electricity consumption and thus costs, as does the economical use of water.
Tip 3: Climate protection also means protecting species With creative ideas, equestrians can create a home for many animals at the same time at the stable. This is not only useful, but can become a joint action in which all stable owners can participate.
Tip 4: Pastures are habitats Pastures and green strips are habitats for many plant and animal species and must be preserved - also for species-appropriate horse husbandry. Among other things, cutting pastures late for hay production allows ground-nesting birds to raise their first clutch of eggs undisturbed.
Tip 5: Plant flower strips They not only look beautiful, but are also an important food source for insects. Funding is available for the creation of flowering strips. More information can be found on the websites of the federal states' ministries of agriculture.
Tip 6: Create and maintain water bodies Insects, amphibians and fish feel at home in ponds and pools. They are a breeding ground, drinking water source and habitat all in one. The size of the water body is not important. Tips for creating them can be found on the Internet.
Tip 7: Install LED lamps Switching off the hall lights reliably after leaving the runway can already save energy. However, it is even better to switch the lighting completely to LED lamps.
Tip 8: Cycle to the barn If the route, time and weather permit, the bicycle is a climate-friendly alternative for the trip to the barn. On the one hand, it saves CO2, and on the other, it is an excellent way to arrive at the barn already well warmed up.
Tip 9: Set up a feeding station Wildlife and birds will thank you. The stations can be beautifully painted and a real eye-catcher for visitors at the barn.
Tip 10: Do not remove dead wood A variety of animals and plants find a habitat and food in dead trees or tree stumps: fungi, lichens, mosses, ferns, insects, reptiles and also mammals. Deadwood thus makes an important contribution to nature and species conservation. So: leave deadwood in place and have "courage to be messy".
The FN provides information on climate protection in equestrian sports on its social media channels Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as part of a theme week around the FN project "Green Stable". Sina Stahlsmeier
