Bearing in mind the credit crunch - How do you all afford your horses?

I have cut back shows and lessons. I am doing local shows but not the twice a month far away and expensive affiliated shows I did last year.

Chancer is currently on schooling livery for three weeks, but at £100 a week it is very reasonable and was cheaper than me taking time off work and have lessons daily to get him established.

Use my motorcycle to get to the yard rather than the car.

Less meals out and take outs. Thinking about why I buy at the supermarket, and taking advantage of things on offer, and only buying wine on half price offer.

Bought my latest show outfits off ebay second hand. Delayed buying my show bridle and saddle until next year when hopefully I have saved enough, if not will have to stick with the treeless and cheap old bridle I currently have. Also being careful at what I spend on lotions and potions etc.

I have a well paid IT job and my OH is not doing badly either, we live in a two bed flat and I honestly wonder how people on lower incomes and with families are managing - everyday things get more costly.
 
We have our own land, so no livery costs. One horse is shod allround, the other only in front and the youngster is obviously only trimmed. Worming is overdue
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. Ours are all good doers, and don't need any hard feed, but as we own a feed merchants, they get out of date/split bags (the youngster is fed correctly though).

In the shop, feed is not selling at all, people who would normally bring in by day in summer are leaving out 24/7, and I didn't sell a single light weight NZ this spring, and I've only sold one fly rug too, so I'm going to have a huge human and horse clothing sale in the hope of keeping the turnover going. Many equestrian suppliers are saying, 'oh, it's not that bad', but I think they're wrong, the crunch is really biting, and people are scared.

Oh, and our dog food supplier told us that rice has gone up to £700 a tonne, it was £180.
 
I am selling my car and I don't eat!
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I turn all the lights off every time I leave the room, I have turned my heating off and I don't drive over 3000 rpm in the car to save fuel.

I am seriously counting every penny!
 
I think if i got to a point where i couldnt afford to eat or only had a fiver to live on, i would be putting both my horses up for sale
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We survive, only 1 horse gets hard feed, other gets grass, knackered one gets her feet done every 12 weeks instead of every 6 like my riding horse, both out 24/7 so only 1 trip to the farm.
 
All you have to look at is what has been happening in the U.S.A. over the last 12 months. Owners are literally dumping their horses as they can no longer afford to keep them and the equestrian industry has followed the down turn of other industries.

Corn and fuel prices are increasing on a daily basis and in a recent report in Horse and Hounds an insurer was saying that renewals of insurance on horse boxes had gone down a staggering 33%.

My suspicion is that those that compete will cut down on their travelling expenses but I would also suspect that as the purse strings are tightened that tack shops and feed merchants will also suffer a downturn in trade. Maybe even farriers will see the length between shoeing times increased or even some people not shoeing their horses.

Whatever the case it will not be good for the equine industry.
 
Golly I didn't realise that so many people on here were struggling so much to make ends meet and keep your horses. This is a very sobering thread. I am now sitting here counting my blessings.
 
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I honestly wonder how people on lower incomes and with families are managing.

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They go on the dole and get 'benefits' and live a life of luxury.... *lightbulb moment!* Maybe that's what I should do!!
 
Oh here we go. In answer to your first question, the only reason we could afford a horse in the first place (and somewhere for it to live and a car to tow the trailer) was by being economical. I am seriously wondering where there are any more corners to cut.

Plenty of families with children struggle by on two relatively low incomes already, I do wonder how they will cope.

I assume you don't personally know anyone on benefits. Believe me, it is not the free ride the Daily Mail would have your believe it is. Not everyone makes a conscious decision to marry a man who turns out to be an alcoholic, violent abuser, and those that escape such a marriage often have to be supported by the state for a while.
 
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I am selling my car and I don't eat!
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I turn all the lights off every time I leave the room, I have turned my heating off and I don't drive over 3000 rpm in the car to save fuel. I am seriously counting every penny!

