| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
LadyLuck1
Gold Member
England
730 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 2:00:39 PM
|
As we have a human money saving topic I thought we could have one for horses.
Just add below.
Do a yard sale we have done one and everyone brings all their unwanted rugs etc, you can pick up some real bargins.
Fix broken nets with baling twine.
Instead of buying nettles I cut and dry my own and pop them in her feed.
Mary
|
|
Report to moderator
|
|
|
Kelly
Platinum Member
England
1571 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 3:46:25 PM
|
Leave horse out at night - at least halves bedding costs, and horse prefers it anyway!
|
Kelly
     |
Report to Moderator  |
|
|
Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 3:54:20 PM
|
Sell it 
Sorry couldn't resist! No matter how hard I try, my two are money guzzling machines! Always a vet bill, farrier bill, livery increase, new rug etc needed! Ho hum... I'd only spend it on shoes otherwise!
Seriously though I have sold loads of unwanted bits this year (not the horses of course)... alines is a great place to advertise hint hint he he |
    |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 3:58:34 PM
|
Ooh got one... instead of buying expensive sheepskin lined boots, edged numnahs, rugs, headcollars etc, make your own!
I've just brought a bag of sheepskin off-cuts for £8.75 and am going to make lots of sheepskin things from it |
|
Edited by - Pasha on 16 Nov 2010 3:59:13 PM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Goldenmane
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4964 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 4:02:32 PM
|
Ignore any longing look if you know they are hay/grassed up! (Easier said than done) |
 |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
rosie
Platinum Member
England
3662 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 4:13:03 PM
|
Good ideas already.
My 3 are out 24/7 and weather permitting they will stop out until Xmas.
We bought our straw straight off the field at harvest, so hike in prices won't affect us.
When the horses come in, 2 of them are carrying too much condition so whilst Rosie is getting fed they'll probably just get a token apple/carrot in their buckets.
They all have access to a mineral lick.
When buying wormers, I hunt around to see what offers are on & where the cheapest place to buy is (usually the Internet but not always).
We make our own hay nets, but only use nets when travelling. Stables all have racks.
In the winter months, when I'm quiet at work, I sometimes go the the horse auctions, where they have a stall selling odds & ends, so get all food & water buckets for £1 each.
We advertise our horse manure for sale and the cost of that covers a huge amount of the cost of keeping our horses.
Used to take in liveries but can't be bothered with the hassle now. |
     
Last picture courtesy of Sweet Photography |
Edited by - rosie on 16 Nov 2010 4:14:15 PM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
MinHe
Platinum Member
England
2927 Posts |
Posted - 16 Nov 2010 : 11:13:36 PM
|
Buy and sell on the well-known internet auction site - we just raised enough cash that way to re-outfit our youngster for the winter, including getting a brand-new Mark Todd rug nearly half price from said site!
Keren |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
gabriele ault
Gold Member
Wales
782 Posts |
Posted - 17 Nov 2010 : 08:31:22 AM
|
If you have the facilities for storage buy your food in bulk. If possible straight from the farmer. We get straight grains from the producer by the ton. Make your own mix. Much cheaper and you can decide what to put in it to suit individual horses. If you cannot store so much at a time maybe you can get a group of friends together to share.
Buy your hay and straw straight off the field - you might even be able to work for it at hay harvest. A lot of smaller farmers are glad of help handling small bale hay, stacking it in the barn etc.
