money saving ideas?!

[lauren_1990]

i haven't been on here for a while as ive had my time taken up convincing parents that i NEED a horse! :) they are sort of leaning more towards a yes now than a no so things are looking up....slightly!
i thought it would be a good idea to make a post so that everyone can contribute ideas or tips on how they keep the cost of keeping and caring for there horse/pony down!
it would not only help me into convincing parents that 'horses aren't THAT much too keep' ;) (little white lie!) but it could also help people who already own!

xXx

[x.fat-pony.x]

Try and get quite a hardy pony/horse, that can live out 24/7, or at least a horse that can live out with shelter - that can cut costs quite a bit on livery etc, with the satisfaction of doing everything for your horse :)

Buy tack second hand, but make sure they are good quality and fit your horse well!

Sell any manure to a local allottment (sp) or farmer - they'll be grateful for it and you get a bit of cash! (Even if they wont buy it, at least let them take it off your hands as money is wasted having to shift muckheaps/maintain them etc)

Instead of renting a school/arena to ride in, use a field out on a hack - true, they dont have the markers etc but unless you really need them, going round a local field is a lot more economic (but make sure horses are allowed and that the grass isn't too boggy!)

If you are a jumping type, make your own jumps! there is a post about that in this section!

Buy everything in bulk - it works out alot cheaper in the long run!

Save a shoe that is in fairly good condition after your farrier’s visit. If you lose a shoe at a show, you can have the show farrier tack on your spare.

Recycle your supplement tubs. They make handy buckets or storage containers!

Wipe your tack over quickly after each time you ride - it helps keep the condition of the leather.

Hope that helped a bit - and good luck in getting a horse! I wish my parents would cave in and get me one :D

CF06 xxx ;)

[andreaB]

i'm afraid i don't think advising 'use a field for schooling whilst out on a hack' is a very good idea

i'm afraid most land owners won't appreciate this & horses should not be on the majority of playing fields etc

i don't mean to be off but i think horse owners need to show courtesy whilst riding & find increasingly these days that many don't:(

[x.fat-pony.x]

I did put 'make sure horses are allowed!' I don't endorse horse riders not showing courtesy and trespassing etc , sorry if I didn't make this clear!
I also only meant things like leg yielding etc, nothing that would destroy the ground, and if you were allowed to ride through there anyway, little bits of schooling like shoulder-in etc aren't going to hurt anyone!
sorry for any confusion x

[Holly B]

My sister and me are the poorest horse owners ever, but we manage! Mainly that's becasue we're very lucky to have really cheap livery though it's not great as there's no stable or proper hay barn. Still, look around for the best place to keep a pony... you need somewhere cheap but that provides the best service you can afford. Like someone has already mentioned, get a hardy type. Ours are out all year unrugged and only have very small amounts of feed (plus plenty of grass/hay of course). They're also unshod which is sooooo much cheaper!