Uh oh! Cost of my horse is spiralling out of Control!

[Puppy]

I can understand your feed costs. My oldie (a substantial 16.2, in her mid 20s) eats over 2 large (220kg) bales of haylage a month at this time of year, at £34 each. It's all very well making suggestions to move to a yard where the haylage is included, but there's no way I would get the same quantity and quality that my mare requires AND save money.

She also, in a month, gets through a bag of topspec senior balancer (£41), 2 bags of fibre cubes (£15) and half a bale of dengie hi-fi (£5), plus the haylage (£78/79) adds to up to about £140!! And she's not even in work or clipped

 

[el_Snowflakes]

I cant figure out how that comes to £700, my livery is a heck of alot more than yours and i dont spend all that.....the feed must be awfully expensive? perhaps you could use a broad spectrum vitamin supplement rather than lots of pricey ones? as for getting his back checked every 3 months, that seems alot. Why not limit it to once every 6 months?

 

[Holly Hocks]

I've got two TBs. The oldie gets 16+ mix, alfa a original and speedibeet. The younger mare who I bought last April was super super skinny.....I tried feeding her on the same as the oldie, but substituted the 16+ with leisure mix. I couldn't get any weight on her hardly. She now gets speedibeet mixed with high fibre cubes - NO chaff. It looks disgusting, but she actually eats it really enthusiastically which is nice to see after months of her being a fussy eater. Also because it's got no chaff in, she then goes and tucks into plenty of haylage which has fattened her up no end, and although she has been very ill, she looks really well, and from her behaviour, clearly feels well!
I am on a DIY yard which is £25 p/w including haylage, which is really great quality stuff. I reckon to keep two TBs it costs me in the region of £500, including shoes and supplements. Pity the vets bills are somewhere in the region of £8k - 10k,, just for the mare (I've actually lost track of the exact cost as it would send me into a spiral of depression if I actually worked it out!)

 

[Dancing Queen]

move to full livery - costs included.
cut down the amount of hard feed - they dont need it unless they are in seriously hard work and if you only competing twice a month you dont need that much!
farrier - get refits done - shod every 8-10 weeks new shoes one time, refit the next.
teeth - only need to be done every 12 months as per insurance terms and conditions.
saddler - every 6 months - why??/
i fear you have been 'had' by the companies - you must do this etc etc.
as for supplements - why and which ones? unless there is a specific need- if the diet is correct you shouldnt need excessive supplements!

 

[Firewell]

You cob people, you make me jealous lol!! If my horse couldn't step over 3ft6 and be so pretty in the morning I would have brought a cob years ago , would love a cheap cob! My YO cob only has 1 bag of H+P nuts all winter!

My horse gets 2 big scoops of kwik beet per day but I share it with my mum so it's hard to know how much I use. Tbh I don't think the kwik beet is expensive, it's the load of Alfa a oil! I've been researching feed all evening and I'm shocked by the volumes the feed companies recommend. Top spec recommend £45 worth of their conditioning cubes per month and that's not including the balancer or chaff! Phew!

You have all really got me thinking though.. I think he will go 9 months for teeth and 6 months for back. I won't go less then that as he needs it and I won't compromise on his health. Saddler, my saddle needs reflocking as it's coming up for 1.5 years old now and it was originally for my old horse so moulded to her (even though it's been fitted for my boy) and as I need him 2 be comfortable to do well at our shows
But I can swap the Alfa for merchant brand, add oil myself, use a supplement instead of balancer, change bedding and shop around for haylage
I also think I need to be less picky! I'm sure he doesn't *need* an animal communicator or masseus! I'm going to try and sort out different transport. I've booked a combined training this month so I get dressage and jumping in one.. Bargain!
I want him to have the best but equally I don't want to chuck money at him when I don't need too.
Thanks! I need to see him more of a horse thats not going to notice if the nuts in his ball are topspec or countrywide own
Thanks I feel much more sensible now.

 

[RoseGrey]

Full Livery which includes everything?.

