Any horse owners?

singlehouseholder

What are your top moneysaving tips? I've found a few oh H&H , the usual , use baby shampoo instead of buying horsey shampoos and so on..... I was going to get my first horse this year , but after my share horse tried to kill me last year and left me a paraplegic in June I'm having to put my plans on hold. I do have a sweet been there done it 30yo cob lined up for when I'm allowed to ride, she'll be another share and need to keep my costs to a minimum as my income has reduced considerably .
Thanks for your knowledge and expertise in advance :T

Hintza

All common sense really.

Find your cheapest feed store and if necessary get together with friends to buy in bulk. Stick to tried and tested foods and feed to the level of work. Sunflower Oil from the supermarket to add a bit of fat to their diet keeps them looking good over the winter,


Buy big bales of Hay (if you can store it) get a good relationship with a farmer (important in bad year).

GBNI

Definitely buy in bulk. Don't waste money on pointless supplements. Tack etc look on eBay first. My last two saddles (although both synthetic) cost £35 each including postage.
If the horse is a share though, is the owner expecting a set amount each month?

singlehouseholder

Hintza, what exactly does the sunflower oil do? Is it to keep coat shiny and aid joint mobility? As for buying in bulk, the yard buy big rounds of hay and straw and pass on the savings to liveries, they're really good like that. Ned is on a straw bed which is much easier to muck out, from a wheelchair. It's much more economical too,for her anyway, she's a pretty clean girl. Old horse shared with a secret elephant the size of her poos!!
Gbni, I've been reading up on the benefits of turmeric, new share is a sprightly 30 years young so may see how she copes with regular riding, rather than kids pootling about round school. May put her on that rather than pulling out for this that and the other. Can I ask, did you get the saddle fitter to check your ebay saddles? I'm not experienced enough to know a perfect fit, but would love to learn.
Owner is getting a set amount, for half shoes and a small contribution to her bedding/feed.
Does anybody show? I'm hoping to put her in some classes. Pre injury I had a home bred Appaloosa lined up to jump and XC, horse is far too green for me to risk a fall now though. I have to wear a Bp and air jacket to protect my metalwork now. I know I'll stick out like a sore thumb on the show field but don't care. Being paraplegic is bad enough, life as a tetra would be no life for me.
Thankyou for your replies

GBNI

I've heard Turmeric is getting more popular, I've not looked into it though. I am incredinly lucky with my share as I don't have to contribute anything other than giving a hand mucking out all the horses the owner owns, but I love it! The boy I ride was definitely a bit stiffer, but with regular riding and a coraflex supplement he is great, no stiffness!
That's good the mare is tidy, you'll save a lot on bedding.
As for my saddles, a friend checked the fit as I trust her judgement.
I don't show no, but don't worry about how you look, you're there to enjoy yourself

singlehouseholder

That's great, sure owner appreciates the help. I think mucking out is part of the fun, the satisfaction of a clean fluffy bed with generous banks and a well swept floor. Scrubbed water bucket with fresh water, I'm a bit OCD with my stable, people think I'm a bit strange haha.
I'd love to know how to check saddles, for fitting. Her tack is a bit tatty, have already won a bridle off ebay but it's foreign leather so not the best quality, but it's better than the one she has for now, new reins too. Can't abide rubber reins. I'm so excited to ride again. I just love the horsey world, even the yard politics can be entertaining
Thankyou.

TillyTrippit

We use wood pellets for bedding - much cheaper and easier to muck out which may be an advantage in your situation. We use Liverpool wood pellets who will deliver all over the place. In the last year around here there has been quite a rise in table top equestrian sales - we have kitted out two of ours completely for very little.
We also use sunflower or vegetable oil in winter to add calories to their diet to maintain weight - the glossy coats are a plus really.
Feed comes from an agricultural seller - they make their own to sell to farms so is half the price but the same quality and in plain plastic bags. Always worth asking local riding schools where they buy theirs and it usually is one of these manufacturers.
To fit saddles we tend to get a wire coat hanger and bend it to fit - it is then fairly simple to match the shape to second hand saddles at sales, although ebay bargains if they don't fit are easily resold.
As for your competing again - enjoy. My motto in life is that the only people whose opinion matters are those who either pay your bills (no one); those who are there at 6am mucking out with you or who are prepared to sit up all night with you in below zero temperatures as you nurse a sick horse!!! So, slap on that tweed and have a fabulous time!
Tilly
xx

lostinrates

singlehouseholder wrote: »

That's great, sure owner appreciates the help. I think mucking out is part of the fun, the satisfaction of a clean fluffy bed with generous banks and a well swept floor. Scrubbed water bucket with fresh water, I'm a bit OCD with my stable, people think I'm a bit strange haha.
I'd love to know how to check saddles, for fitting. Her tack is a bit tatty, have already won a bridle off ebay but it's foreign leather so not the best quality, but it's better than the one she has for now, new reins too. Can't abide rubber reins. I'm so excited to ride again. I just love the horsey world, even the yard politics can be entertaining
Thankyou.

Please get a GOOD saddler to check saddle fit, preferably one with an interest in back health. The real way to know if a saddle fits? After a while, The horses back......very few horses have backs without muscle atrophy, people confuse good whither with muscle atrophy often, for example.

