Ways to keep horses for less

countrygirl27

I know this will appeal to a very small group of people but even more reason to share your knowledge!
I'm hoping to compile a list of ways to keep horses for less as the cost of food and bedding, is, like everything else at the moment rocketing up.


Here's what I do....

1. Bulk buy woodshavings from a local timber merchant and have them delivered. A bale in the shop £6.10, a bale delivered £4.25
2. Buy hay in small amounts from local farmers. I can't store large amounts so there's no point in letting it rot.
3. Buy sugar beet pellets rather than flakes.
4. Look carefully at different feeds available. I now feed leisure mix instead of pasture mix, its cheaper, has most of the same ingredients and I dont compete so the exact make up of the food doesn't matter too much to me.
5. Wash, mend and reproof rugs. This can cost a lot, but with some elbow grease you can do it your self by hand. I luckily know someone who has a special washing machine I can use for free.
6. Use baling twine to repair the holes in your haynets.
7. Have their feet trimmed rather than shod. I know this can be a little controversial and I did consult both the vet and farrier first. I think of it as natural!
8. Buy their wormers and louse powder etc online. I'm currently a fan of vetuk.com
9. If you can turn them out as much as possible, then they aren't using as much bedding and are eating the grass God provides for free!
10. Use a car battery to power electric fences, expensive at first but much cheaper than ordinary batteries in the long run.

These are just a few of my ideas.... anything else anyone does that they can share I'd really like to hear some ideas.