Cost cutting eventing?

When you go to events where you stay over night do you pay for stable? If you do would you horse be well behaved enough to leave in the horse box over night thats if you have a 3 horse stall or bigger? , as long as you remove the partitions and close the main doors before the ramp could you make the that section a temp stable? that would save £20 per comp.
 
I think that's cruel. There is no way that a horse has as much room in a lorry as it would in a stable and I think it would be quite stressful for it having to do a long journey and then stay in the lorry all night. I can't see them being relaxed enough to roll and lie down in a lorry.

I'd say if you want to save money then do fewer events rather than cutting corners at the expence for your horses comfort and safety
 
I would suggest doing PC and RC teams then you can event for a fraction of the cost round novice courses.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would suggest doing PC and RC teams then you can event for a fraction of the cost round novice courses.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats what I do (ok, well only up to intro/PN and I'm too old for PC)
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
When you go to events where you stay over night do you pay for stable? If you do would you horse be well behaved enough to leave in the horse box over night thats if you have a 3 horse stall or bigger? , as long as you remove the partitions and close the main doors before the ramp could you make the that section a temp stable? that would save £20 per comp.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is definitely 100% illegal at FEI comps (ie. where you're most likely to be staying overnight) and certainly also at a lot of BE comps as well.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think that's cruel. There is no way that a horse has as much room in a lorry as it would in a stable and I think it would be quite stressful for it having to do a long journey and then stay in the lorry all night. I can't see them being relaxed enough to roll and lie down in a lorry.

I'd say if you want to save money then do fewer events rather than cutting corners at the expence for your horses comfort and safety

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I thought, but did wonder if I was being soft. (I'm known for being a big softy when it comes to horse's "lifestyle" and would rather I slept in trailer/lorry and horse was put up in proper stabling that hore in lorry and me in B&B etc!
blush.gif


I'd say if you are struggling to cut down on the number of events you do. Try not waste money on unnecessary kit that you don't really need and maybe ebay some stuff you have lying around?

I have a weekly "budget" for lunch/treats such as magazines etc and it's amazing how, if I'm really strict with myself, I can save a fair bit of it each week and it all adds up to having more money to spend on horse stuff!
smile.gif
 
Simple answer: don't do it!

Failing that, limit the number you're going to, or limit the number of horses your taking. 'Fraid we can't all have what we want all of the time!
smirk.gif


p.s. appalled at the suggestion of stabling horse in a lorry. Didn't realise people still did such things.
 
I can't recall doing this with horses but we certainly did it with my ponies, up to 14.2hhs. The smaller ones were "stabled" in 2-horse trailers (only 1 per trailer obviously). They never suffered ill-effects. A lot of people started doing it here, with stabling fees now at about 65 euros per event at the stay-away ones, so quite a few events have put a ban on it. In other disciplines it is the norm for your horse/pony to spoend the night in a pen next to you transport.
 
1) You can use Lec's mega unaff ode site to find lots of unaff odes cheaper than BE

2) You can eBay off extra gear you no longer need

3) See if your instructor will give you reduced rates on training in return for helping out on their yard

4) do 1 days rather than 2/3days in order to save on stabling costs

5) Try to car/trailer/lorry pool with someone or offer your spare place and spilt the fuel costs

6) Get some extra work to top up your eventing fund maybe the odd night bar work? or stuffing envelopes? that sort a thing

hope some of that helps....
 
Re. original post:

Take a long hard look at what supplements you are giving. If you can bear it stop all supplements for a month or 2 and then only add back the ones you really can't do without, or see if you can find another type of supplement that combines the function of several.

Keep as much competition kit as possible in the lorry, things like gloves, stock (or tie), spurs, whips, boots. This should minimise those expensive dashes to on-site tack stands at shows.

See if you can share lessons, I usuaaly think sharing with one other is no problem. Transport sharing is a great way of cutting costs too, and often of having more fun. Just don't forget half your stuff!
 
It's a matter of priorities. The things you can't scrimp on are proper feed/care regimes for the horses. Living out in summer suits many horses and lots prefer it - that will save you money on bedding for a starter. Look at what events you really want to do and perhaps drop the ones that are 'nice to do'. Support your local events and cut out the ones that are going to cost you £££ in diesel. If your horse needs to drop back a level or just have a 'fun run' then consider doing that unaff. Lec's spreadsheet is brilliant for finding ones local to you.

Oh, and stabling your horse in your lorry is almost certainly forbidden at any level at any discipline that I know of
tongue.gif
 
If you have storage buy horse feed etc. in bulk?