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Sounds like us. I've sold my car
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and after our heart-attack bill-hike this week, we drew up the following Action Plan:

To cut down on electric:
- Lights off when not in room (including fishtank light - poor oscar fish)
- Dehumidifier off unless having showers (no more running 24/7!)
- TV/computer off (fully, not just standby) if not in use
- No more fan-heater in my freezing office, put on a sweater or five
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- Buy a three-second kettle
- Use push-powered lawn-mower/tools (instead of electric ones)

To cut down on gas:
- Buy a deep fat fryer (using chip pan at the mo, but electric is cheaper than gas)
- No more frozen pies (they're junk and take 1hr+ in the oven)
- Steam veg in the ricecooker (instead of in the pan-steamer)

To cut down on water:
- Don't leave tap running whilst washing up or brushing teeth (turn it on when needed)
- Don't stand in shower for an hour daydreaming/whistling

To cut down on expense full-stop:
- No more Friday night fastfood
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- No more silly stuff when shopping (like expensive ground coffee)
- No more random driving-just-for-the-sake-of-it

It seems pretty drastic but we're into Week One of the new regime and by the looks of things we may survive it. Just.
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OH has just come in with new chainsaw at £160! But, a friendly farmer has said we can help ourselves to fallen wood on his land, and we have anopen fire and a log burner at home. Central heating been off for weeks!
 
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I honestly wonder how people on lower incomes and with families are managing.

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They go on the dole and get 'benefits' and live a life of luxury.... *lightbulb moment!* Maybe that's what I should do!!

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i claimed Top-up Benefits when i was a lone parent family...and had a job, and a pony, and ran a car, and had an annual holiday.........
 
It is SOO stressful - I keep thinking "next month I will be able to save some money and get my head above water" but instead every month I sink a little lower... it is not nice
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Seriously thinking of leaving the country if I could find somewhere nice for me and my horse to run off to. Any suggestions?
 
Anywhere but the UK!

I also have a CC, overdraft, (as many people do) Only way I could save money is be either
a) moving back home but no room for me
b) sell car but then how do I get to Norman and work???
or
c) sell horsey - another no goer for me...
 
I've got a grand on my credit card, and my mortgage payments have just gone up £200 a month, and I'm starting to struggle, have cut out all non necessities and will have to cut back on lessons, have already cut back on competing etc. I look for ebay bargins, ask for clothes for my birthday etc and look for deals in the super market. I'm on DIY, but one of my two is currently on box rest for laminitis and may cat keeps getting cysitis which is no longer covered by the insurance.
 
Oh dear, here we go again! It was meant to be tongue in cheek, that comment so sorry if it offended anyone, that wasn't the intention.

I'm going to have to put a disclaimer in my sig!
 
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I honestly wonder how people on lower incomes and with families are managing.

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They go on the dole and get 'benefits' and live a life of luxury.... *lightbulb moment!* Maybe that's what I should do!!

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absolute crap, we are currently on part benefits because my OH lost his business, we lost our home and our nice car and a big chunk of dignity, oh and then he had an accident with a chainsaw and couldn't work. there is nothing luxurious about my life and it's not a path either me or my OH had in mind to take. I work as a cleaner so i can keep my horses, but as thats so low paid we get topped up with benefits.
yes there are folks who use and abuse the system but don't tar us all with the same brush!!
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Oh dear, here we go again! It was meant to be tongue in cheek, that comment so sorry if it offended anyone, that wasn't the intention.

I'm going to have to put a disclaimer in my sig!

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Jellyshake, I think you missed my post just above yours. It really wasn't a serious comment, I'm sorry if I've offended.
 
With difficulty! Me and OH earn very decent wages, but mortgage has gone up by £500 this month (out of interest-only period and out of low fixed rate all at same time). I chose the wrong time to buy a diesel 4x4. I did a budget in advance which allowed me to make a small amount of savings each month, whereas now all of that is going on diesel - which is costing me over £100 more than it did in November when I bought the 4x4.

Bills are so high it's frightening. I work in insolvency and the number of enquiries has really sky-rocketed in recent weeks. I think it's going to be a very tough 6 months ahead. I just hope that we can all weather the storm.
 
In all seriousness, writing has no tone of voice or facial expressions to carry it off (which is why smilies are so heavily relied upon). Tongue-in-cheek and especially sarcasm can very easily get lost. Chuck in a few more smilies and a (jk) for good effect and it should help indicate the 'tone' more.
 
