Horsey money saving hints? (merged)

TillyTrippit

:beer:Huge thanks to you all who have given such fabulous advice on our section D - I've copied into word and am putting together a folder with everything on.
I had to get her in tonight as DDs at dancing class and caused some hilarity on the yard when I was caught trying to put on her fleece inside out!! Mind you that was much better than last week when I'd forgotten a torch to get her down a tiny lane with a ditch on either side - half the yard turned out to watch me walking bent double trying to show the horse where to put her feet with the light from my mobile - apparently all you could see were our backsides in the air - horse was fascinated as to what I was doing. :rolleyes:
Eventually one of the lovely kids on the yard pointed out that the horse had better night vision than I did and the only one in danger of falling into the ditches was me!! :eek:
They have taken to downing tools on the yard when they realise it's my night alone with Gill!!
Am such a dope - luckily DDs know what they're doing and with all of your kind help am learning!
Thank you again - it's hugely appreciated.
Tilly
xx

Katie-Kat-Kins

So both out of interest (and because I'm trying to work out whether I can afford my own having seen a very lovely horse for sale locally:o) I'd like to know what you spend on your horse.

I saw a similar post on a horse forum and it'd be interesting to see whether MSEers spend less than HHOers!! :money:

So can you answer the following questions:

1. What do you spend on livery and what does it include?
2. On top of your livery what other regular expenses do you have and how much are they?
3. What sort of optional extras do you end up spending and how much do they come to? (I'm thinking lessons, competing, extra equipment etc)
4. Roughly where are you in the country?
5. How would you class your riding? Happy hacker? Riding Club? Competion? Hunting?


Thanks, I'll be interested to read the responses!

orlao

KatP wrote: »

So both out of interest (and because I'm trying to work out whether I can afford my own having seen a very lovely horse for sale locally:o) I'd like to know what you spend on your horse.

I saw a similar post on a horse forum and it'd be interesting to see whether MSEers spend less than HHOers!! :money:

So can you answer the following questions:

1. What do you spend on livery and what does it include? £25 pw, grass livery, inc hay
2. On top of your livery what other regular expenses do you have and how much are they? Insurance £400 pa, Farrier £10pw, Chiro every 3 months £20,Dentist every 6 months £25, Supplement as he has no hard feed £20 month. Vacs £50pa
3. What sort of optional extras do you end up spending and how much do they come to? (I'm thinking lessons, competing, extra equipment etc) I guess £200 pa for bits and bobs that need replacing not essential though
4. Roughly where are you in the country? Essex
5. How would you class your riding? Happy hacker? Riding Club? Competion? Hunting? These days, happy hack and pleasure driving


Thanks, I'll be interested to read the responses!

My livery is expensive for what it is but it suits mine better than stabling but there are no facilities to ride during the week in winter for instance if you work 9 -5....and it's run by numpties so you have to watch them like hawks to make sure they don't do anything too stupid.

Overall, my two cost a fraction over £4k in total last year and one isn't even shod, both are very good do ers so no hard feed and as they live out, no bedding costs either.

If I was budgeting for a stabled horse in this area with a few RC shows and monthly lessons I think I'd need £3k a year :eek:

lostinrates

KatP, I can answer by PM if you are really intersted.

One can reduce costs significantly in choosing the right horse for circumstances at he beginning, a medium sized good doer or large native for an adult on a budget, with a thorough vetting Horses need far less than many have and a tough native/cob/ bita can take most of what Britsih weather can throw at it..if the choice is no horse or horse. Take care of a horses training and mind (ride well, keep him well, ina horse suitable environment) his health will, IMO, be better and he'll be less costly.

This year surplus to normal expences we are looking for a suitable trailer (and can't decide model at all, causing some vibrant discussion!) .

olias

KatP wrote: »

So both out of interest (and because I'm trying to work out whether I can afford my own having seen a very lovely horse for sale locally:o) I'd like to know what you spend on your horse.

I saw a similar post on a horse forum and it'd be interesting to see whether MSEers spend less than HHOers!! :money:

So can you answer the following questions:

1. What do you spend on livery and what does it include?
£20 pw for DIY (stable, own paddock and even our own feed/store room!) - most around here are £30 pw
2. On top of your livery what other regular expenses do you have and how much are they?
£15 big round straw bale - £20 big round hay bale (not sure how long these will last, have just got the horse and used small square bales with previous horse and these are just for winter when he is in. Has had his first jabs/wormer and is being gelded tommorrow - not sure what that little lot will cost when the bill come in! Feed - £11 bag (again not sure how long it will last but he only gets a couple of handfuls a day). Farrier - he is not being shod so will only need feet trimming periodically, but last horse cost about £60 every 6 weeks. Insurance £21 pm.
3. What sort of optional extras do you end up spending and how much do they come to? (I'm thinking lessons, competing, extra equipment etc)
Wife will be buying bits and pieces whenever she can get away with it! Horse is new and we had to get all new gear as last lot were sold when we moved overseas - Currently spent nearly £500 and haven't got saddle yet!!! Just an idea of what is needed we have got
Barrow
strawfork
Broom
water buckets(X2)
feed bucket
feed bucket (large to store feed)
headcollar
lead rope
lickit for stable
shampoo
books (several!)
various items of clothing (wellys, waterproof trousers, boots etc etc)
manure scoop and rake
bridle
lunge rope
bit
stable rug
turnout rug
and a whole handful of other things that look like bdsm kit that the wife says are 'essential' to school him!