We did it with linseed. Bought 50 sacks of it! Ok, so I still have 20 sacks hanging around but it was much cheaper than buying it sack by sack from feed place... A friend bought 10 sacks off us (without us making profit, just contributed towards delivery!). Also did the same with shavings etc.
smile.gif
 
Bulk buy feed and shavings (PM me if you want to know where as it works out quite a bit cheaper), don't buy lots of extra tack you don't need, unaff is a bit limited in our region erm . . hire a big arena and take a helper rather than going to unaff SJ just for practice - arena is around £20 - 25 for an hour with several horses so you could take 2 and that's same/cheaper than 2 classes for each horse and you get lots more done and no waiting around. Join a PC/RC and use that for training, a few locally have accredited trainers a couple of times a year which make sit a lot cheaper in say a group of 3 and it makes BSJA membership (if you join on top of BE) a lot lot cheaper.
 
Ah I get it now
smile.gif
!

I'll see if I can think of some more then!

Erm . . . . .camp rather than B&B, not own any horses and just be a rider instead
wink.gif
, take a picnic rather than buy from catering vans.
 
definately buy off ebay - I bought a very nice breastplast the other day for £28 brand new. It retails at £68
tongue.gif


Camping in the lorry instead of staying in a hotel
Bring your own packed lunch instead of buying from food on site - much cheaper and healthier too
smile.gif

Chuck out anything old and tatty that cant be repaired, and buy quality things in, therefore will last longer.

Always look after your kit really well, then it will last much longer

Dont do a CIC*, do INT instead, they have same qualification rank.

Try and find a sponser no matter how small - i found a sponser who is supplying me with supplements for my horse for the year - and Im a nobody in eventing, but am hardworking and dedicated
smile.gif


Only register with FEI if you have too.

IMO you should always reg with the BHS as they provide fantastic insurance.
 
[ QUOTE ]
When you go to events where you stay over night do you pay for stable? If you do would you horse be well behaved enough to leave in the horse box over night thats if you have a 3 horse stall or bigger? , as long as you remove the partitions and close the main doors before the ramp could you make the that section a temp stable? that would save £20 per comp.

[/ QUOTE ]

i'm pretty sure this is illegal, it is also dangerous. i used to travel my mare to events alone and took the partitions out as she travelled better, and after xc i'd leave her loose in the back while going to prize givings. once we got back and realised she'd had a roll in there... miracle that she hadn't got cast, or hit head on the rug rack.

umm, go to fewer events, try to get sponsorship from local companies, don't do FEI regs unless absolutely necessary!
 
As they all say,STOP buying stuff,as like me,uv prob got everything u need for horse&rider!!(easier said than done eh)! Stop having lessons,unless u really need them,or at least cut down and just hav the odd lesson if u hit a prob. Only compete at the best shows,(dont do unafil,if uv paid to affiliate). Have a mega clr out of all horse stuff(and rider)u will be amazed the amount of rugs/tack u gain and really dont need!!
if u feed good quality hay and hard feed,there really is no need 4 all these suppliments! Most feeds are packed with all the required vits our horses need!!
Mine gets nothing in the summer when grazing is good,Dr Grass is all he needs in summer months(if the grazing is good). I know all horse are different and My boy is a VERY good dooer!
Help eachother out at the yard, 1 feeds AM and u do PM feeds and rotate,u save fuel costs then!!! best of luck!

I shud stand back and read this myself,as im a sucker for wasting precious cash i just dont have!!
tongue.gif
 
I'd suggest leaving your horse out for a start. Very few IMO cannot live out 24/7. My competition horse lives out no problem, and it saves me so much time and I dont need to pay for shavings, extra hay etc.! Also, try to make your feed as cheap as possible - for example I buy a locally made vit & min supplement which comes in a 20kg bag, it lasts me about 9 months and costs about £35 so still MUCH cheaper than buying those small usual make tubs.

I also don't travel too far to competitions. 3 hours is usually my max I'll travel to, this then avoids stabling etc.

Doing unaffiliated is cheaper of course, but most of us dont have the luxury of BE venues holding unaffiliated comps...
 
Also sell good horse and buy a youngster! Youngsters at BE90 and 100 are much cheaper than anything running at novice and above.

Join a RC for cheaper lessons. I have attended loads of clinics with Jade Lazenby, Andrew Lovell and Emily Davis where its just me and another. Great value.

Do not do a competition - hire the course the next day. For example Stockland Lovell charges £9 entry for an eventers Sjing class where as you can hire the arena for an hour at £15 which is much better value.

Enter every competition going - someone has to win. This year I won a hoover sold it for £100 and ploughed it back into the horse.

Work for your trainer - I have done PR and marketing and a few other helpful things and in return get free lessons.

Volunteer - Stockland Lovell offers free vouchers for xc/arena hire if you fence judge, same with Pontispool. I know other venues do this. If you volunteer with my RC you get a free lesson.
 
Sell stuff you don't need on Ebay, you'll be surprised how much unused nosebands/numnahs/junk you can find at the bottom of your tack box!

Compare horse feed prices at tack shops/online, you can save loads!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top