Horses and cost of living

[Penny Less]

Havent seen or heard anything about horses being abandoned due to rising costs, plenty of news about domestic animals. Has there been a big increase ?

 

[bonny]

Havent seen or heard anything about horses being abandoned due to rising costs, plenty of news about domestic animals. Has there been a big increase ?

Shouldn’t think so, prices are still very high as is demand.

 

[Fieldlife]

Havent seen or heard anything about horses being abandoned due to rising costs, plenty of news about domestic animals. Has there been a big increase ?

Think way too early. It isnt cold yet, and grass is still good, house heating is not on. If going to see an issue it will be late November onward IMO when heating on at home, and most horses needing hay

 

[GreyDot]

Price of feed is rising every month Now paying just under £34 for one bag of balancer (Baileys Lo Cal)

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I gave up in february due to the cost after the announcement about energy bills as I could no longer afford it especially now we have a mortgage and have the associated house costs so could see this happening.

It means I can contribute more at home financially. I used to struggle to afford wood pellets when they were 300 quid, just looked at my old supplier and they are over 600, no way could I have afforded it!

 

[JBM]

I have a 40 acer field available to house any horses in need ?

 

[smolmaus]

The sanctuary has a good few coming back from long term foster as the person can't afford the upkeep on so many this winter. She is keeping the ones she can afford, bless her. A couple more returned from what were supposed to be permanent homes for vaguely cost related reasons but we haven't seen any "new" abandonment cases yet.

 

[Green Bean]

It is already biting a lot of people but as us horse folk know, we will sacrifice on the home front before we sacrifice the horse. This doesn't apply to everyone of course but I think there are a few of us reconciling home purchases and favouring what is required for our horse(s). I expect there will be an increase in horses for sale this winter as others have said. I have seen quite a few wanted adds for DIY yards so maybe this is where it starts.

 

[Ratface]

The horse and the cat are, as ever, having the best of care, including hot and cold running 24/7 staff.
On the other hand, I am scrimping and saving, knowing to the last penny, how to keep myself going whilst living with two chronic disabilities.
Never mind. I'm sure that I can do it, as I always have, and have certainly no intention of changing that now.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

It’s why I have two jobs. It used to just be holiday money and savings for rainy days and a couple of shifts a month now it’s pretty much me working 7days a week in excess of 65hr weeks to be able to save and pay bills. Getting horrendous.

 

[maya2008]

I have just filled my days right up with work (self employed) and am sitting on my hands instead of finding a nice 2yo or two to mature next year for the kids to play on. That and there just isn’t enough grass for the winter (yet - it’s growing as fast as it can!).

 

[tyner]

It’s why I have two jobs. It used to just be holiday money and savings for rainy days and a couple of shifts a month now it’s pretty much me working 7days a week in excess of 65hr weeks to be able to save and pay bills. Getting horrendous.

Same here ? Would really like to quit the one, but it's impossible now. Sadly it leaves very little time to be at the yard.

 

[honetpot]

I think people really need to decide now what they are going to do and not leave it, the change in the weather often means that animals that coped are not going to cope come Christmas.
My last PTS was last weekish, unexpected but the pony was thirty, but was in good general health.
My bill for the examine and two out of hours visits, and PTS,was £580. Collection obviously not booked £450 cash, for a 12 hands pony.
The one before cost all in £140, planned and booked in with the fallen stock company.
My grass is growing, crossed fingers they will be out till October, I think no one can predict how much fodder will be by spring.

 

[MagicMelon]

I wouldnt think there'd be many abandonments as you can normally sell most horses - even for meat money (so sad) so Id have thought most people would try to sell to make some money even if only a little. I imagine though that people wont start panicking until they're in the thick of it. Most are probably waiting to see how high their bills are going to go over the winter.

 

[MagicMelon]

Collection obviously not booked £450 cash, for a 12 hands pony.
The one before cost all in £140, planned and booked in with the fallen stock company..

