SOCKS....more than just a hand puppet!

Save those old socks! They can be used for a variety of horse-related things!

• Use an old sock for applying oil fly repellent. Slip your hand into a plastic bag, and then top it off with a tube sock. This method gets the repellent exactly where you want it, saving money. Keep the sock to apply more fly repellent another day.

• Slip your hand into a sock to wipe your horse's eye, inside his ears or nostrils, or under his tail, preferably in that order. For wound washing or sheath cleaning, a clean inside-out sock cannot be beat! And, it can be washed and reused, so it is environmentally friendly, too.

• The hand-in-sock method can also be used to clean leather, polish silver, or to take on any dusting chores. The all-purpose sock!

• Keep the cuffs of your long-sleeved shirts clean by cutting the toes off the socks and slipping them over your lower arm to cover your cuffs! No more dirty shirt!

• For a quick and simple ice pack, slip a sock onto your horse's leg and fill the sock with ice. Wrap above and below the sock to hold it in place.

There's a lot you can do with a simple sock!