How do you afford your horses?

huskydamage

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I have two horses on diy and a decent job but the pay is not great. My pony was bought for me by my mum when I was a child, my horse is partially paid for by me and the rest a loan from my OH which I am paying off monthly. I spend a lot on my hobby and am also saving to buy a house. It is very tight and am only able to afford it as I am currently in a very fortunate position to pay only a very tiny rent
 

Toby_Zaphod

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I decided that I was going to make a small fortune from my 3 horses & I succeeded! How did I do it...................... I started with a large fortune!!
 

blitznbobs

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Not related to the post at all but please can you explain your quote?? I don't really get it.

well if you do the same thing over and over you will end up with the same result... try something different if you require a different result.

or is it the bit about strawberry cremes ? Thats simply that I hate them.
 

MuddyMonster

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I'm boring & spreadsheet everything I/we spend! Plus, we live relatively simply.

It's been tougher the last eighteen months or so, as OH & I are buying a house this year together so saving doubly hard.

I'm on an above average wage, but have worked hard for it & worked my way up from a basic entry position. I'm junior management now. I've worked in various forms since I was 13 (at times, I've had three jobs at once). The idea of living pay cheque to pay cheque has terrified me, so I've saved ever since I was 16 or so - even if it was only £10 here & there at the start. I currently save about 50% of my salary.

I've studied & paid for additional qualifications to help progression. I made the decision to do a job that I find boring & tedious at times, pays well. It can be long hours & sometimes I'd rather be riding than in another over-running meeting. But we also about to get on the property ladder in the South-East so it's swings & roundabouts ....

We live well within our means & learnt to prioritise what is an essential & what isn't.
A few of my friend's would (and have) said I/we are dull but I think we still do most of the things we enjoy just to a lesser/more cost effective way - I enjoy reading, so use the library instead of buying books (or I buy books from a charity shop), we enjoy socialising but often host or drive to social events so I save on not drinking (and a hangover!). If we eat out, it's voucher codes. I couldn't not wear make-up so I worked what I can use cheaply. I enjoy fashion but 90% of my wardrobe comes from Sainsbury's, Tesco or Primark. The other 10% was bought in the sale :D I'm still driving the same car I bought 6 or 7 years ago. I just bought a basic smart phone three years ago that for £100 that I have a SIM only contract for but does the job. We don't take holidays abroad at the moment - we go camping in the UK instead! in the Peak District & Dorset last year.

I knew buying a native would (most likely) be more economical, so that's what I did! I bought young, green & cheap and worked my backside off to bring him on. He's never going to score 9's on a high level dressage test or move like a warmblood (I love the bones of him regardless) but he moves well enough & eats a bag of feed once every 6 months :) We mainly hack & school but I've started to do a bit more, but I still just hack to competitions & clinics at my nearest EC and limit this as well my lessions with my trainer. He's on assisted DIY on a nice but basic yard facility wise (we literally have a stable, fields, floodlit school, limited storage but great hacking) He always gets what he needs, but I'm strict with myself on extra's - he has religious saddle fittings, physiotherapy, dentist, farrier appointments and so on but his diamantè browband was £10 in the sale, his second hand ergonomic bridle doesn't match his saddle & I've not paid over £30 for a saddle pad.

I'm relatively young & whilst my OH & I do ocassionally treat ourselves (despite some of what our friend's might think) it's current pain for long term gain & all that at the moment!

The plan is for a second horse when my current horse slows down into semi-retirement but hopefully not for a good long while, but he or she will probably inherit most of my horse's useable stuff :D
 

JJS

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I’m on just over the average wage but still live with my parents aged 26 and drive a super economical car. I will move out once I can afford it without renting but I’ve only been working full time 20months so far and live in the south east...

I'm in a similar position. I have four horses, and am also living at home aged 26 so I can afford them all. The horses are kept on DIY livery, and I work for myself to make sure my daily schedule can always accommodate them. I only ever buy what's necessary - for both me and them - which means that a wardrobe full of designer clothes and competing both have to go out of the window. TBH though, we manage just fine on my wage and they never want for anything. I think lots of people make things an awful lot more expensive than they need to be.
 

