Do you think we make horse-owning more expensive than it need be?

I used to splash out a bit when we only had one and when i had free livery
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He was clipped, rugged, wore a hood, and had every potion going. Now we've two and the extra cost they get what they NEED. That's not to say i won't buy them something 'nice' like a new headcollar but I wouldnt dream of spending lots of money on something just because it's named. I'm tight
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. But then I'm lucky, ours are weeny ponies and you can't get lots of named stuff for weeny ponies. Daughter is content with anything for them, but I'll admit I do tend to stick to horseware stuff for it's quality, real english leather tack (because it lasts) and decent bits and safety stuff, and am hankering after a pair of Dublin River boots. But I can't justify £100 on boots I'll only wear to poo pick in LOL. I'd rather spend that £100 on two decent rugs or a vat load of hay.
 
i'd love to say im not to bad when it comes to spending money on taz but im really bad he'll have new things every few weeks :S just because i can afford it really ( at the moment) *who said students were broke?* i like having good things as i pay for him all myself so it makes me feel as if i have achieved things. But then its a teenage thing really lol
 
I look for bargains everywhere - ebay, websites, horse shows, tack shop sale racks etc etc
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_Charlie_ - how about these?
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http://www.equestrianclearance.com/match...rryhallbootsjan

Cheaper than the Dublin Rivers - I got a pair of Harry Hall boots similar this winter (nubuck and leather) and they are fab!! Are waterproof in the snow, mud etc and clean up really well with hosepipe etc and just put a bit of leather balsaam on to keep them going - mine also have a fluffy inside so tasty warm!!
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Pickle is on an iron supplement but that genuinetly isn't a waste of time, as vets agreed he needs it due to tendency to anemia.

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If its Virsorbin I agree, my horse was sick for months with recurrent virus and Visorbin and pink powder really helped him lots, he loved the green sticky sweetness drizzled over his food and pink powder was the only vit/min he would eat.

BUT as to the rest, the best idea is to do what I did and move so you are NOT within reach of a massive fully stocked saddlery. Its amazing how little Ive bought since moving from Herts to NE Scotland. Ive even sold 2 of my 4 saddles! And the pony I bought as a youngster does not have beautiful top quality leatherness like the big chap, she has libbys webbing bridle and Thorowgood cob saddle! And she has 2 indoor and 2 outdoor rugs, whereas big chap has thousands!! And no shoes either, £10 for a trim!

One tip for money saving, I replaced lots of nuts and chaff and supplements with Dengie Healthy Hooves. Lo cal, they much prefer the taste and has biotin and garlic and mint and lovely and moist; they kill to get at it. No more farriers formula no more nuts, no more hifi, much easier!!
 
I think we do!! Instead of getting a nice, normal numnah for £10 (or cheaper on Ebay) we get these fantasic sheep skinned lined ones... if the saddle fits probably, it shouldn't need thick padding.
Instead of your normal every day leather bridle, we get the latest "comfort" bridle, that has padding everyway!
Don't get me wrong, if the horse is sensitive, and needs extra padding under the saddle, or needs those particular boots, as its clumsy with its feet, fair enough, but if not, why do we get the more expensive version??

I remember when horses had 2 new zealand turnouts (incase one was soaking!!), a jute rug and a quilt, and that was it!!

We could say the same for us humans too! I am making a real concious effort at the moment to not buy things I DON'T need!! So far, I have resisted buying a new pair of shoes (I can borrow my sisters!!), another coat (I have 2 winter and 1 summer one already) and the only things I have bought have been bought with Vouchers from Xmas!! Its difficult, but I am doing well!!
I think if our horses could talk, they would say "mum, I already have a white numnah, do I really need another one???"
 
I think that it's entirely upto the individual. I personally do not have expensive holiday's, clothes or a flash car but I do like to spend my money on my horses.

I do not ' waste' money on them as over the years I have found out what products I like, work for and fit my horses. Same goes for feed and bedding. I don't moan about the cost of it because I need it.

Keeping horses is like everything else. There are always going to be those people who feel that they need to ' keep up with the Joneses' and those who buy cheap tat. I enjoy my horses and I don't mind spending my money on them. Yes I could probably cut the cost somewhere, but I always get the best I can afford.
 
I do think that the majority of horse owners make ownership more expensive than necessary.
 
