Getting Priorities Straight.....

P

Parkranger

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 May 2006
Messages
10,546
Visit site
Had a bit of a wake up call from parents the other day.

As some of you know, I'm newly single and renting on my own. Want to buy but can't afford a mortgage on my own - unless I didn't have a horse!

He's costing about £550 a month to 'run' which is obviously a massive chunk towards a mortgage payment.

If I could get a good sharer then I suppose I could just about scrape buy....just wondering if anyone else has sacrificed something pretty major for their horse!

x
 
[ QUOTE ]
He's costing about £550 a month to 'run'

[/ QUOTE ]
shocked.gif
shocked.gif
shocked.gif


How on earth does he cost you that much???
 
Can you not put your house out on loan until you get on your feet again !

I know someone who has and they bought a new house, and put there horse out on loan until they get on there feet !

Just a suggestion !
wink.gif
 
It only cost me that to 'run' my horse when he was out affiliated eventing ...

surely you could get that down to at least £300 a month, then with a sharer paying £100 you would be paying £200 ...
 
That seems quite pricey for one horse. I didn't pay that for 3!!! Mine (although not shod so no shoe costs) only costs me £151 a month and she is stabled all winter and that includes my insurance!!! I would have a look at maybe changing your bedding, hay to haylage, feed suppliers, insurance etc etc and try to cut a bit off it to help. Good luck it is hard work getting a house but worth it.
 
You can tell that everyone who balked at the price doesn't live in Surrey! lol

Livery (all in) is £480 a month plus shoeing - obviously there are other things to consider.

I work full time and there's no way I can do DIY - I just wouldn't get time to ride and that's another whole set of problems in itself.
 
It doesn't seem that extreme to me - mine costs nearly £400 and he's a happy hacker at a cheap yard who doesn't eat a lot!

As for economising, I no longer park at the station carpark (have to get the bus, boohoo!), I no longer really compete, I gave up my lovely gym membership and I don't have the kind of holidays I used to.
Worth it though to own my own house, and keep Twiglet in the style to which he is accustomed!
 
Unfortunately prices are just extortionate in Surrey....even for a basic livery (turnout and feeding only) you're looking at about £260 a month, and then you get no decent facilities.

Maybe I do need to think about loaning him out....that would be quite hideous....
 
Extreme as in never having any new clothes, lack of sleep etc??

How on earth is ty costing you that much??

personally hon, I'd rug him up and chuck him out on DIY grass livery. Change yards, whatever. If you give us a breakdown on what you spend on him, how much livery etc is, then perhaps we can point out where you can save money?
 
I pay around the £500 mark for one neddy!

I've had to ditch the new car to keep my horses as I'm about to get my own house(renting, although I really want to buy!) well..with the OH.

I've also quit my job which I loved as I couldnt afford everything due to poor pay and annoyingly long hours(would finish a 26 hour shift at 11am then be back in work for 3pm)
 
[ QUOTE ]
You can tell that everyone who balked at the price doesn't live in Surrey! lol

Livery (all in) is £480 a month plus shoeing - obviously there are other things to consider.

I work full time and there's no way I can do DIY - I just wouldn't get time to ride and that's another whole set of problems in itself.

[/ QUOTE ]

okay okay, I can see now. Could you not put him on a working livery? Do you need the facilities?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Extreme as in never having any new clothes, lack of sleep etc??

How on earth is ty costing you that much??

personally hon, I'd rug him up and chuck him out on DIY grass livery. Change yards, whatever. If you give us a breakdown on what you spend on him, how much livery etc is, then perhaps we can point out where you can save money?

[/ QUOTE ]

He'd be miserable just chucked out on grass - needs to be worked!

I'm hoping that when on the new yard there will be more possibilities for sharing him - it's got great facilities and apparently people are always looking for horses to share.

Livery is £480 and that includes everything (including mucking out) so I just need to ride and clean tack. Before I get slated, yes I know it's not the ideal way to keep a horse but unfortunately I have to work full time so there's no way I'm giviing myself a hernia just to muck him out!

Then there's just shoeing - also not including vets bills etc which he costs me alot on (being a TB)!

I tink I'm going to have to bite the bullet and either ship him down to my mums or put him out on loan....feel sick just thinking about it though.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You can tell that everyone who balked at the price doesn't live in Surrey! lol

Livery (all in) is £480 a month plus shoeing - obviously there are other things to consider.

I work full time and there's no way I can do DIY - I just wouldn't get time to ride and that's another whole set of problems in itself.

[/ QUOTE ]

okay okay, I can see now. Could you not put him on a working livery? Do you need the facilities?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think he's a bit too naughty for working livery
grin.gif
I don't see the point in having him if I can't ride him (ie winter it's all about schooling as I can't hack out in the week)
 
Is there any way you can do a jobshare? Perhaps move jobs and move back in with your mum? get TY a shattie companion (just because i believe everyone should have one
tongue.gif
). at least then you could keep ty and save up for a mortgage? Even if your salary went down a little surely it would bounce off of what you were spending on livery atm?? You might even find it easier to get a sharer.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Extreme as in never having any new clothes, lack of sleep etc??

