A question for those of you with more than one horse...

Well it has always bugged me how I see people at shows with loads of horses, and I think 'how unfair!' So I thought I should ask and get some tips!!
Do you all still insure your horses? Cos mine is £44 a month. Plus she is big so has expensive shoes, I think I also have the most expensive farrier in the area!
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Those of you on livery, how much is it? I pay £35 a week which I think is far too much!! My friend rents a field for £10 a week, a much better idea! I am seriously going to have to reconsider my expenses if I want to get transport!
 
Work hard, saved money over the years and go without other things to ensure that the horses get the best of everything.
 
I find it amazing that anybody with more than one manages the time for them rather than the money. I work full time and earn a decent salary so could probably afford another but I don't mange to ride mine as much as I'd like now, let alone if I had two. I've got a sharer who's fab as my boy isn't great without regular work but I can't manage to ride more than about 4 times a week by the time I've worked the odd late night, walked the dog, done some housework spent time with my OH etc. The only way to do it would be to get up at silly o'clock and ride before work but it's a hobby so should be fun and getting up ridiculously early isn't my idea of fun!
 
I have two that both live out 24/7 at a DIY yard. i dont go out much but i have not bad paying job and there is only me, no kids. id rather be galloping across the fields and enjoying my horses than downing shots to probably puke it all up next day or later!
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i have 3 horses and maybe another on the way im 23 yrs old work full time so does OH me and OH rent our own bit of land and we rent a one bed flat aswell alot of expense but its all worth it we both wuldnt be without the horses they are our kids. coz neither of us want children.
 
We have a total of 7 now, own our own land outright, they all live out uness illness/accident says otherwise. They don't get expensive rugs or many rugs, little feed (good grazing) they get all they need without too huge a price tag. OH and I are both self employed, our animals are part of our income. No kids either. We both wear the oldest scruffiest clothes and we don't go out etc.
 
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I'm just being nosey now!

I've noticed that most people on here seem to have more than one horse/pony? I was wondering how you can all afford it?
Do you all keep your horses on your own land, have insanely cheap livery yards, have really well paid jobs, no kids, or get them paid for by rich Daddy/husband?

I'd love another horse but don't think I would have the time or money to do them both justice, so was wondering how so many other people seem to do it!??

If I had my own house with land, maybe, but since I haven't yet found a rich single farmer, I'll just have to keep entering the lottery!!

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I have 2 plus one on loan. (I have just moved so will explain those costs further down)
But originally-
first pony £35 p/w inc straw
then I would pay for trim, feed, wormer, insurance etc etc approx £10 p/w
the second was on £15p/w as YO allowed him there as a go between from the move
Loan horse was me paying 2/3 of the costs.
In total I would pay about £300 per month for all the costs relating to the horses. I managed this because I have no debt so dont have to pay credit cards etc and horses are my main hobby- I also teach to help pay for them.

Now I have moy own place- I dont have to pay livery instead I have forked out a £1000 for a 16 x 10 field shelter!!!! and I gave up the loan horse to help the costs along a bit. I have an average job (teacher) but am careful with my money. I think planning ahead and buying stuff in the sales is the way to do things!
 
i have 3 ones retired, ones a headshaker and ones only 2 and hes hopefully going to be my riding horse that i will do everything with and i have a rich daddy that pays. I could never have 3 horses that were in full work
 
I have 2 .. One is mine and one is on full loan.

My horse is on full livery which isn't cheap but I have two part loaners for him which helps. The full livery means I have no chores to do so I can just spend my time grooming / riding.

My loan pony is on grass livery which is quite cheap - and his owners pay his insurance / yearly injections etc. I am very lucky to have such a great agreement!
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I have two as my own horse is slowing down a bit and can't really do the competing I want to do - and he also won;t travel which kind of causes problems too!!
 
I have 4. One old retired boy, my riding horse, brood mare in foal and her yearling. All at livery on a farm - the gelding is in at night during the winter so I can still ride when its darker. The oldie, mare and yearling live out unless any problems. Breeding my own CBs is a dream come true. I can manage this because I gave up working full time, my kids have grown up and left home and I have an understanding OH. So I have the time to enjoy my horses but little income.
Previously I was working full time, had 3 kids, one horse, one pony both in DIY, both in at night all year and restricted turn-out. I got up at 5.30am. so I could do them before leaving for work at 7.30am. By the time I crawled into bed at 9pm I was exhausted. I look back now and wonder how I managed. But lots of you are doing it now, with more horses. I know it is madness !
 
I have 3, kept at a private rented yard @ £30 pw each, DIY. They are out 24/7 in summer, in overnight from November to April (depending on weather). I have a well paid job 4 nights a week (8pm til 2am, in bed by 3am) which pays all the household bills. I also have my own fairly successful cat sitting business which I fit in around main job and horses and gives the horses everything they want. I spend most of the day with the horses and ride 1 or 2 of them everyday, other one is retired, and go to shows most weekends. OH likes them but he only helps when he feels like it or I beg and doesn't help with them financially at all. We have a "normal" house and a pretty good lifestyle generally; he is into motorsport so another expensive hobby; however I don't query what he spends on the cars and he doesn't query what I buy for the horses - they have more clothes than I do!

We have no kids (he's been gelded
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), 10 cats & 3 dogs. We never go on holiday as I won't fly and my business doesn't really allow it; luckily I don't like going on holiday!

I've just worked out it costs around £800 pm for them excluding lessons, trailer hire, diesel, entry fees, all their tack & equipment and vets bills.

