Hello Again!

Is it time to wash your horse blankets?

Be aware that many commercial laundromats won't allow you to wash your horse blankets in their machines. Call ahead so you won't be disappointed.

If you can't find a laundromat that will accept your blankets, call a local tack shop. They may have or be able to recommend a blanket washing service. You can drop your blankets off and they'll come back clean, folded and sometimes even wrapped! As an added bonus, blanket washing services may also offer repair, waterproofing, monogramming and other services.

Local boarding stables may also provide a washing service or be able to recommend a washing service or commercial laundromat.

Tip Of The Month:

Here are some easy, environmentally-friendly recipes to control poison ivy:

This recipe calls for liquid soap. Do NOT use a detergent based liquid. We recommend Dr. Bronner's Liquid Castile, available in health food stores. Use this mix in early Spring, when leaves are still shiny:

Soap Spray For Early Spring
4 tablespoons liquid soap
1 quart water

Combine ingredients in a bucket, mix, then transfer to a spray bottle as needed. This recipe will kill neighboring vegetation so focus the spray on the poison ivy.

If you're trying to eliminate older plants, try this recipe:

Salt & Vinegar Vegetation Killer
1 cup salt
8 drops liquid detergent
1 gallon vinegar

Combine the salt and vinegar in a pan and heat to dissolve the salt. Cool the vinegar, add the detergent and pour some of the liquid into a large spray bottle. Spray the vegetation or just pour the mixture onto the weeds.

This formula will kill all vegetation, so use care around desirable plants and grasses.

Happy riding!

The Practical Horsekeepers

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