Yikes thats expensive! Cant you just ask your local digger man to come dig a hole and bury on your own land? Ive done that with all my horses - my neighbour does it and has never charged me so Ive always given him a bottle of whisky or something as a thank you. I could never bear to send my horse away although I get it obviously if its not your own land.

 

[honetpot]

I have land but its solid clay then rock, and I have the opinion once its dead that's it. At least if it is planned, you can control the costs. I have had two die while out on loan, and I pay the fees, so you often haven't got a choice of which company can collect quickly, and where there are children involved do you really want the body hanging around.
I once had one PTS in the snow as an emergency, it took four days to get the truck down the track, and a tractor with a loader to shift the body, so there was a bottle of whiskey and £50 on top. This is why if possible I think you are wise to try and think well in advance, if you can.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

I’d give up pretty much everything else before giving up my horses or other animals. I’m sure many feel the same way so until it really is critical people will hang on as long as they can.

 

[Barton Bounty]

As we say in Scotland. Id haugh my mutton before selling lol!! Or start an only fans pmsl

 

[PipsqueakXy22]

Price of feed is rising every month Now paying just under £34 for one bag of balancer (Baileys Lo Cal)

I don’t know if this helps much but topspec lite balancer is what I use and super low cal, only £25 (well not “only” but still bit cheaper)

 

[SO1]

Horse prices are still high for registered natives I will be looking next year and am expecting to pay around 8k for a new forest.

I think there will be welfare issues for some horses and I think vets bills will start to be more of an issue for anything not covered by insurance. I think more horses will be turned away or retired early rather than a lot of investment in expensive diagnostics and treatments.

A lot of horses are overweight and probably could get away with no hard feeds, balancers or supplements and would probably be fine on just grass and hay if in light work or roughed off for the winter. Lessons, competitions, physio, saddlers all the little extras could all go. Shoes could be taken off, trailers and lorries could be sold. There are ways of reducing costs for a lot of people.

The employment market is very buoyant. If that changes and people start loosing jobs and unable to get new ones and have difficulties in paying mortgages and rents if interest rates go up that is when people may have no choice but to sell or loan their horses out.

At the moment almost anyone who wants a job can probably get one or even two in certain areas. I am in London and could easily get a weekend job in retail, hospitality or adult care in addition to my normal day job. Thankfully I don't need a second job.

It has been really hard at my work to fill vacancies and that is for well paid office jobs. In lots of other organisations I hear the same problems in recruiting people.

However in 6 months there may be a problem as if business energy is not capped anymore then many businesses may no longer be able to function resulting in mass unemployment.

I think the problem is business energy as if we have mass unemployment due to business going under then people on middle incomes who have mortgages are not going to manage on benefits people won't be able to pay mortgages and will loose their houses.

Working people will struggle with energy increases and inflation but if large numbers of middle income people, the type who have horses or spend money on leisure become unemployed people and cannot easily find work they won't be able to have a horse and they may be at risk of losing their house if they can't keep up with mortgage payments or rent and benefits will not be enough to cover mortgage payments.

The point where you cannot easily afford to pay for your accommodation and basic food is the crunch point especially if you have children. If you don't have kids down sizing accommodation and living off very little food and not putting heating on and reducing amount of washing of clothes and self maybe worth it to keep your horse but to put kids through that in order to fund a horse may not be a choice familes may want to make.

However I don't think it will come to that. The tory government relies on the middle class vote and wealthy vote. They won't want business to fail too many of their supporters and the MP's themselves have business investments. Pensions are tied into the stock market.

It will be a very hard winter for those on benefits and pensions and low incomes. For those on middle incomes the standard of living will drop and luxuries people have got used to may have to go but they probably won't get ill due to lack of food or warmth and will probably still have TV and internet for leisure.

As we saw in lockdown the leisure and hospitality industries employ a lot of people and if people cannot spend money in these areas as they have no disposable income after their basic needs such as food and accommodation are taken care of those business will go under so we may end up with some sort of scheme to help those business to avoid mass unemployment.

