Visit sustainable equestrian sports fairs

Sustainability at equestrian sports fairs

For many of you, a sustainable lifestyle and protecting the environment have become an important topic and it is impossible to imagine everyday life without it. It is also very important to us in the Hoofment team not only to pay attention to our ecological footprint in relation to riding clothing, but also in other areas of life! That's why we would like to share a few tips with you on the occasion of our visit to the Hamburg Show Jumping and Dressage Derby, just like you would when visiting a horse fair
or a horse show as a spectator can do something for the environment.

Tip no. 1: think about how to get there
Think in advance if it is necessary to come by car. During trade fairs and tournaments, the motorways are often full and finding a parking space is usually difficult. Exhibition grounds in particular are often easy to reach by public transport and you can not only save time, but also the money for parking fees. If it is unavoidable to travel by car, there is the possibility of carpooling so that you do not have to travel with several cars. In addition to CO2 emissions, you also save on fuel costs and traveling with several people is more fun.

Tip #2: Write yourself a shopping list
The many tempting offers at equestrian sports fairs often lead to impulse purchases of products that you ultimately did not need. The large selection also ensures that other things are bought spontaneously and the products that one actually wanted are usually forgotten in the end. A shopping list allows you to focus on the things you really need and make sure you don't forget anything important.

Tip #3: Bring your own large bag
The purchases at horse fairs are often larger for many people and can no longer be transported with their bare hands. That's why our tip to you is to always bring your own bag for equestrian sports fairs. This way you can do without plastic bags at the individual stands and you can save a lot of waste. Of course, at the Hoofment stand you don't get your products in a plastic bag, but in a jute bag made of 100% organic cotton, which also looks nice and can be used by you after the fair or the tournament.

Tip #4: Don't print out your ticket
In the meantime, you will usually receive tickets for horse fairs and equestrian sports fairs in PDF format or you can opt for an e-ticket. In most cases, printed tickets end up in the trash after the event. This wastes a lot of paper. E-tickets can save paper and it is also practical because you have the ticket directly on your mobile phone.

Tip #5: Bring your own water bottle and coffee mug
To-go coffee cups and drinking bottles made from single-use plastic are one of the biggest
polluters in the world. If you spend the whole day at a horse fair, you will of course get thirsty or you will be happy if you can take a short break with a coffee. To save yourself the waste of coffee mugs and drinking bottles, you can bring your own reusable bottles or coffee mugs. Many bakeries and coffee shops now also offer incentives to make your own mugs
bring with you, such as a cheaper price.

Tip #6: Check products for quality and sustainability
Find out about the companies and their products. Were these produced fairly? And have sustainable materials been used? Again, quality over quantity applies here. It is better to buy a high-quality product than several products that are not of good quality. Also, think about whether there is a sustainable alternative for the products you need and make the best decision possible.

We hope that with these tips we could inspire you to pay attention to your ecological footprint at horse fairs and equestrian sports fairs and to decide on sustainable alternatives. :)
Even if each tip initially seems quite small and the improvements are not directly visible, they can make a difference in the long run and thus help us to a more sustainable and fair future. :)