Boulty

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I work a not wonderfully paid job, still live at home, rarely go out, rarely buy anything new for myself & drive a cheap, small car. By doing this I manage to have a horse on DIY livery with no facilities, have a 15 year old lorry (on borrowed money) and compete a few times a month. Horse has a few health issues and is a bit complicated to manage so tbh costs as much to run as 2 "normal" ones despite being a 14.2 native pony! Shortly going to experiment with moving him further away from home on full livery so he can hopefully be at a yard that is better set up to manage all his issues whilst still giving him a good life (He can no longer tolerate the grass where I am and that was before they fertilised it). To afford this the lorry is going to have to go and the competing is going to have to stop apart from maybe occasional outings a few times a year with lorry hire perhaps (I may eventually look into doing my trailer test and trading the car in for something that would be able to pull a single horse trailer but that's far in the future if everything else works out!)
 

Ahrena

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I have an average salary (although my commute eats a lot of it) and have 2 horses. 1 has a sharer and 1 I compete, affiliated in 3 disciplines but mainly eventing.

Kept on a basic v cheap diy yard, hoping to move somewhere a bit more suitable next year once I change roles into something more progressive and then I can move and slash the commute.

I’m in a fortunate (but sad) position where my mum died in my early 20s and I inherited a small house so I don’t need to pay mortgage or rent. My eventer is a bit high maintence and costs a lot to feed and I spend a lot on shows and training. I inherited my lorry and in the process of buying a new one out of my mums inheritance which will hopefully cost a bit less to run.

If I were paying rent/mortgage I wouldn’t currently be able to compete or have lessons much.
 

pippixox

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I have 2 horses and a pony. Kept on cheap rented land which saves me a lot over all, as paying 3x DIY would be impossible (it is a worry if I ever lost the land) but I do have to do all maintenance work- which I do as cheap as possible. They were all quite low maintence but old boy getting more accident prone, mare now got sweet itch and pony has just been diagnosed with liver damage 🙁
I used to work 6 days a week and 2 after school clubs (special needs school and charity) on just above minimum wage. But now I have a toddler and pregnant with number 2. Thankfully my dad technically owns my old boy- had him since he was a 1 yo in race training, so pays for his keep. I cover the horse costs doing care work with a teenager with special needs who comes to the horses with me, so I am lucky to have that job. Although does mean less family time as often have her on one weekend day. Husbands wage just about covers all other expenses. But we don’t go on foreign holidays or eat out more than an occasional birthday. He chooses to spend money on mountain bikes!

If I was competitive I would not be able to afford it- I’m just a happy hacker with maybe a few sponsored rides or local fun shows a year. No lesson or competition entry costs.
 

Sussexbythesea

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I’m on a decent salary but a big chunk is taken out in tax, NI and pension. I’m on DIY but Because I travel fairly regularly as need flexibility I have to pay someone mon-fri to do my horse which adds an extra £200 a month. I used to do Sundays for her as a swop for one day but both her elderly horses have been put down in the last 5 months so now I’m doing Fridays as don’t normally travel on that day.

I also live alone so pay 100% of household bills and mortgage. I’ve had to spend a lot on the house to get it up to scratch. I’ve benefited from some inheritance in the past which is the only reason I have the house at all and can afford a horse. I have had “temporary” paper blinds for about 5 years now and scant furniture mainly from family.

I do travel a bit mainly because my family is so spread out. One sister lives in Virginia and so I go every 2-3 years if I can. Last year my nephews wedding was in Poland because his wife’s family are Polish and this year my other nephew is getting married and he lives in Iceland so it’s costing me a fortune to go to there. My sister would be really upset if I didn’t go.

I’ve had one non family holiday in about the last 10 years which was a wilderness trek on Icelandic’s last year but I’m still paying it off.

I’ve just remortgaged to do some more to the house but have to admit some of it will be for my next horsey adventure. My old boy is 23 and still being lightly ridden so it won’t be until he’s fully retired as I can’t afford two or have the time to ride both.
 

ROMANY 1959

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Since I sold 2 horses when kids went to uni...and the lorry and all the kit and stuff you gather, I have a life, holidays, days doing nothing...don’t miss being poor and up at all hours in all weather
 

HashRouge

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I get free accommodation with my job, so that's probably the main reason I can afford horses! I currently have one retired mare who lives out, plus a share horse who I ride twice a week, so my expenditure isn't huge anyway, but I am in a position where I'm starting to consider buying a riding horse. I also have my sister's gelding to look after, but don't pay for him. I live fairly cheaply day to day - my big passions are horses and travel. I spend quite a lot per year on travel actually, even though I tend to travel cheaply when I'm in a country (youth hostels/ street food etc) I have a passion for Latin America so flights are expensive! I'm a teacher so have a lot of holiday. I've already been abroad once this year (two weeks scuba diving in Honduras at Easter) and am considering Brazil for three weeks over Summer. I will almost certainly go back to Honduras next Easter. The flights are expensive but everything else is fairly manageable. If I had to pay rent, things would be very different I'm sure!
 