Saddle fit is even more vital for those of us with challenges who might not notice damage to our selves quickly, but also to our horses.:).

I'm a YO and I don't tolerate 'politics'. Its important everyone is comfortable here, its 'home' for all of us in some way and so we have to be able to get a long and tolerate foibles of others but also give space.

As a yo I'm obviously biased, but I'd say the tight yard saves money. A yard which suits the way you want to keep your horse. We are an ad lib forage, group turn out yard. All diets are fibre based and all clients with just one horse keep a bag of chaff so if I'm feeding all but one or two the no one is left out of a meal feeling unloved. I'd rather save my clients a trip in weather to dangerous to ride in, and don't charge for those days. I also wouldn't dream of the funny charges people make to do things like change rugs. If a horse is too hot/ cold here its rugs are changed. Ultimately as well as the animals comfort its MY reputation that suffers otherwise. The pay off? I am not the cheapest yard in the area at a flat price, However when you add up rug charges, the odd full livery day etc etc I work out cost effective, When people quibble on this price structure its a key indicator that they probably aren't ideal to cope with a yard where group turn out brings inherent issues...rug tearing, hay costs divided equally etc. its important that people are comfortable with these things if not, they should try and shoehorn them selves in here.

singlehouseholder

Thankyou tillytrippit! Do you use the pellets with rubber matting, are they comfy for horse to lie on? I will purchase some oil, dad has macro card so will ask him to take me up to buy some big tubs of it. She looks a bit dull, but she's been clipped and you know when they start to look wispy, bit scruffy, would prefer her not to be clipped again, but if I'm going to be bringing her into proper work I think she probably will need to be clipped again. She has lots of sloppy feed, with her not being able to eat hay/hayledge. I wil look into that, her owner does buy from an agri merchant already but I'll be sure to mention it to her. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to sit with hoer all night if she ever got I'll, in reality, I think I'll be sharing for the rest of my life, it would be fairer on horse, now that I've really thought about it in real terms, unless if course they come up with a cure for spinal cord injuries, and in that case, show me the classifieds! Thankyou for your tips, just need to find a decent not too expensive tweed

singlehouseholder

I'm going to ask owner about saddle , horse is old but would love to build her top line, I suspect even with saddle saver the saddle will be no good for me so will probably get a saddler out to measure her up for a decent synthetic. What price comfort for horse, and my bum! My condition means I can get pressure sores which can quickly turn into fleshy holes!! I don't want to be bed bound or hospitalised so this is important to avoid.
Your yard sounds fab, no politics, I would love that, I'm just waiting for comments about my health and ability to ride/care for horse. Thankfully I've made friends without making waves and always make sure I take treats for tea room so hopefully I'll be ok.
I like your way of running yard, places, including ours do charge for feed, to, rug changes, but then I think they are quite cheap, but to know your horse will be taken care of without the worry of how much extra you'll end up paying at the end of the month is marvellous. Tell me, as a yard owner, what would your opinion be of someone sharing a horse who was a f/t wheelchair user? Thankyou lostinrates.

lostinrates

singlehouseholder wrote: »

I'm going to ask owner about saddle , horse is old but would love to build her top line, I suspect even with saddle saver the saddle will be no good for me so will probably get a saddler out to measure her up for a decent synthetic. What price comfort for horse, and my bum! My condition means I can get pressure sores which can quickly turn into fleshy holes!! I don't want to be bed bound or hospitalised so this is important to avoid.
Your yard sounds fab, no politics, I would love that, I'm just waiting for comments about my health and ability to ride/care for horse. Thankfully I've made friends without making waves and always make sure I take treats for tea room so hopefully I'll be ok.
I like your way of running yard, places, including ours do charge for feed, to, rug changes, but then I think they are quite cheap, but to know your horse will be taken care of without the worry of how much extra you'll end up paying at the end of the month is marvellous. Tell me, as a yard owner, what would your opinion be of someone sharing a horse who was a f/t wheelchair user? Thankyou lostinrates.

Yes,its vital you get a well fitting saddle. Its also worth finding a saddler who understands human backs/ health issues. I don't know anyone where you are, but I know someone who might who you could ask if you are struggling to find some one good. If she gave a recommendation it might be valuable. If it helps I can PM you her contacts details and you could email and ask if she recommend anyone in your area.

Sadly good saddles are often not cheap new and so you have to wait to find a good fit for you that can be altered for the horse......

Its vital in your situation the saddle be a very good fit.

It would be hypocritical for me to have a problem with wheelchair users as an ex wheelchair user myself. . I also previous to that was an rad volunteer and have friends who compete at quite an advanced level with significant disabilities.

However, it probably would have cost implication for me with insurance and certainly would in labour as I strongly suspect a requirement would be that a member of staff was on site. It would have to be something we would look into on a case by case basis.

Because of the particular nature of my yard it would actually be quite an easy yard for a wheelchair user but, as I say, some labour costs would have to be considered. E.g. While I do yards I do ask clients to poo pick ( I do some too). Extra poo picking probably would have to be a charged item as would build up in man hours.

So, while in theory the idea is not a problem as a business ramification its not without issue. If I were approached ever I'd happily explore the idea and discuss ways to get round any issues with a potential client. We've done it for me.