4. Roughly where are you in the country?
NE
5. How would you class your riding? Happy hacker? Riding Club? Competion? Hunting?
Hacking


Thanks, I'll be interested to read the responses!

Answers above are for a youngster (3 yr old cob), unhandled, who my wife is breaking in and schooling



Olias

bouncydog1

Part livery £85 per week (inc hay, grazing, stabling & use of school & facilities)
Bedding - shavings 2 bales pw - £18
Feed - £10 p.w.
Supplements - £5 p.w.
Farrier - £80 every 6 weeks
Dentist - £60 every 6 mos
Insurance - £400 p.a. (no loss of use)
Saddler - £60 twice p.a.
Chiropractor - £50 x 4 times per annum (not always needed)
Lessons - £100 per month
Entry fees - c£300 p.a.
Vaccinations - £80 p.a.
Worming - £80 p.a.
Tack - saddles/bridles/stirrup leathers/martingales/bits/boots - purchased as required - cost to date not sure but over £2k
Rugs - minimum requirement - fleece, waterproof, summersheet, fly rug, turnouts (medium and heavy weight)

Use - showjumping, dressage, hacking.
Based offshore.

Would just say it will cost you more than you think and there is nothing sadder to see than a person with a horse that they really love, but struggle to maintain financially.

Overall cost - don't dare add it up in case DH finds out:rotfl:

bouncydog1

Hi

Just a hint for when you need a torch - get one of those jogger headlamps that fit on an elastic band around your head. Leaves both hands free for opening gates and dealing with spooks, as well as making you visible.

If you have to lead down the road, I highly recommend a vest that you can buy that has flashing lights on it - makes you visible from quite a long way off to other road users. If you want to go the whole hog, you can also clip one of those flashing dog collars to the back of your horses rug with a bulldog clip so that he/she can also be spotted.

GemmaB78

I have 2 chestnut mares: can't beat 'em!

Minnismoor Mistique:


14.3 part-bred Arab and 13 years old. I've had her for 6 years now and adore the very bones of her. We 'do' endurance amongst other things and she's just brilliant. We've done up to 120km ER, but she's just been diagnosed with arthritis so will be slowing down, living a life of riley, and nannying my new horse,

Vlacq Majid:


who arrived today! She's a 7 year old, 14.3 pure-bred Arab. I'm hoping that she's my next endurance superstar but we'll see what she likes and take it from there.

I keep them both at grass livery which works really well for all of us. They live out all year and thrive on it.

pink_piggy17

If you get a good doer, capable of living out and going barefoot, the costs won't be too bad. basically farrier, hay, wormer and the cost of livery/renting land. initial expenses would be: turnout rug(s), saddle, bridle, headcollar/leadrope, lungeline, buckets, grooming brushes, saddlecloth.

but then of course if you rent land you'll need a companion, and if you want to go anywhere you might have to buy a trailer and then you might need to upgrade you're car to something that can pull a trailer, so you can see how it snowballs if you get carried away! lol.

GemmaB78

KatP wrote: »

So both out of interest (and because I'm trying to work out whether I can afford my own having seen a very lovely horse for sale locally:o) I'd like to know what you spend on your horse.

I saw a similar post on a horse forum and it'd be interesting to see whether MSEers spend less than HHOers!! :money:

So can you answer the following questions:

1. What do you spend on livery and what does it include?
£10 per week per horse for grass livery. Field, shelters, somewhere to store stuff and somewhere to park my trailer

2. On top of your livery what other regular expenses do you have and how much are they?

Insurance - £35pcm for the part-bred arab and £40pcm for the pure-bred
Hay - £2.50 a bale and I think I probably use 10 a month = £25 per month for 2 horses
Feed - works out about £10 pcm for the pure-bred and £15 for the part-bred as she gets a joint supplement
Farrier - £60 every 6 weeks for a fully-shod horse, £40 for fronts only and £20 for a trim
Wormer or a worm count - about £12 - £15 every 6-8 weeks per horse

3. What sort of optional extras do you end up spending and how much do they come to? (I'm thinking lessons, competing, extra equipment etc)
The list is endless!
Running a 4x4 and trailer - I daren't include!
Extra equipment - once you've bought it all upfront it's not too bad. Tack is expensive to get decent quality but if looked after properly will last a lifetime
Rugs - £50 - £70 for a medium weight. You can spend more but don't have to.
Competing - eek! Depending on what ride I'm doing and where in the country, an endurance ride will cost me between £50 and £200 once you factor in diesel, camping & coralling, food, entry fees, etc. etc.

4. Roughly where are you in the country?
Kent

5. How would you class your riding? Happy hacker? Riding Club? Competion? Hunting?
Competition - endurance to FEI level though not at the moment as my older girl is semi-retired and the new girl is just starting out.

Thanks, I'll be interested to read the responses!

Depending on where you are in the country, if you get yourself a good hardy horse (natives are good but don't overlook the Arabs. Both mine are tough as old boots and live out all year) I think you could probably allow £100 - £150 a month plus livery for the basic upkeep.

When it comes to tack, and certain items for yourself (boots, coat and hat) buy the best quality you can afford. Other stuff you can probably get away with lesser quality. And don't be fooled into thinking you MUST have the most up-to-date items available. The same as any other walk of life really!

Good luck!