Dulcie

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I am the most spoiled and incredibly lucky 15 year old girl on the planet. My parents pay for pretty much everything feed, bedding, water - and we have the horses at home (only a small plot but it's the most amazing thing). My Dad is the youngest of his siblings by 10 years and comes from Northern Ireland, my Grandparent's send me £20 every 2 weeks (I don't know how to ask for less but they don't mind). Me and my Grandparents are really close - although I don't see them much we send letters often and when we do see them it's often the nicest couple of weeks I have. I mainly use this money on rugs, headcollars, numnahs etc for the horses!
I often try to pay for things myself as much as possible but my parents insist I spend it on better things than feed, bedding etc. I help out with maintenance jobs as often as possible - I look after and ride my Dad's horse a lot due to an injury he's had. I'm forever grateful for my life, as I know many aren't as fortunate as me. I do all the work with my pony myself, although my Dad's nice enough to be my towing taxi service! :)
 

MiJodsR2BlinkinTite

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Well, I'm blessed in that I have my own place, but having said that I'm self employed and sometimes money doesn't exactly grow on trees!

I have a livery, just the one, and that does help a great deal. Also we rent out our land to a local sheep farmer, which brings in enough money to trim the hedges each year (necessary as we've got borders on the public highway), and enough for a bit of field maintenance too.

I shop at Lidls as a rule - Sainsburys is nearer but find it more expensive.

Charity shops and re-cycling centres are handy for clothes; have got some fab bargains and very grateful! BUT some charity shops these days are putting up their prices all the time and it can be cheaper to actually buy new!! Places like factory outlets and Seconds shops are very often cheaper than charity shops!

I shop on e-bay: again have got some great bargains there. And also you can make a bit of cash if you sell on there too - I have made a bit of money on saddles I've bought and sold, which helped me to finance THE saddle I really wanted!!

Shoeing I am sure is everyone's mega-expense, but we have to do a helluva lot of road here and they really have to have shoes on :(
 

Limbo1

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I keep mine very cheaply. The main reason is our own land. I keep 2 ponies and a horse for around £300 a month including the children going to pony club etc. The main cost is farrier but 2 are barefooted and one only fronts. I only fully insure my horse and the ponies are £110 a year for both, plus the same for the trailer. We cut our own hay so that costs about £100 a year.
I only work about 6 hrs a week as I am a student and have small kids, so it all goes on ponies. My OH pays for everything else ie house food , he will not pay for anything past the garden gate! If the fence needs mending I buy the wood, Fertiliser for the fields, you get the idea. I never buy clothes for myself, have my hair cut very rarely and little coffees out. I would rather take my kids to a show!
 

SEL

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I'm no longer young, so have a few decades of corporate work behind me which has definitely given me a financial safety net. Going part-time in a job near home reduced my cash a lot, but actually gave me time to spend with the horses. Saying that DIY is still the only real option as one of them does like to run up some impressive vet bills.

The one that is a pet was always going to be a companion so I don't begrudge anything I spend on him (& he's low maintenance). The other one is frustrating because she's supposed to be the riding horse but keeps breaking. I did wonder about #3, but then money and time would be very tight.

No kids definitely helps!
 

windand rain

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I am the most spoiled and incredibly lucky 15 year old girl on the planet. My parents pay for pretty much everything feed, bedding, water - and we have the horses at home (only a small plot but it's the most amazing thing). My Dad is the youngest of his siblings by 10 years and comes from Northern Ireland, my Grandparent's send me £20 every 2 weeks (I don't know how to ask for less but they don't mind). Me and my Grandparents are really close - although I don't see them much we send letters often and when we do see them it's often the nicest couple of weeks I have. I mainly use this money on rugs, headcollars, numnahs etc for the horses!
I often try to pay for things myself as much as possible but my parents insist I spend it on better things than feed, bedding etc. I help out with maintenance jobs as often as possible - I look after and ride my Dad's horse a lot due to an injury he's had. I'm forever grateful for my life, as I know many aren't as fortunate as me. I do all the work with my pony myself, although my Dad's nice enough to be my towing taxi service! :)

What a wonderful and appreciative post nice to see a youngster that knows the value of thing not just the price
 

JustMe22

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I have one retired horse and one horse in work. I also share (2 days a week) another horse. I'm 27 and have a decent job. I live in south Africa where livery is all full livery so though I ride every day I dont have to spend hours doing stables etc.

