Horsey money saving hints? (merged)

orlao

Hi Millie

I have a slumberdown.....they are made to Fals patterns and spec but abroad so the fit is the same but the materials and workmanship are a little lower quality but for £35 who cares?Mine is a very girly turquoise colour ( for a gelding!) but his never rubbed and fit perfectly and stayed waterproof. My haffy rolled and rolled to try and hide the colour but it didn't work and he could still be spotted from space.

As for the OH....no advice there....sorry

Millie2008_2

orlao wrote: »

Hi Millie

I have a slumberdown.....they are made to Fals patterns and spec but abroad so the fit is the same but the materials and workmanship are a little lower quality but for £35 who cares?Mine is a very girly turquoise colour ( for a gelding!) but his never rubbed and fit perfectly and stayed waterproof. My haffy rolled and rolled to try and hide the colour but it didn't work and he could still be spotted from space.

As for the OH....no advice there....sorry

Good to hear, thanks- I had never heard of them before

penguin83

Hope all goes well with the move SDH.

I am on the hunt for a new stable rug for my mare with a full neck in - I am justifying it by saying its her christmas present!

x x

Raksha

I just wanted to say I couldn't believe the price of new turn out rugs these days. When I had my own pony, 18 years ago, I saved hard and paid £32 for a 4'3" Green canvas New Zealand rug......... Today you can buy a very smart looking synthetic rug with cross over straps and tail cover for that price!!

Millie2008_2

Raksha wrote: »

I just wanted to say I couldn't believe the price of new turn out rugs these days. When I had my own pony, 18 years ago, I saved hard and paid £32 for a 4'3" Green canvas New Zealand rug......... Today you can buy a very smart looking synthetic rug with cross over straps and tail cover for that price!!

Echo!

You wouldn't believe how lightweight they are, even when wet, compared the the old ones- I don't miss struggling to take off heavy wet rugs!

SDH

orlao wrote: »

Depends on the yard you're going too I suppose:D If it's really posh I think I would at least try and scrape the worst off.....you could always do it while hanging around at the saddle fitters?

If you do have to change your saddle, would you consider a treeless?
There are a few brands that look like traditional saddle ( Enlightened Equition(sp! Heather Moffat) or the trekker dressage pro which is the one I have....they always fit which is great. I started using them when my cob was still growing as he had 4 saddles in 14 months:eek: and he's still in his original trekker 7 years later....

The saddler managed to re-flock my saddle to fit and its now sitting at a proper height over his withers and isn't rocking (my fear of them adjusting it) and it only cost me 25quid as opposed to the 50quid quoted, result

SDH

the move didnt go as smooth as planned as my other horse (who incidently has just become loss-of-use and i'm now waiting for the cheque for him from insurance company) totally refused to get on the trailer. I ended up going back for him later with an army of horsey friends, bucket of feed and some lunge lines ..... only took us 10mins to get him loaded - despite his rearing protests .....
Blooming useless animal - he should be behaving himself if he expects me to keep buying him feed/rugs/pay livery for him ..... Still gotta love him, he was my first horse!

orlao

SDH wrote: »

The saddler managed to re-flock my saddle to fit and its now sitting at a proper height over his withers and isn't rocking (my fear of them adjusting it) and it only cost me 25quid as opposed to the 50quid quoted, result

Now, that is a result:j

Hope the reluctant loader has remembered his manners!:D

SDH

Happy to report both horses really chilled out at new yard. Its like they have lived all their lives .... not 6 days! Am so relived as its a dairy farm with loads of 'scary' stuff around (tractors, flapping plastic, cows, milk-tankers....) well its also got a bout 30 liveries - so not a small yard!
But everyone seems nice, we have been made to feel very welcome and its only 5mins from house (previously yard about 25mins away!) so am hoping to save loads in petrol, Phew!

steerpike

I have been a horse owner for 15 yrs and havethree equines - a section A pony that is currently out on loan plus a 35yr Section D retired mare and a traditional cob.

My top tip is DON'T OVERFEED!

I have seen many owners over the years spend mega bucks on feed & suppliments and then bankrupt themselves with vet bills when laminitis strikes. Unless you are competing regularly and need extra energy - the horse doesn't need to big feeds. Its better for the horse & more economical for you to provide good quality forage.

Buy good quality 'branded' feeds & look at the analysis on the label! quality feeds include oils, minerals & vitamins which does away with the need to buy expensive pots of suppliments.

Instead of supplements - pick fresh stinging nettles and allow them to wilt down for 48 hours before offering to your horse - they contain natural anti-inflammatories properties, vitamins and minerals..dried nettles are main constituent of most herbal remedies for laminitis!

It really pays to read the labels!