GREEN by Erin Gouveia
lifestyle
Photo © Split Rock Jumping Tour
GREEN
W
IS THE
NEW BLUE
hy is Stephanie Bulger of Green Is The New Blue dedicated to making horse shows and equestrians more environmentally responsible? “Having my son in 2015 really cemented in me the urgency to protect the planet. It feels daunting a lot of the time, which is why I chose to focus on what was in my immediate surroundings; my home, my lifestyle, and my sport.” Bulger founded the environmental non-profit less than two years ago and the response has been overwhelmingly positive so far!
because I was always drawn to them and desperately wanted to be around them from the time I can remember. My mom found a stable near our summer home in Long Island, NY, and I started taking weekly lessons at age five. That turned into several days a week, then pony camp, then short stirrup, and, 30-ish years later, here we are today.
Horse & Style: Tell us a little about your
SB: Having my son in 2015 really
background and your love for horses.
Stephanie Bulger: I grew up in New York City, far from horse country. But I think loving horses was in my destiny
H&S: When did you realize you wanted to make environmental issues and a green lifestyle a priority? cemented in me the urgency to protect the planet and do anything I could to change the outlook for him and those who come after him. It feels daunting a lot of the time, which is why I chose to focus on
what was in my immediate surroundings: my home, my lifestyle, and my sport. H&S: Why did you start GITNB?
SB: I started GITNB because I saw the need for it. I realized that no one was out there focusing on the environmental impact of horse sports, so rather than just complain about it, I decided to take action. In the equestrian space there is not often a choice between a “green” option and a conventional option. Put it this way, if you were environmentally minded and loved coffee, you might choose a coffee shop that used organic and ethically sourced coffee beans, compostable cups, solar energy, and refused single use plastics, over one that did not. Horse people do not have these options because environmentally friendly
2021 volume 1 ·
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