DIY: All Natural Spring and Summer Essentials

By Marissa Maturo & Jaclyn Amaru

In honor of Earth day and our love of all-natural, therapeutic solutions, we thought it was appropriate to give you some great DIY home recipes and ideas for spring and summer. Go green and enjoy!

Fly Spray

There are plenty of mixed reviews out there on what works best, or even at all, for horses suffering from fly bites. Many recipes will vary on effectiveness right down to the type of fly it works on. More than one spray may be useful also. Check out some of these all natural concoctions. Spray a small area on your skin before applying to your horse to ensure no skin re-activity. For the face, spray onto hands and rub on, never spray the face directly.

• Apple Cider Vinegar (unpasteurized, organic, not the regular store brand)

Apply directly via spray bottle. If the smell is enough to make you gag, then dilute the mixture 50/50, but the less vinegar you use, the more often you will need to re-apply. This is great for your pooch too. For stronger effect, you can add citronella essential oil (1 tsp) to one quart vinegar. *Citronella oil from a hardware store is NOT the same as essential oil and is highly flammable.

•  Eucalyptus Oil (essential oil, 1 Tbsp)
• White Vinegar (2 cups)
• Water (1 cup)

Mix in a spray bottle and apply.

Boot Shine

Trying to revive your paddock boots or give your high boots a gleam just before heading into the show ring? These recipes will work on any leather goods and make them shine with pride.

•  1/8 cup vinegar
• 1/8 cup olive or grape seed oil
• 1 lemon

Mix vinegar and olive oil in a small mixing bowl. Add 10 drops of lemon juice for every 1/8 cup of liquids. Whisk together. Before applying, wipe dirt and loose dust off the leather with a damp cloth or sponge. Apply the shine with clean sponge or rag that has been squeezed of excess. Buff when done with dry towel or cloth.

•  1.1oz White beeswax
• 2.8 oz Olive Oil Small
• clean tin or jar

In a microwave safe bowl, heat the beeswax and olive oil in 30 second increments or so, until smooth. Do not use an oversized dish as it can explode. When the liquid is ready, pour into your tin or jar carefully. Leave to harden at room temperature for about 1 hour. Again, clean leather prior to use with a damp cloth and then apply balm liberally with clean cloth. The wax acts as a water repellent here as well.

Leather Conditioner

Similar to the second boot shine recipe with beeswax, which acts as water repellant, use this leather conditioner to keep your tack looking supple. Using harsh chemicals on your tack can actually break down leather and deteriorate stitching. Plus, it also keeps your hands chemical free while you scrub away. So do your tack and skin a favor with an all-natural conditioner.

• ¼ cup beeswax
• ¼ cup cocoa butter
• ¾ cup sweet almond oil (these first three ingredients work in a 1:1:3 ratio and sometimes working with ounces measured on a scale is easier with blocks of beeswax)
• tin or plastic containers
• wooden spoon
• small pot or pan

Gather all materials needed. Consider purchasing a small pot and wooden spoon from the dollar store because it is incredibly hard to clean your cooking pots after this recipe. Measure beeswax, cocoa butter, and sweet almond oil to the above ratio. Turn stove top to low medium heat. Add cocoa butter and beeswax to pot.

Stir continuously and make sure the pot does not get too hot. The mixture should not come close to boiling. Once the beeswax and cocoa butter is melted together, stir in the sweet almond oil until combined. Pour mixture into your containers and let cool.