How do you afford your horse(s) ?

[Blizzard]

I remember when I was younger I never thought I would be able to afford a horse, now I can, although it means sacrificing other things, but I was just wondering how everyone affords their horses.

 

[JessPickle]

My dad pays for him. As he rides him as well as me and I am still in college (I am 17)

 

[Henmen]

Work 2 evenings a week and sunday in a supermarket.

 

[Tempi]

i pay for everything for both mine, however i dont have much money left over at the end of the month. but i also wouldnt have it any other way!

 

[Murphs_Mum]

I work hard, keep him on DIY livery and would rather survive on baked beans that let him go without! Also my OH is very supportive. We manage quite comfortably but we don't have children just the pets!

 

[TheresaW]

I have sharers for mine who contribute a bit towards their keep.

 

[HBII]

I can afford my horse as I have a pre-set budget for her per month. I transfer £X into a "horse account" and all the bills come out of that one account so I know exactly how much I spend on her monthly. There is usually some money left over which rolls over to next month.

As for big purchases such as rugs etc they sometimes come out of my current account or go on the credit card which is then cleared at the end of the month.

I couldnt afford to all of a suddent start going out and spending money put it this way Christmas hurt as I only have £8 in my current account

!

Hb

 

[SarahNZ]

I scrimp on everything and save as much as I can. Workwise I work fulltime and in my spare time try to design and develop as many horsey websites as possible! I also will ride/train a few horses in my area, as well. Pretty much anythign that will come along really!!

I have 7 months to save a huge amount of money so my horse and I can go home to NZ!!

 

[sojeph]

Easily with plenty to spare!
However, they are hairy natives that live out 24/7. I don't insure them, they have no feed or rugs and minimal hay because I have loads of fields to turn out in and are barefoot

 

[the watcher]

One was easy, two became a bit of a pinch..can't remember my last holiday and hardly ever go out, currently have three..didn't plan it that way, and they are starting to tip me over the edge a bit so at some point one of them will have to go. Work full time

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

I brought my horse and pay for the shows, saddles, every thing thats not brought from local farmer in way for feed and bedding, also pay insurance...Oh they have yard too.

 

[Chex]

My parents do just now, but I'll pay for him once I've left uni and got a job. I imagine it'ss be a struggle, but hes more important than food and stuff lol. He's a pretty cheap horse to own (just now anyway, I'm expecting more vet bills as he gets super old!)

 

[Alibear]

Not sure which is me, I can't afford what I want I generall have to save for stuff above the normal keep fees etc and I do skip on onther things like going out and clothes etc. But I usually do get things eventually. But then there's the vets bills which did send me horribly over drawn, thankfull they are all paid at the moment

 

[Bex7]

I have not quite worked out how I pay for him, he is never without but I always am.......The bank hate me!

 

[Emma123]

I still live at home as I'm just 18 and at 6th form so that saves all my money on food, bills, morgage etc!

Pay for him by working mon,wed and thurs 6-10pm and him living at my Grandma's yard so livery veeery cheap!

I only see him weekends and holidays becasue i live over an hour away

 

[Kelly1982]

I can afford to keep my horse and she gets everything she needs but i sacrafic a lot for myself (clothes, going out etc).

I am overdrawn quite a bit too though as a lot of it gets wasted on things like take aways and mags for the train etc. Things you have nothing to show for

 

[Vicki1986]

i still live at home (aged 20) luckily my dad is hardly ever home so its more like having my own place.

i sacrifice things for myself (i go clothes shopping about 4 times a year max) dont have hair cuts often and dont get my nails done like i used to.

i dont have much of a social life either haha!

but the neddy is in new tack rugs etc and is well looked after and happy so there we are.

My new years resolution is not to buy her anything unless vital and to try to cut down on costs til i have paid off my overdraft and visa x

 

[polyphonic]

i work more hours than my body can take!! 10 hours a day and 4 hours on a sat 1 day off is sunday, not been on holiday for years... my car is falling apart and shakes doing 30mph!! a well to do partner pays my rent and shopping, so what i earn goes on the lad!

 

[EquestrianFairy]

I get a good wage but im loads in debt (partly due to being conned out of a horse!) so i can afford to look after the one, the 2nd is a companion so shes being looked after eslewhere.
I have money spare but i dont generally go out or buy clothes very often!