Retired horse is on a property about 45 minutes away and livery is more affordable there. He had shoes etc off and I buy all his blankets secondhand.

Working horse competes 2-3 times a month dressage and SJ. I got the money for a trailer by buying a cheap one, fixing it up and selling for a nice profit then using that to buy the frame of my existing one and having all the repair work done cheaply. Result is a nice older model bockmann trailer for about 200 pounds.

I have weekly dressage lessons but get these for free in return for managing my instructor's social media and organising all her clinics. My jumping lessons are group lessons and remarkably affordable.

Then I work from home often which saves in terms of petrol, I cook a fair bit of vegetarian food and always go to my local supermarket when they discount everything heavily and buy that. I buy clothes in the sale and riding stuff in the sale too and I don't have super fancy tack, save for my first ever prestige jumping saddle. He has no name saddlecloths, secondhand boots and bridles etc.

I freelance as a writer in my spare time and, though it can be up and down, I earn probably 50% of my "normal" salary on top of it and use that for the horses. I'll work over the weekends or in the evenings or early mornings

I also tend to make extra cash with random things - this month I picked up a very fancy saddle for 200 pounds and sold it a week later for 1100 for instance. Or I bought a helmet from the USA a while ago and got an extra one for a friend which covered the costs of me buying mine. That sort of thing :)
 

rosiesowner

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I work on a yard doing all the usual stuff as well as teaching. Minimum wage, as are many jobs in this industry! Being just shy of 20 I still live with my parents which obviously helps a LOT. Couldn't afford Chilli if I also had to pay for rent etc. Chills takes up pretty much my whole wage packet every month! I'll be on sick pay for the next couple of months which I appreciate I'm lucky to get but won't be nearly enough to pay for my horse, phone etc. Thankfully my mum is a bit of a legend and is helping me out!
 

Jinx94

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I work Mon-Fri 7:30-12:30(ish) at a stud, Mon-Sat 5-10pm(can vary) as a visiting carer and two hours each day at the weekend that pays for Tris' livery.

My care work doesn't earn as much as you might think, as out of my 5 hour "shift" I may only have 2 or 3 hours work.

Tbh, I'm so busy working and saving (and spending money on vet bills) that I don't have a lot of time to spend the rest of my money. I don't have any friends in the area, though I am making friends with the other girls at work, so I would much rather be spending my time working and earning than sitting around feeling lost and lonely.

I want to save as much as possible before September as I will be starting my MSc, and I know that I'll need to scale back on my hours to be able to cope. I don't need to work as many hours as I do, but I really want to build up a bit of a nest egg/cushion/oh **** fund.
 

Lakeside1988

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I daren't ever add up what I spend on the pony! She stayed on at her previous owners stables at her home so livery is £110 per month, if I didn't have this I probably wouldn't bother having one at all tbh.
I have a fairly good income, I'm self employed, rent a house with my boyfriend and have a dog too. I find a 0% credit card has been enormously helpful to spread the cost of a new saddle last year and other bits and bobs like replacement rugs and riding hat.
Feed and bedding I just buy as and when and see it as nothing more than checking off the shopping list.
We take a cheap package holiday once a year and a cheap city break to Switzerland where we stay with family. I do find some months tight particularly in winter but I just think of how worth it it is when summer comes!
 

buzyizzy

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There are many work colleagues and clients who would love me to answer this, but I won't reveal my sources ;)
I have my own income from work, which pays for everything bar the horses and then a medium sized divorce settlement monthly payment that nicely pays for my beloved horses, which considering it was the horses that put paid to my marriage is hysterically funny :D
 

Ddraig_wen

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I rent a large field from a farmer who doesn't want/need to use it. I don't smoke/drink/ buy clothes and random things. I have a couple of liveries one of whom I want to extricate myself from but thats another matter. I ride other peoples and make craft items as a bit of a side.
I have a cheap car and cheapy rent and my yearly holiday is the royal welsh show lol. I do go places but usually day trips in the uk. I've downsized my youngsters and gone down to just the veterans. So far its much easier
 

AlDestoor

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I'm on below average wage, still live at home, paying credit card off a large sum each month and going back to uni in September.

