Feeling the pinch? Top Tips for Cost-Effective Horsekeeping - Part 3

GROOMING & CARE

Buy in bulk. Yes, you do keep hearing this… It is less expensive to buy fly spray and coat shining products in gallon containers. These can be used to refill spray bottles from any discount store. Buy concentrated products like supplements and fly spray. The initial investment will pay for itself.

Purchase daily necessities at a discount store or a drugstore. Sunscreen, Vaseline, aloe vera, baby wipes, diaper rash cream, sponges, hair brushes, and topical wound treatments are all effective and inexpensive alternatives to more expensive equestrian-specific products. Hairspray and gel can be used to tame unruly manes and tails, disposable diapers can be used as a hoof poultice, and sanitary napkins can be used to apply pressure to and bandage wounds.

Share costly purchases. Quality is always an excellent investment. If you want to buy expensive grooming equipment, such as body clippers or a horse grooming vacuum, team up with another boarder or horsey friend.

TACK & GEAR

Become an expert shopper. Stock up on products you know you'll need at tack shop sales. Organise your tack purchases in advance and keep an eye out for reductions throughout the year. For example, buy winter rugs for next year in early spring when retailers are cleaning out winter stock and selling at a discount.

Purchase the best you can afford. In the long run, it is more cost effective to invest in high-quality tack and equipment that will last a lifetime (or at least several years) rather than cheap equipment that must be replaced every season.

Maintain your tack and equipment. Proper cleaning and storage of your equipment will help it last longer. After each use, leather tack should be wiped down and given a thorough cleaning and conditioning on a less frequent but still regular basis. Machine washable saddle pads, leg bandages, and boots, as well as grooming and other miscellaneous tools, should be washed and scrubbed on a regular basis. Keep your horse equipment in a safe, rodent-free, well-ventilated location.

Turn clutter into cash. Consider selling unneeded or unused items. Post items on sale groups, take them to a local second-hand tack shop, or organise a horsey yard sale with your friends. You can utilise the collected funds to purchase what you really need.

Shop second-hand. You might be able to find used tack, blankets, and apparel in good condition at someone else's horsey yard sale, in the ‘pre-loved’ section of your local tack store, or online.

Repair instead of replacing. Many tears in horse blankets and broken straps on leather tack can be repaired for a fraction of the cost of a new item. Your local tack store should be able to recommend someone who can do blanket and leather repairs in your area.

Organise swap meets or trades. Set a time and location for horse owners to bring any tack, riding equipment they no longer need or want to your yard or in your area. Then swap and trade as much as you want (if the value of the items being swapped is unbalanced, small amounts of cash can even things out). Remember to clean your items before the swap meet to make them more appealing to other traders.

Clean and re-waterproof your horse's blankets yourself. Using a stiff dandy brush or vacuum cleaner, remove as much horse hair as possible and wash the blanket according to the manufacturer's directions to avoid damaging the insulating fill or waterproof covering. Find a laundromat with industrial-sized machines if your washing machine cannot accommodate the blanket. Re-waterproof as necessary; there are numerous waterproofing solutions intended specifically for horse blankets.

Put your name on your belongings. Mark your equipment clearly with your (or your horse's) name to help misplaced or borrowed items find their way back to you.

TRAILERING & TRANSPORT

Share the cost of a trailer. Reduce your initial investment costs by teaming up with a horse-owning friend or neighbour.

Maintain regular maintenance. Your truck and horse trailer are substantial investments. Regular service checks and repairs will help to protect these investments.

Learn basic maintenance. Take a course in automotive or machinery maintenance to learn common tasks like oil changes. Manure and bedding can cause corrosion and dampness, make sure to remove it after use.

BOARDING

DIY or assisted DIY livery. DIY (Do it yourself) you are responsible for buying your own hay, feed, and bedding, as well as conduct your own feeding, cleaning, turning in and out, and blanket changes. Assisted DIY is like DIY, except the barn owner does some daily responsibilities.

Team up with fellow livery clients. Make a schedule with the other boarders for mucking out, turnout, and feeding so you can all save money and have some time off in the mornings and afternoons.

Consider grass livery, which is provided by some facilities and is typically a much less expensive option than stable boarding. If you decide this is the best option for your horse, you must provide a constant, dependable source of safe drinking water as well as some form of shelter.

Work for your livery. In exchange for reduced livery fees, ask the stable owner if you can assist with various yard chores such as feeding, cleaning stalls, or turning horses in and out.

Lease out your horse. Sharing your horse is an excellent way to reduce the monthly cost of ownership, but you should always have a contract in place to protect yourself and ensure that your insurance policy covers your horse while he is being ridden or handled by someone else.

LESSONS, CLINICS & TRAINING

Cut back. If you currently take weekly private lessons, consider switching to semi-private, group, or fortnightly lessons. If you need to cut back on lessons, have someone video your riding or ask an experienced friend for advice.

Observe clinics instead of participating as a rider. Take notes in order to get the most out of the clinic.

Work for lessons. This is not always possible, but if your coach or trainer is looking for assistance with yard chores, you could offer to assist in exchange for reduced lesson fees.

LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE

Maintain a horse expense budget. To control your horse expenses, you must first identify them. Make a list of your fixed and variable monthly expenses, such as feed, bedding, vet/farrier, board, supplements, lessons, insurance, tack, and equipment, and then collect every receipt you can find to fill in the expense amounts. It will be easier to plan for future purchases and make other budgeting decisions once you have a clear picture of your horse expenses. Review and revise your budget on a monthly basis.

Donate and volunteer. Support your local riding club or riding centre by volunteering your time or donating to their cause. Everyone has something to offer, and no matter how small your contribution, it will make a difference, perhaps by allowing better services to be provided or by assisting in keeping costs under control, resulting in more affordable horse activities for all.

Be a lifelong student. There is always more to learn at the School of Horses. As you gain more experience in horse care and management, you'll be better able to anticipate problems before they arise, understand the financial consequences of your decisions, and handle potential budget-breakers in the most cost-effective manner possible.

Part One if you missed it can be found here

& Part Two here.