 

[SamuelWhiskers]

Had to give up horses for nearly 10 years :-( (mum kept my oldie at home though!) moved away from home, spent 6 years working and training to become a chartered surveyor and bought and sold houses. Its taken me this long to beable to buy a horse and look after it again...and probably more importantly have the time due to no more study!! Now have some land, hoping to build a house where the nags are kept...just have to keep working to bring the cash in!! I also have a horse account and transfer £x per month, then if any is left at the end of the month, i decide whether i will need it for next month (ie if farrier is due etc) or it will go on something they need!!

 

[FigJam]

I worl full time, don't drink or smoke, can't remember the last time I bought new clothes other than out of necessity... oh, and have a husband!!!

I'd much rather go out with friends, have a couple of soft drinks and be able to afford my horse (and also be able to go riding the next day instead of nursing a hangover!) than go out, get drunk every weekend. <old boring icon?!>

I apply the same don't drink/don't smoke excuse to my haircuts which hubby always complains are too expensive!!!

 

[celia]

My parents bought our welshie for us but my sister and I pay for her ourselves. She has a job at a nearby yard and pays livery (DIY so not too much) and I pay for hay, feed, worming, farrier, dentist, rugs etc. Luckily she's fairly cheap to keep so we manage fine and we usually have enough money left over for clothes and bits and the odd treat! I'm not hugely sociable though so don't spend money going out very often!

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

I work 50hr weeks doing two jobs. But as one of them is for my YO, it means I still get to spend time with my horse.

Also make the usual expensive food, new clothes, nights out sacrifices.

I worked out the other day that I spend nearly £100 a month on animal insurance alone (includes the dogs). I have no idea what the horse costs each month because it comes directly out of my wages but I generally don't like to think about it.

 

[Scarlett]

some months we scrape by and end up on Asda smart price beans on toast - however the ponies always get what they need, having 4 horses we can't just go out and buy a nice fancy bridle/rug/boots etc like I did when I only had one, but they are all healthy, happy and wearing Ebay bargains that fit so I don't think they can complain.... sometimes I think about selling my Highland as I don't really do much with him but I'd only go out and get another ex-racer to replace him! So I wouldnt be saving any money....!!

I am incredibly lucky that my OH has been turned horsey this year, one of them is his and he has had no probs sacrificing a few nites at the pub a month to have them and keep them happy. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned getting my local feedshops own mix and cubes (£3 a bag) for them to save a few pennies, he was disgusted at this idea and wouldnt let me scrimp on anything they get, he'd rather we went without....

 

[dressagespain]

I live at home to reduce my bills and my dad has built my stables for me and a pista, so I'm really lucky but the luckiest thing of all its that its really cheap to keep horses in Spain so I can afford 3 for the price of one in UK.

 

[Super_Kat]

I'm still in college so my mum pays for them. When I was still in school (in the last year) I had to work every shift I could get to kepe my three horses and when I'd finished scool I went out and worked full time.

 

[Ginn]

I sacrifice things for myself and work a ridiculous number of hours in my local pub!! At Christmas (when waitressing) I make sure to be extra polite, smiley and helpful as well as wearing the most cleavage flattering tops to pull in extra tips

I choose to live at home (off my parents) and am lucky enough that my first choice uni is only a 40 min drive. I occasionally treat myself to nice new clothes but its usually sale stuff and my social life is pretty poor as I cannot justify £30 on a night out every few weeks.

But I wouldn't change it for anything!! My horse comes first where money is concerned.

 

[kayleigh_and_rocky]

I'm 19 and in studies - uni next year, so my mum and dad pay the big bills (livery, farrier, vet) and i pay the little bills (rugs, tack, equipment, feed, hay and competitions) but i have to say even though im just paying the little bills im totally broke - i currently have £10 to live off til feb 1st!! so cant even imagine what its going to be like when i have to pay the big bills aswell

 

[samp]

I still live at home at the resnt and convenience is fab. I have to make some sacrifices and can scrimp by, by the end of the month. I woould have been ok had I not have not worked for 6 months and then just worked part time for 18 months - this was what put me in debt. I have full time job now, can't afford as many lessons etc as need but my horse gets the best food etc. I rarely blow huge sums of money drinking, i generally elect to drive on nights out

 

[Nic]

I don't go out, have a decent car, go on holiday much, buy clothes outside thae sales oh & I still live at home with almost no hope of ever being able to afford to move out!

Did I mention I am looking for another, I think I need sectioned!