I used to live an extravagant lifestyle that I can't afford and now learning from it.

I live as cheaply as possible, holidays are camping trips. Only buy things I need and not want. Partly funded by OH whilst I pay CC off.

She isn't shod (doesn't need to be) and only lives off chaff and hay in the winter. We get by and if needed, I would get another job to fund her and just not sleep.

I'm going back to uni as I want a better life so whilst it will be tough for a few years, it will be worth it in the end.
 

pixie

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I married a farmer :eek:

I run a livery yard that has been constructed in a yard that wasn't useful for the farm any more (no livestock) and the horses graze on the land that isn't suitable/practical for crops.

My lad is a lowcost welshie who barely ever wears rugs, lives out 24/7, is barefoot and is the never sick or sorry type.
 

alexomahony

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I'm on a below average salary in my full time role and have two horses. To fund it I basically skimp on everything for myself - luckily my work pay into a pension pot so that's ok but I:

- Have another part time job working 9pm - 4am in a nightclub twice a week (I'm 29 and far too old to work in a nightclub, but with a red bull I can manage it!) This earns me about £70 a week which I use for my day to day living so I don't need to dip into my bank
- I rarely buy clothes
- Luckily my best pal is very good hairdresser , I give him a lift to work each day and he looks after my hair for me (cuts and colours)
- Drink occasionally. We get a free drink after each shift at the nightclub, so I save these up to drink when at parties
- Ponies are on Disaster only insurance which covers things like colic, field injury, kicks ect which saves me about £40 per month
- I live with my mum, so board is cheap
- Veggie so food is cheap, also super picky so don't spend much at all on food
- I have a Kia Sorento which mum uses during the week and I use her cheap car, and I have the Kia on a weekend incase I want to take horses anywhere and just put £20 diesel in to cover the trip
- Dad is a very handy mechanic/joiner/fencer/electrician type who literally saves my life on the regular!

Still struggle and I'm currently trying to get out my overdraft (failing!) so I can begin savings. I went to Ibiza on holiday last year and it cost me £600 altogether. I'm still paying this off now on a 0% cred card.... it's like savings in reverse... I have the income, but not the savings.

I've not intention on buying a house unless I find a man (unlikely!) so living arrangements are great. Luckily me and mum get on very well.

One horse is more of a pet, but likes hunting and pleasure rides - the other I can do more with but at the moment I can't afford too so I go to the odd clinic if I can afford it or trip to the XC courses. They're both on DIY livery and I don't pay extras for jobs, just miss out on a bit of sleep instead haha

It's hard but it can work!
 

Sophire

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26, average paying job but lucky enough to still live with parents, although do still pay rent, food etc., it's just a few £ cheaper than renting elsewhere. I drive an old car, and although I could afford a newer one, I'd rather save that money. Phone is an iPhone, but after my old contract ran out I'm sim-only. I do 1/2 days a month on a friend's yard to help her out and get me on track. This weekend I groomed at chukkas which I haven't done in about 5years, but it's 10mins from home and the £50 for 2hrs was nice!! So little bits like that help to top up.

One is a freebie in the field but I check the other ponies she's in with to help, but really is just a v generous agreement with the YO/ farmer who owns the yard. The other is on DIY, I do everything myself. They want for nothing and atm I'm not competing so that saves a few pennies. I used to be a bit of a spendaholic, but have really cut back and now only purchase necessary items, I don't need (or particularly like) matchy stuff so that saves a lot too! At the moment I'm feeling a little stretched as ridden horse is having physio under sedation at £250 a pop every 4 weeks so that's on my shoulders, but as long as I'm still saving and paying my bills I'm not worried so much as just conscious.
 

ihatework

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I work and these days have a well paid job so it’s fairly comfortable.
But I’ve funded my own horses since I was 15 and working part-time around school/college/uni, I’ve just always adapted to the situation at the time.
It wasn’t until my early 20’s when I had a full time job that I could afford to compete, even then I scrimped on other stuff to do that - cheap/free horse, 6 person house share, cheap yard, not much training etc
 

GTRJazz

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I have three horses we moved yards a couple of years ago and I save £600 a month as the new yard is a lot closer to home so no turn out to pay for, cheaper stables and less fuel , also I can get my own hay and straw.
It was not a real problem to afford them at the old yard as we both work and have no mortgage.

Also do not have holidays in other countries as have travelled so much in the past I got fed up with it.
 
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