Any Other Broke Horse Owners Out There? (merged)

CharlieH_3

If you are a member of a competition body like British Dressage, you will get public liability insurance with your membership, but it is better to get your horse properly insured.
I speak from experience as my mare broke her leg in the field and had to be put down. I found out at that point that the disposal of the carcass was not covered and I ended up paying £200 for this, so check you are completely covered. It's a horrible thing to have to plan for, but it's more upsetting when you're going through it and find out you're not covered.
I hope you never have to use your insurance and feel every payment is a waste
Most of all, have fun with your new horse (it'll save you a fortune in gym membership if you muck out yourself!)

alihugs

I love my horses very much and couldn't imagine life without them but these 4-legged, hairy 'money pits' are the main reason I've ended up on this website!

Anyone got any horsey money saving tips apart from 'sell them'?!

Jay-Jay_4

hmmmm.... rent a field and build a field shelter instead of paying a livery yard. Buy rolls of hay from a local farmer instead of bales (one roll fills about 80 large haynets). Buy unbranded hard feed from your local supplier. Have shoes off in winter or just front shoes. Buy rubber boots if your horse is footy without shoes.

Deep bed if on straw, get rubber matting if on shavings. Buy second hand tack, boots and stuff at your tack shop and sell on what you don't use anymore.

Use baby oil instead of showshine, use silicone free shampoo instead of equine shampoo, use a hairbrush for manes and use a stable rug under a turnout rather than buying a heavyweight when the weather gets cold.

....but I expect you already do all that

cornerclose

Hi alihugs. Depends a lot on what you do with your horses, type, temperament, where and how you keep them and how many you have. Also how much time you can afford to spend. If you give some idea of the current situation it would be easier to make suggestions rather than listing lots of inappropriate guesses.

[Deleted User]

I always used rubber matting. The horses loved it. No cost at all for bedding

People like me who had to give up horses to downsize would be prepared to pay towards keep if you were prepared to let them be hands-on and if you had a suitable horse

MickKnipfler

I'm a land owner with a gf with 3 horses. I was duped into believing it was cheaper to get them on your own land. Don't believe it.....the bain of my life!


Bah humbug

black-saturn

I know this is going to sound awful but my dad used to pay quite a bit of money for bags of horse manure from someone we knew with a horse for his allotment. Maybe you could make a bit of money from that?

MickKnipfler

I guess that would save me some money on tractor fuel! There are a few local gardeners who pop round for a bag or two but frankly it's a spit in ythe ocean.

Bah Humbug, anybody want the girlfriend? :eek:

Jay-Jay_4

MickKnipfler wrote:

Bah Humbug, anybody want the girlfriend? :eek:

No thanks, I already have a husband and three horses


Why is owning your own land the bain of your life? We rent a field and so it's 'ours' although we don't own it, it's far better than having a horse at livery.

MickKnipfler

Cos the place we bought used to be a nursery. we had to have stables built, then buy a tractor, trailor, harrow, roller & mower. Then a digger, then a field over the road, then £4k on fencing, then £800 to have the tractor repaired........£30 a week for a stable is beginning to look cheap!

I've just shown her this site.....now I'm in touble!