Turn him out, well rugged with ad-lib hay and two feeds a day. My TB lived out quite happily and didn't lose any weight, just got a little fitter!

Buy a trailer, they cost nothing to keep and run. Transport hire costs are extreme and a trailer will pay for itself.

£700 a month is silly to spend on a horse, its TWICE my mortgage!

 

[toomanyhorses26]

I have a full tb and he costs me £25 a week DIY livery (I teach one morning a week so swap for my rent),£60 every 9/10 weeks for shoes (this has been my biggest saving so far - love love love my farrier ) ,one bale of shavings at £6.50, 2 bags of endurance mix a month at £11 a bag , just over 1 bag of micronised barley at £6.50 and a bag of alfa a at £12 a bag and then about 3 bales of horsehage a week (35kg bales) at £7.20 a bale. He isn't a massive hay eater so he does rely quite heavily on cereals in his diet but I was advised to go for an endurance mix by a nutritionist as a bit of sneaky way of getting a little bit more fibre in his diet The farrier has made a massive difference as I was paying £60 and would be lucky to get 5 weeks so by moving to him I have effectively halved my shoeing costs. I would love to give him a massive bed that covers the entire stable but I can't afford it anymore so he has a normal sized normal thickness bed now which has helped on the bedding costs.

 

[Dexter]

Kerrist! I keep 3 for £300 ish a month! I allocate £400 a month to cover unexpected expenses and buying of stuff I dont need Admittedly 2 of them are youngsters and live out, but I could keep them all half in/half out for £400 give or take.

If one cost me £700 I woudlnt have any horses!

 

[SO1]

does he really need his back checked every three months? could you find a saddler who also knows about backs who could check his back at the same time his saddle is checked and just have that done twice a year.

also it is a waste of money to feed a balancer designed for a fattie to a poor doer.if you wanted to put on weight you would not eat lettuce leaves! I would see if you can find one feed which contains all you need perhaps calm and condition if you are worried about your horse being too fizzy or even one of the veteran mixes which are often low in starch but designed to keep the weight on.

you spend more on hard feed in one month than i spend in a year!

with regards to competing could you find a friend who would like to go to the same competitions who is willing to pay half the transport costs? could you move yards to a yard which runs competitions on a regular basis or one which is within hacking distance of a competition venue?

is your horse warm enough - is he using up energy keeping warm in the winter?

 

[Natch]

I have skipped the last few pages so sorry if I am repeating what has already been said.

Your horse's stomach is about the size of a rugby ball. If you feed more than that amount in volume in one feed, it gets pushed straight through the stomach and into the intestines, which cannot absorb protein. So in effect unfortunately a lot of what you are feeding is going into producing manure - and not much else.

Best thing to do is to ring a feed company and chat to their nutritionalist.

 

[Puppy]

£60 every 9/10 weeks for shoes (this has been my biggest saving so far - love love love my farrier )

Unfortunately, I don't think that foot care is something that you can very often budget on. If you have a fab farrier who happens to be cheap, great, but when looking to cut my costs then changing farriers is not something that I'd even consider. Crikey, there are people round here who would give their right arm to have my farrier take them on his books!

My farrier costs £75 a set, (plus cake ). When my main riding horse was in work (now LOU and retired ) we'd sometimes need new shoes as often as every 3 1/2 weeks , and even if I hadn't worn them out, she would need a re-fit (at only £5 cheaper) about every 5 weeks. To have left her for 10 weeks would have been absolutely negligent of me. On the other hand, when shod, my oldie can certainly go longer than 5 weeks (It varies immensely with her, depending on the time of year), but I'd always rather pay £75 for the service and expertise that my farrier supplies than £55 for another local one I can think of, and risk having an unsound horse

I actually find the biggest waste of money with many peoples' way of keeping horses is bedding! When I see the prices on various beddings at my feed store I cringe at the thought of paying that much per week for something to be pooed upon!

