Winterizing barns, harrowing pastures, draining hoses, and water tanks, and cleaning and properly storing show tack and other summer horse equipment are among the top things horse owners can do to prepare for winter.

"Taking care of what you have a a horse owners goes a long way toward being green," says Laurie Cerny, editor and publisher of Green Horsekeeping Guide. "Anytime you have to replace something, either from damage done by a horse or because of negligent maintenance, it not only costs you money, it also costs the environment."

Cerny also recommends posting a list of these tasks in the barn. "It's easy to get sidetracked on a nice fall day doing other things. Then before you know it, it's Thanksgiving and you're scrambling to get things done. There's nothing fun about trying to roll up frozen water hoses, or discovering a mouse has made a cozy winter nest using one of your show blankets