Ambers Echo
Still wittering on
So my spending is feeling a bit out of control at the moment! When I first evented at 70cm it was on a fell pony who never wore shoes, boots or rugs. She was in a snaffle bit for everything in a bridle with no cavesson because I took it off then I first bitted her and lost it and didn't seem to miss it! I competed unaffiliated and the basic approach did not seem to do us any harm! But then she was raised on a fell unhandled by man till over 2 so was super hardy and sure footed.
Spin on and now I have Amber. I tried to keep her unshod but she was slipping. So now she is in shoes with stud holes - £80 every 6 weeks. Then I needed a set of studs and all the associated kit - £70. Then I needed a stud girth - £40. Then I needed front and hind boots in case she caught herself with the studs - £120. Then my RI reckoned she needed a different bit as she was fussy in her mouth so recommended a low port bit - £60. I don't even dare add that all up.... and that is before I even enter anything or pay to get there. And that is in ONE MONTH. Ouch
I don't spend anything on matchy matchy. I don't have smart show rugs or anything like that. None of my tack matches as I buy second hand and am happy as long as it fits. But all these extras seem necessary on safety grounds.
Hopefully that will be it for a while, though I am now wondering about air jackets.....
Does anyone have any tips for keeping costs down? Or do I just need to face up to the fact that eventing is very, very, very expensive. Beans on toast for a month I think...
Spin on and now I have Amber. I tried to keep her unshod but she was slipping. So now she is in shoes with stud holes - £80 every 6 weeks. Then I needed a set of studs and all the associated kit - £70. Then I needed a stud girth - £40. Then I needed front and hind boots in case she caught herself with the studs - £120. Then my RI reckoned she needed a different bit as she was fussy in her mouth so recommended a low port bit - £60. I don't even dare add that all up.... and that is before I even enter anything or pay to get there. And that is in ONE MONTH. Ouch
I don't spend anything on matchy matchy. I don't have smart show rugs or anything like that. None of my tack matches as I buy second hand and am happy as long as it fits. But all these extras seem necessary on safety grounds.
Hopefully that will be it for a while, though I am now wondering about air jackets.....
Does anyone have any tips for keeping costs down? Or do I just need to face up to the fact that eventing is very, very, very expensive. Beans on toast for a month I think...