How on earth is ty costing you that much??

personally hon, I'd rug him up and chuck him out on DIY grass livery. Change yards, whatever. If you give us a breakdown on what you spend on him, how much livery etc is, then perhaps we can point out where you can save money?

[/ QUOTE ]

He'd be miserable just chucked out on grass - needs to be worked!

I'm hoping that when on the new yard there will be more possibilities for sharing him - it's got great facilities and apparently people are always looking for horses to share.

Livery is £480 and that includes everything (including mucking out) so I just need to ride and clean tack. Before I get slated, yes I know it's not the ideal way to keep a horse but unfortunately I have to work full time so there's no way I'm giviing myself a hernia just to muck him out!

Then there's just shoeing - also not including vets bills etc which he costs me alot on (being a TB)!

I tink I'm going to have to bite the bullet and either ship him down to my mums or put him out on loan....feel sick just thinking about it though.

[/ QUOTE ]

You feel sick about that yet you are not prepared to "give yourself a hernia" muck out?
 
Just because he is out at grass doesn't mean he can't be worked!!!
How about finding another yard with good turnout, going DIY, and keep him out 24h April-November (hence you just have to groom and ride and feed) and then if necessary bring him in for the worst of the winter weather and paying for him to be mucked out 5 days a week. Although if you put rubber mats down and a few shavings it would only take you 5 mins to sweep out anyway.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You can tell that everyone who balked at the price doesn't live in Surrey! lol

Livery (all in) is £480 a month plus shoeing - obviously there are other things to consider.

I work full time and there's no way I can do DIY - I just wouldn't get time to ride and that's another whole set of problems in itself.

[/ QUOTE ]

okay okay, I can see now. Could you not put him on a working livery? Do you need the facilities?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think he's a bit too naughty for working livery
grin.gif
I don't see the point in having him if I can't ride him (ie winter it's all about schooling as I can't hack out in the week)

[/ QUOTE ]
But you got him from a RS. Perhaps he'd still be suitable for experienced riders to have schooling lessons on?
I am still having a hernia over how much he costs you!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
You can tell that everyone who balked at the price doesn't live in Surrey! lol

Livery (all in) is £480 a month plus shoeing - obviously there are other things to consider.

I work full time and there's no way I can do DIY - I just wouldn't get time to ride and that's another whole set of problems in itself.

[/ QUOTE ]

I work full time, and have 3 horses, many people on this forum work full time but still do their horses DIY.

Yes it does mean that during the winter you do a disproportionate amount of poo shovelling compared to riding, especailly if you don't have a floodlit arena or indoor school..

....summer is fab though and that is where the real savings kick in
 
Hi Stimpy
grin.gif


Oo what a little dilema:

If you dont want to sell him how about getting someone to share, or maybe loan him out to ease your finances a bit?

Also do you have to keep him full livery [well I am guessing at that cost], could you go part livery or maybe even diy? Although work commitments might decide otherwise.

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do.

Hb

PS I spend about that a month too
laugh.gif
grin.gif
 
Sell the horse, thats your deposite. Ride someone elses horse or share theres. Once you are on the property ladder it gets easier as time goes on.
But then you got to decide what you want in life. Life is too short as it is.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ease off Jac, that's a bit strong.

It costs me nearly that to keep my horse, so doesn't sound steep to me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Certainly wasn't meant to come across as strong. However, mucking out one horse is unlikely to give anyone a hernia! Mucking out need not take more than 10/15 mins a day - it really isnt that big a deal but it would make huge differences to the costs involved.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ease off Jac, that's a bit strong.

It costs me nearly that to keep my horse, so doesn't sound steep to me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Certainly wasn't meant to come across as strong. However, mucking out one horse is unlikely to give anyone a hernia! Mucking out need not take more than 10/15 mins a day - it really isnt that big a deal but it would make huge differences to the costs involved.

[/ QUOTE ]

I realise that - I was being facitious!

It's just a time thing. By the time I get to the yard it's 6.30 - muck out 7.00 ride etc ....... DIY would be great but it's really hard to find decent DIY around Epsom/Banstead way. I also can't not work Ty in the week in the winter - he'd kill me!

Unfortunately selling him isn't an option - he's blind in one eye and is probably worth bugger all even though he has potential.....he's not proven at all. This is another whole discussion and I'm currently trying to get my money back on him.

Can't move him back to my mums as she's in Hampshire - only other option is to try and loan him out down there or get a good rider to exercise him and keep him at mums ....

Also, another thing to add, is that I'm lead singer of a band that's starting to do really well - so I rehearse Mondays and Saturdays too......
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top