Keeping Your Horse On a Tight Budget

Surviving a recession is never easy, but when you have ponies and horses which completely rely on you for nourishment, shelter and medical attention, every small amount saved helps.

It’s tremendously sad that too many horses and ponies are given up every week, as owners struggle financially with the economy as it is, because of this there are currently many horses for sale.

Sara Tuppen from the Horse Refuge in Wittersham Kent, knows all about looking after horses when money is scarce, having to rely purely on donations to keep over 40 rescued horses in good health. She believes there are many ways which could help make owning a horse during a recession a little easier:

1. A lot of horses can live quite happily outside for most of the year, as long as there’s nurishment, water and a place to shelter available. If this is an acceptable option for your horse, it could reduce the cost of stabling considerably.

2. Removing shoes is an easy way to reduce outlay. If not ridden regularly, and not ridden on rough surfaces, many horses will be happy without shoes.

3. Sharing your horse is a great way to severely reduce costs, and helps to provide a cheaper introduction to horse ownership for someone else.

4. Quite often it is possible to receive free stabling and occasionally hay and bedding in return for helping out around the yard. Mucking out, grooming the horses, yard and paddock maintenance etc. are all ways which could save you money for a little hard work!

5. Visits to the vets are an unknown quantity but still have to be allowed for. If money’s a little tight, you may sometimes discover a lot of Vets will allow you to spread the cost.

6. Many people can make lifestyle changes! It’s not just finding ways to keep your horse for less, see if you can do it for yourself!

7. Wherever possible, horse owners can often join forces to purchase feed and straw in bigger numbers, reducing the entire cost and passing on savings to all.

8. As a last resort, you can look into getting your horse a foster home, even as a family friend.

If you’re in a position to share, or even buy a horse or pony, there are still many horses for sale and ponies for sale available.

Tagged with: horses for sale • horses on budget • horses recession • ponies for sale

Filed under: horses

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