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I honestly wonder how people on lower incomes and with families are managing.

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They go on the dole and get 'benefits' and live a life of luxury.... *lightbulb moment!* Maybe that's what I should do!!

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Believe me, it isnt pleaseant being on the dole, there is plenty of paperwork and constantly being pestered by the companies like reducing money etc... its very hard, we dont smoke or even drink alcohol, we only just make it to pay our bills..... It makes me so depressed but am doing my education at the moment to get a good job and im thankful for my DLA (disibility living allowance and the dla are denying everyone dla now which isnt fair) as it pretty much saves my life....

i really resent those that go on the dole and just drink, drink and drink where we are carers who look after a very autistic boy (a very wonderful brave lad
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Im very lucky to have ahorse on loan (i dotn pay anything..just as long I train it really well..lol) I also ride horses given to me to sort out(i ride at an owners field not far from my house)... I really dont know how I could ever afford a horse...
 
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Oh dear, here we go again! It was meant to be tongue in cheek, that comment so sorry if it offended anyone, that wasn't the intention.

I'm going to have to put a disclaimer in my sig!

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Jellyshake, I think you missed my post just above yours. It really wasn't a serious comment, I'm sorry if I've offended.

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apology accepted, accept mine for going into my 'how dare you ' mode
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I'm not quite sure
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I'm lucky though because I live at home, only pay about £150 a month rent, and £60 for the use of my car (nothing to pay on top of that).

So I'm very grateful to my parents for that.

A bit upset as I can't afford lessons at the moment, it takes up my extra cash going to shows.

I can't really complain though as I'm going on holiday on Tuesday
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Golly I didn't realise that so many people on here were struggling so much to make ends meet and keep your horses. This is a very sobering thread. I am now sitting here counting my blessings.

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Me too. My girl is on DIY so not expensive and I am very lucky that I (and hubby) have a well paid job.

We are on a fixed rate mortgage for another 4 years so at least we know whats going out there.

I'm sorry that so many of you are having such a hard time
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Luckily I keep mine at home and we managed to change our mortgage before it was too difficult to get one. Everything has still gone up massively though. I just dont save as much as I used to and have stopped eating out as much. To be honest we have never overstretched ourselves and I dont have any debt apart from the mortgage so it hasnt really affected me too much.
 
Oh Dear. We are all united in solidarity I think.
I once heard that owning a horse was like digging a hole in the garden and chucking fivers in every time you went past. I think the hole has gotten bigger lately!

I keep my horse on diy, I work full time, don't smoke, rarely drink, hardly ever go out, buy all my clothes from charity shops, tkmaax or sales, never get my hair "done" and don't have children.
I earn a reasonable amount of money but I'm feeling the pinch in that I'm seriously considering which events to go to on the grounds of distance from home and costs in diesel.

Keep scrutinising my tack room for stuff to sell on e-bay.
Horsie always gets the best of stuff, but shows and lessons are feeling the pinch.
 
I moved to Norway five years ago, and tbh I am so glad I did my family have been telling me how bad things are in the UK in terms of the expense of daily living. I miss family, friends and the UK horse community but quite frankly this money situation back home is scary.

I am due home for a visit in 3 weeks and I am sure I will see a big change when I come over, it is the first time in 2 years.

Life with my horses in Norway is all ok, I am lucky enough to own a 66 acre farm outright, we make our own hay and own a business (equestrian store both online and shop) importing goods from UK. The pound being low is actually working in my favour at the moment.

My father is selling up house and business to get out of the UK, he owns a property development business and building company and his wife is an estate agent so as you can guess they have been really hard hit. They have bought a yacht and plan to sail around the world for as long as they can.

I really hope life in the UK improves soon, no matter how much I miss home I would not come back, the thought of trying to just survive is a scary one. Whenever I watch Sky News life seems so grim. I am so glad to live in a country where the minimum wage is £10.00 per hour and the government take care of the people! If the norwegian government can do it, the UK government can too... pull your socks up British Government!!!
 
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