Your local sawmill is glad to get rid of sawdust, just be careful about what wood they use. At least you can use it as a base layer as very absorbent - everything helps.
|
 Gabriele
www.silversun-enterprises.webs.com |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
honey
Platinum Member
N. Ireland
2634 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 10:47:18 AM
|
| feed more hay/haylage and less hard feed, a bale of haylage at 25 wieghs a lot more than 2 1/2 bags of hard feed, keeps them better occupied and im sure they would prefer extra hay/haylage than hard feed. We use wood plane filings from our local wood yard for bedding, costs £2 for a big bag and about 6 bags would last one horse a month. I also no longer muck out the beds proper everyday. I would lift the dung, but lift the wet twice a week, or when the bed is starting to look wet in places. we brought rugs from robinsons for 12 each and i brought an extra one that i sold for 20 so recovered some of the cost of the rugs back. |
    
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
honey
Platinum Member
N. Ireland
2634 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 10:49:40 AM
|
| also try and keep the horses bare foot, saves in shoes. I haven't had a farrier near any of the horses for at least 4 years, i trim the horses feet up every month, which saves a lot of money. |
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 12:08:10 PM
|
| One or two of these money saving ideas are making me cringe. I scrimp and save for myself-- buy from charity shops, eat cheaply etc. etc. but my horses and other animals get the best. I don't throw money at them wastefully of course, but all my decisions on how they are fed and cared for are based on what is best for them, not how much it costs. |
    |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Holly
Gold Member
England
529 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 12:43:16 PM
|
All mine live out all year round and always have done so ive never had to pay for bedding etc but im sure i am saving a fortune.
The two that are not ridden or ridden very little are not fed hard feed at all and will only have hay/haylage when the grass runs out (but we have loads!)
Buy feeding the right quantity (as reccomended on bag) it contains all vits and mins so no need to waste money on expensive supplememts etc unless of course a horse particularly requires them due to medical reason.
Go barefoot if you can...all three of mine are now barefoot and it saves me £159 in shoeing costs every 6-8 weeks. Instead they each get trimmed every 10-12 weeks and even then my farrier usually justs shapes the hoof rather than trim as theres nothing to take off- costs less again (about £30 for all 3 rather than £20 per trim).
Don't over rug horses (im a fine one to talk as i have about 28 rugs all in different weights, combinations etc and i even have 3 stable rugs that i dont use as my girls live out). I won't be getting rid of them but i wont use them all this year so will always have spares to hand if needed- i deffinitly wont be buying any new for a few years!.
Buy your wormer online as its at least £1 cheaper per wormer than from your tack shop and if you buy in bulk for the year you save even more and get free postage and packageing- it also arrives within 3 days.
Get a water butt to collect rain water from your stable roof and tack rooms etc- you can use the water for cleaning or water ever you like withoit costing you a penny.
Sell your horse manure- even if its 25p a bag or ask for a donation (let people bring their own bag so it doesnt cost you in time or money- will also get rid of your dung pile or at least reduce it)
Can't think of anything else at the moment. x |
   |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
sazzlepants71
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3536 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 1:21:42 PM
|
agree with a few of these - shoeing is so expensive now!
I think they charge up £75 a set in some areas! ramak was barefoot until recently but i had too put fronts on in the summer when the ground just got too hard and he was out competing a lot I was too worried about concussion!
anyway , i will probaly go back to barefoot again as its £50 for fronts and a trim or £35 just for a trim which i will have every 4-5 weeks depending on growth (his feet grow very fast)
i also think a lot of us feed supplements we probaly dont need....so I dont feed any apart from Lakota salts from time to time but mainly from spring through to summer.
the rest of the time its good quality chaff a balancer and barley rings & carrots my sister and i share feed costs and take it turns to buy so we spend £25 once a fortnight on feed!
also i think buying bulk is a good idea (if you have storage ) using haylage is great as good food value and good value for money most importantly!
invest in some good quality rugs and look after them! i hy weatherbeetas cleaned and proofed every yr and they are on their 4th winter and still going strong!
same goes for indoor rugs...
I definately spend less than i used to in previous years and think more carefully on how much use i will get out of a product etc , just little things like buying buckets NOT from a horsey retailer !(homebase has some good stuff for horsey people) and getting a good supplier makes a huge difference ! |
   |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
TAE
Bronze Member
232 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 2:05:18 PM
|
When a rug has been completely trashed and is beyond repair cut off all buckles, straps and panels of material (as big as possible) to repair and adjust slightly damaged rugs.