 

[TinseLeneHorse]

As we say in Scotland. Id haugh my mutton before selling lol!! Or start an only fans pmsl

At least you still have that option - mines well past its sell by date ??

 

[BallyJ]

I'm shopping for a horse now and prices are still high on 4yo Irish imports but I have noticed privately sold horses are coming down slightly. If only the sellers replied to calls/texts!

 

[SO1]

I saw this article. I think raising a child on a single lowish income is going to be incredibly hard. Both parents will need to work or one might need a second job weekends or evenings to top the income up.

How single parents on benefits will manage this winter I don't know. The tories will take care of middle income people which is their voters but will be harsh for those on benefits no doubt believing it is a lifestyle choice rather than because they can't work.

https://www.theguardian.com/busines...y-struggle-to-manage-in-cost-of-living-crisis

 

[marmalade76]

Havent seen or heard anything about horses being abandoned due to rising costs, plenty of news about domestic animals. Has there been a big increase ?

Give it time, it's early yet. As said up thread, most are still out, the grass is growing again, the heating isn't on yet and energy prices are yet to go up again.

Come Christmas, I think it will be a different story, there'll be a lot more for sale, prices will drop like nobody's business and I think we may see some low value animals being abandoned.

 

[honetpot]

I saw this article. I think raising a child on a single lowish income is going to be incredibly hard. Both parents will need to work or one might need a second job weekends or evenings to top the income up.

How single parents on benefits will manage this winter I don't know. The tories will take care of middle income people which is their voters but will be harsh for those on benefits no doubt believing it is a lifestyle choice rather than because they can't work.

https://www.theguardian.com/busines...y-struggle-to-manage-in-cost-of-living-crisis

Even if you do get benefits they are probably not enough.
Cost of living: Work and Pensions Committee publishes Government response to report - Committees - UK Parliament

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I saw this article. I think raising a child on a single lowish income is going to be incredibly hard. Both parents will need to work or one might need a second job weekends or evenings to top the income up.

How single parents on benefits will manage this winter I don't know. The tories will take care of middle income people which is their voters but will be harsh for those on benefits no doubt believing it is a lifestyle choice rather than because they can't work.

https://www.theguardian.com/busines...y-struggle-to-manage-in-cost-of-living-crisis

I haven't read the article but I would actually say that the worst hit are those working full time who only just don't qualify for benefits, or are on lower salaries, as they don't quality for any of the additional help/protection/income increases that those on benefits do.

 

[SO1]

I don't think people who rely on benefits especially families will be able to manage this winter without extreme hardship. I doubt many horse owners are reliant on benefits but I expect small animal owners maybe so more likely dogs and cats welfare a problem.

I think the government thinks people on benefits are in that situation because they choose not to work so I cannot seen them giving enough financial support to enable them to survive without help from charities and food banks or if they are lucky enough to have friends or family who can help.

Even if you do get benefits they are probably not enough.
Cost of living: Work and Pensions Committee publishes Government response to report - Committees - UK Parliament

 

[Fieldlife]

I don't think people who rely on benefits especially families will be able to manage this winter without extreme hardship. I doubt many horse owners are reliant on benefits but I expect small animal owners maybe so more likely dogs and cats welfare a problem.

There are a number of horse owners on benefits. I dont know how they manage but they do.

 

[maisie06]

I haven't read the article but I would actually say that the worst hit are those working full time who only just don't qualify for benefits, or are on lower salaries, as they don't quality for any of the additional help/protection/income increases that those on benefits do.

Exactly this!! There's no help for people in this situation, we are just being wrung out.

 

[Dexter]

I haven't read the article but I would actually say that the worst hit are those working full time who only just don't qualify for benefits, or are on lower salaries, as they don't quality for any of the additional help/protection/income increases that those on benefits do.

Anyone working is better off than anyone on benefits. Have you seen what the benefit rates are for a single person?