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Just got a big fat Ekkia catalogue with daughter's Horse & Rider magazine.

There are loads of lovely things in there that I really don't need .......


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I just got the same with my HorseandRider.... I want EVERYTHING in there
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When I was a teenager we used to sneer at people in new posh stuff, all the gear and no idea kind of thing. Clean boots were the biggest no no ever.

I'm still not quite over it, I told hubby off the other day for riding in his joules polo shirt. I wear stuff that is old and half dead as it gets filthy and needs washing loads so it ruins good stuff.

The only stuff I spend a lot on is footwear and waterproofs as you really do get what you pay for then.

I recently bought a new jumper for riding in, £3 from primark! My other horsey jumpers/t-shirts are, ones I got free from work (I had a pub job when I was a student 10 years ago), primark bargains (who says you get what you pay for my £3 fleece is still going 8 years after I bought it), inherited from my dad etc.

Jodhs I wear until they fall apart (I was still wearing a pair that said age 11 inside them aged 22).

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I have to agree with you. Why wear good clothes when they are going to be plastered in mud, manure and dog paw marks!
I tend to buy my everyday horse stuff on ebay. I like to have decent rugs as my horse lives out but the most I've ever paid is £80. I can't justify paying over £200 for one when I can get a good, warm, durable one for £80. My horse doesn't go without a thing but he isn't walking round in the latest colour, designer rug and I know he doesn't care!
 
i think it depends on how much spare cash people have. I'm a student and am awaiting an ex racer (he's coming thru Darley rehoming centre).
I've already bought travel boots (£11.56), high viz fleece lined exercise sheet (£8.56), brushing boots (£25 for 4), lunge roller with sheepskin on withers (£16), sheepskin high wither numnah (£13) and pessoa (£20).
God only knows what all this gear would have cost full price, but i'm well trained to sniff out bargains!!!
 
Teddyt you think like me. Ihave this circular argument with my feed merchant who has cut down on the feedstuff as he had over 50 different bags of mixes/cubes/chaffs, not counting the straights and the balancers and supplements.
Basically you need a headcollar/rope, bridle, well fitting saddle, rugs as required, boots as required, numnahs as required.
Whatever you need to ride in.
 

I have come full circle with buying only the cheapest basics for my horses in the 1970s to buy super plush expensive wear for my horse in the 1990, to back to buying good but sensible priced stuff plus cheapo items that I might fancy but are not essentials.
One or two things I would not cut corners are as follows:-

1) Saddle - Isabella Werth for synthetic or really good make like Ideal Event, Keiffer Stubben, Albion, Wow etc
2) Fal Pro and Rambo Heavyweight rugs
3) KK Ultra Sprenger bit
4) Regular Shoeing every 7 weeks
5)Veterans Mix , sugar beet, molichaff and plenty of carrots, apples in the winter months, or when in hard work. - no supplements except salt and mineral lick.
6)Well fitting Zilco bridle ( £30 00) goes in washing machine, no noseband, nice and comfy for hacking
7) Sheepskin half and full numnah - pricy but fab and comfy for horse and easy to keep clean.
8) Thoroughgood Girth
9) Good hay
10) Good grazing /turnout
11) annual visit from vet for Flu/Tet/Teeth
12)Professional help for backing
13) New floor on my old Rice trailer

By being careful and treating minor aliments myself and only getting the vet out once a year for teeth, as opposed to 6 monthly as recommended, or for major injuries, I have saved a fortune in the past few years, to the point where I think I can reasonably afford to buy a younger horse to bring on.

I do not feed endless supplements or neutroceuticals or get in a tizzy over what to feed my horse!
Its not rocket science despite what feed manufacturers would like to have you think!
I will not be buying a new £4,000 trailer just because my old Rice is not state of the art - it does the job well and thats all that matters.
Nor will I be trading my old Nissan Terrano for a new one!
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I am not a horse owner anymore but I often think this of others. How many people do you know with normal PC/RC horses who get fed crazy suppliments and feed that is completely not needed. Obviously its non of my business what people spend their money on so I would never say anything but it does make me giggle.
When I did have horses they were in medium to hard work and fed nothing more than ad lib hay and a basic feed which was cheap as chips!
Horse owners do seem to be a bit mental these days though, needing all the top spec tack and accessories
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