I am permanently tired as I average around 5-6 hours sleep a night if I'm lucky
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However, I absolutely LOVE my life and wouldn't change it for the world
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I have 2 - ponio is out on loan, 2 children (youngest starting school in 2 weeks) work fulltime, and have an OH who has a very anti-social and unreliable job timewise (ie, just because he should finish at x-o'clock doesn't mean he will, and out of his control) I tend to prefer not to take the children to the yard for various reasons, so do everything to avoid it - but, we get by! OH will (if smiled at) do 'stuff', but having said that Peds doesn't get spoilt, I have an ok paying job but I honestly do not know how we paid for 3 at one time...
 
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Well it has always bugged me how I see people at shows with loads of horses, and I think 'how unfair!' So I thought I should ask and get some tips!!
Do you all still insure your horses? Cos mine is £44 a month. Plus she is big so has expensive shoes, I think I also have the most expensive farrier in the area!
frown.gif

Those of you on livery, how much is it? I pay £35 a week which I think is far too much!! My friend rents a field for £10 a week, a much better idea! I am seriously going to have to reconsider my expenses if I want to get transport!

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my livery is £40 per week for each horse but that includes ad lib straw and haylage. my 4 year old has no shoes at the moment but will be having them next time- TB has bloody £80 a set shoes
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but sharer pays for those!! they both have the same feed- top spec, outshine and alfa a. its expensive per bag but good stuff as keeps the condition on them and they don't need other expensive supplements for feet or anything like that.

they are both insured (TB for vets fees only as he's older and i wouldn't replace him if he died
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)- it costs me about £130 a month for this
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We have 3 horses and a donkey! Only one horse is in work, others are retired, or in the case of the donkey has never really worked. I am a single mum with 2 children (one about to go into 6th form, other at uni), I have several part time jobs(including 3 cleaning jobs). I am incredibly lucky as I managed to keep my cottage and just under 2 acres of land when I divorced. In the last year have managed to rent a further 6 acres of land adjoining my field very reasonably. I have very little money spare, rarely go out, just had a weekend in London which was my holiday this year, but wouldn't have it any other way .
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Actually don't know how I do!!!
Have 3(soon to be 4) all on DIY stabled in winter,work 27 hrs week have 1 daughter again crappy house that really could do with a lick of paint and some tlc.House paid for now so that helps.OH is very understanding and puts up with a lot and does without a lot-sometimes don't think appriciate how much he does give up.
Will have to stop smoking tho to pay for 4th one
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right this is the first year i only have one. break down is 21 per week livery, 12 all inclusive menage, about 10 on hay a week (winter) 5 on straw, feed is about 15 per week, shoes 59 every 7 weeks, worming about 15 every 8 weeks, insurance is about 40/ month.
then there is a lesson a week - 25, comps 25 ish. lorry insurance 28/month, and keeping the lorry at the yard 14ish. I think i spend about £300 / month
Think thats it, feels like im benefiting this year as i normally have 2!
The bad thing is i have 3 out on loan so if anything happen and they came bak i would be screwed! Oh and i'm looking at getting a youngster but seeing all that written down is now putting me off!
 
Hm. Three - one mine, one daugter's, and one other daughter's but she gave up! All at DIY livery elven miles away. Out as much as possible as they prefer it and no-one wants to/has the time to spend mucking out
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. I'm a consultant and we have our own company that does all sorts of things to pay the bills. Looking to buy a house with land, but it will moving away from this area. Nearly bought a livery yard last year
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i have 3 horses and pay for them all myself.

i have a reasonably paid job, particularly for my age (22).

i have a mortgage, bills etc with my O/H and we split all household costs 50/50.

horses i pay for totally myself- each horse is £35/week livery (includes hay and straw), shoes usual costs, insurance around £120/month.

BE eventing is about £1000/year per horse.

i will be selling one horse next year due to time constraints as 3yro will be coming into 'proper' work and no way can i keep 3 eventing fit and actually go to work!
 
I have one and ride another. Best of both worlds- I can only afford one, but with him going into lighter work I wanted another to bring on/ride, and have been lucky enough to land a ride on a horse where the owner literally just wants me to turn up to ride. Thus minimal time & money involved and I get the good bits of having another horse but only the costs etc of one.
I manage to get by by working 50 hours a week, on minimum wage and living in the cheapest house in my town and driving a 12 year old car and not having a flash lifestyle. It would be nice to be able to afford food now and then tho
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Luckily my mum has a horse and we rent our yard between us, so it's a bit like having part livery- she does them in the morning, I do them in the evening etc. It's the only way I really manage to get by.
 
We have 14. Mostly have so many because 6 of them are homebreds tho!
(For Sept to May tho this can go up to 20, but these are paid for)

My parents work full time (literally haven't had a day off or holiday for 3 years!!
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) and me and my sister do the riding and look after them.
Most are out at grass throughout the summer with some coming in in September time and then all coming in in the depths of winter.
Basically all our money and time goes into our horses. As a family we don't go out much and don't spend much money on new things. They are pretty much our lives!! It helps that we get food direct from the mills so its much cheaper and we have some help from crazy friends of ours who fancy mucking out 14 horses on stormy winter mornings!!
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Although, its hard work looking after more than one horse, I think I speak for most of us when I say I wouldn't have it any other way.....What you get in return is more than worth it :-)

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I'm very lucky with a very tolerant OH. I have stables at home and rent fields just down the road. Still costs a fortune, shoes etc. I have my riding boy and a Dartmoor companion. Wouldn't be without either.

Jane
 
I have four (two of which are currently for sale): 2 x 2 year olds and 2 x yearlings; all in field rented from local council (no stables, electricity or any luxuries like that!); I am single and not not well paid, I don't smoke, I don't drink, I go out socially maybe once or twice a year, only eat stuff from the reduced section in the supermarket and my clothes come from charity shops!!!
 
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