Living through the credit crunch is never easy, but when you have ponies and horses who rely on you for nourishment, shelter and medicine, every small amount saved helps.

It’s a well known fact that dozens of horses and ponies are abandoned every week, as owners struggle financially with the economy as it is, because of this there are currently many horses for sale.

Sara Tuppen founder of the Horse Refuge in Wittersham Kent, is well aware of looking after horses on a tight budget, and relies purely on donations to help keep over 40 rescued horses in good condition. According to her there are many ways which could help make owning a horse on a tight budget a little easier:

1. Many horses can live comfortably outside for the majority of the year, providing there’s nurishment, water and shelter available. If this is an acceptable option for your horse, it could reduce the cost of stabling considerably.

2. Removing shoes can be an easy way to reduce outlay. If not ridden regularly, and not ridden on rough surfaces, many horses will not need shoes.

3. Sharing your horse is a great way to cut (even halve!) costs, and helps to provide a cheaper introduction to horse ownership for someone else.

4. In many cases it is possible to get free stabling and occasionally hay and straw in return for chores. Mucking out, grooming, maintenance etc. are all ways which could save you money for a little work!

5. Vets bills are an unknown quantity but still have to be considered. If you’re budget is low, you may sometimes discover a lot of Vets will allow you to pay in instalments.

6. Most of us can also make lifestyle changes! It’s not all about finding ways to keep your horse more cheaply, you can do it too!

7. If achievable, horse owners can often club together to buy feed and straw in bulk, reducing the overall price and passing on savings to all.

8. Finally, you can look into placing your horse in a foster home, even as a family friend.

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

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.