A tip i got from a saddler was to glue on repair patches with copydex, as it's a rubberised glue it's waterproof. I've found it helps to round the corners of the patch and to add a few stitches with capret thread/very thick cotton, but all of mine have been mud monsters that seem to spend half their time upside down wriggling. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
george
Gold Member
Wales
1353 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 7:11:40 PM
|
I always remove leg straps and buckles from old rugs before throwing them away, and yes I cut as much of the good material for patches, I am going to try different glues though, my fingers hurt after stitching patches it also helps that my sister discards her rugs every year and I am there waiting with arms out as she only has one horse and I have eight,lol. instead of expensive horse toys for the stable tie up a swede somewhere that it can't be wedged easily, keeps them occupied for ages, drop an apple in the water bucket so they can bob for it and instead of buying the horseballs get a cheap childs hopper, you can pick them up for around £4 and the handles are perfect for you horse to grab hold of, Nabil usually kills them quickly but even half deflated he has loads of fun throwing it at me over the door,  and he is a good aim now. basketballs are cheap and practically burst proof, he still hasn't managed to kill that one yet |
George xxx
  |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
taranstorm
Gold Member
Wales
952 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 8:46:45 PM
|
| Would be other great idea if admin set up a new topic of swap tack so we all can exchange what we no longer need for something we need? would save us lot money! |
   |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 9:14:01 PM
|
Have to say I think I saved loads A. by not going to our very local tack shop and B. not buying all the horsey mags!Seeing all those new products...
When I changed jobs (fabulous job... much less wages) I stopped spending, no new rugs on an annual basis, new lead ropes as and when they got muddy!!! What was i thinking????????????? Have no savings, no pension, no property, but hey, lots of bloody rugs!
Ali now has all of Gizzy's, hope he will grow into them all........... |
    |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
|
|
Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 9:32:21 PM
|
Sazzlepants71!!! 
£35 for a trim????? I pay my farrier £15 - and that's only just gone up from a tenner!!
And when I'm riding a lot in summer she doesn't always need doing, 'cos she wears them down herself, so he will run the rasp round to tidy them up and not charge me. Bless him  |
    |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Zenitha
Gold Member
England
1078 Posts |
Posted - 18 Nov 2010 : 9:56:49 PM
|
| I've started using a new internet based company who deliver all my hard feed - at amazing prices ! All brands available, way way cheaper than available elsewhere (egSuregrow - £4 sack cheaper than I could get anywhere else)Fantastic service, quick delivery (nationwide) I can't recommend them enough, they've already saved me a fortune - ideal for anyone who has a number of horses and somewhere to store feed. But you don't have to buy in bulk if you don't want to. If anyone would like details, feel free to PM me |
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
nissibay
Gold Member
England
595 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2010 : 12:32:01 AM
|
Brilliant subject... lots of good ideas i am taking on board as i love a bargin!!!! i get 1 ton bags of dust free shavings for free. OH is a carpenter!!!! but ask any local building or joinery company you could be doing them a favour too
keep them coming peeps x |
Sheen 
 |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
angelarab
Platinum Member
Wales
2876 Posts |
|
|
Kelly
Platinum Member
England
1571 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2010 : 4:45:24 PM
|
Go Outdoors is having a sale until Sunday, looks like 50% off all horsey stuff.
Am off tonight to try and get a new jacket |
Kelly
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
MinHe
Platinum Member
England
2927 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2010 : 8:28:20 PM
|
Be careful about shavings/sawdust from joiners - there could be anything in there, some of which are not good for horses (eg MDF dust). My ex was a joiner and there was no way he would let me use shavings from the company he worked for as he knew what went into it!!!
Keren |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
horsey
Gold Member
England
725 Posts |
|
|
sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2010 : 5:27:09 PM
|
| Kelly we went to Go Outdoors today and the price in the shop is dearer than on the internet, so we came home and i have ordered online and got free postage. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Topic |
|
Money saving ideas (horse)
"Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."
