How to Reduce Costs on Keeping a Horse
Living through the current difficult financial times is difficult enough, but when you have horses and ponies which depend on you for food, shelter and veterinary care, every little bit helps.
It’s a shame that many horses and ponies are abandoned or given up every week, as horse lovers struggle to cope with the current economic climate.
This is especially problematic for horse charities and Sara Tuppen from the Horse Refuge in Wittersham Kent is an expert about looking after horses when money is scarce, having to rely solely on contributions to keep over 40 rescued horses in good shape.
She believes there are a few points which should help make owning a pony on a tight budget a little easier:
1. Many horses can exist quite happily outside for most of the year, just make sure there’s nourishment, water and protection to harsh elements available. If this is a suitable option for your horse, it could diminish the outlay on stabling significantly.
2. Removing shoes is often an easy way to keep costs down. If not ridden frequently, or on rocky ground, most horses do not need shoes.
3. Sharing your horse is a great way to reduce (even halve!) costs, and provides a cheaper introduction to horse ownership for somebody else.
4. Frequently you can get free stabling and occasionally hay and bedding in return for doing everyday jobs. Mucking out, grooming, maintenance etc. are all jobs which could save you money for asmall amount of hard work!
5. Veterinary bills are unknown but must be considered. If cash is a little stretched, you may find a lot of Vets will consider spreading the costs, and pay monthly.
6. Many people can make lifestyle changes! It’s not all about finding ways to keep your horse more cheaply, see if you can do it for yourself!
7. What about your other pets, you may have put animals in kennels, what about a pet sitter? The pet may prefer it and the pet sitters often do other things.
8. Is it possible that you can club together to buy feed and bedding in bulk, reducing the overall price and passing on savings to all.
9. But as a last resort, you can look into getting your horse a foster home, even as a companion.
If you’re in a position to loan, or even buy a horse or pony, there are many horses and ponies that are for sale, a good source of information is the Horse and Pony Directory.
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