 

[sprite1978]

It sounds to me like your feeding regime is a bit of overkill....... Suppliments, and balancers have their specialist role, but i think the majority of horses can do without them. The feed industry is very good at convincing us that we should use them.
Also cut out the alpha A if he has enough hayledge.

 

[glenruby]

I think you've been given a lot of food for thought here. Certainly look at extending the time period between back check and teeth. Unless there are known problems? Has your dentist or physio at any point told you about specific problems with your horse's teeth and back that need correcting? Have you ever tried with longer intervals? Id try the teeth at 12mths if he isnt having ongoing corrective work currently and if that doesnt suit him you can always go back to 9mths if necessary.
Consider turning him away for 6weeks in srping or autumn (summer would be better obv but not possible if you are competing) when he can take advantage of the extra grass out there and do without hard feed (or less at least) and just a trim.
Try just shoeing in front in winter but this wont suit every horse. i wouldnt advise stretching the time period between shoeings.
How recently was the paddock mineral analysis done? What sort of levels of Calcium were detected and what is the relevant imblanace (taking into account the levels of both minerals in other feed fed and the balancer/haylage). Is the Phosphorus content taken into account (more important imo than the Mg)? Are you feeding as per manufacturer recommendations or as is actually required? Is the Mg supplement branded - if so swithc to an unbranded equivilant. Is your horse highly strung? Did you notice a bit difference when you put him on the Mg? Yes it may be benefiial to horses prone to tying up, but you are essentially already feeding to avoid tying up (more or less) and as long as good turnout is maintained and good warm-up/cool down routine is carried out I dont think the Magnesium is necessary. just switch to a good all-round vitamin supplement -which will also allow you to cut out the lo-cal balancer. Equistro tri-force is the one I recommend - £24 per month but a 3mth supply can be got for £70.

I do think the alfa oil cut easily be cut down as essentially he should be getting the forage requirement from the haylage. Add some oil (any sort will provide energy) to feed if hes dropping a little weight. I have used eggs in the past - apart from one horse who turned up his nose at them. Most of the showjumping yards I know used them too as a heap source of protein (depends on how cheap you can get them!).

 

[honetpot]

I have cut my feed bills this year by using e-feeds. You do have to buy 18 bags to get £5 delivery but it costs me more than that going to collect it.
TB's can be such money. My old boy would eat.
4 -5 bales of hay a week £18-22.50
1 bag high calorie mix £8
1 bag high calorie cubes £8.50
If its really cold I add oil or Copra meal
I've cut out feed balancers etc as he's getting so much complete feed he's getting all his vit's. Alway check the DE (calories) in a feed if possible, protein is not stored in the body so feeding more than a horse needs is just a waste of money as it is just peed out.
Chaff is really just a filler and I wouldn't give a horse any serious amounts unless it was to break the boredom of box rest/ restricted diet. Rember folks its mainly straw, chopped up and some of the bales they use are black before they are processed I've seen them.
Try taking hind shoes off, if your yard has a surface to work on and you do not hack out much,does he need a full set each time?
Teeth and saddle check? Does a horse really need its teeth doing every 6 months? Out of my 8 only one was suggested that his teeth be checked twice year and that was because he has a gap causing uneven wear.
Does your horse changes shape that much? Start trusting your own judgement. It the saddle is unlevel or the horse starts feeling less free by all means get it checked but someone who is charging a fee is not going to say you don't need me really.
I would also be more chosey about where I compete. Look at the schedule and think what can I do here and why? The diesel is going to cost lots so make that event pay for it's self and get someone to share if possible.
As I said I have 8 and if they cost me £700 a month I would be in the divorce courts. Its been a really bad year and granted not all mine are shod but I pay less than that a month for all of them.
Roll on summer...

 

[SpruceRI]

Gosh, reading this reminds me of the days I used to spend £65 a month on hard feed in winter on a Welsh Cob and a Shetland!

The Shettie got nothing, but the cob was on Equi Jewel at £30 a sack that lasted a month, some sort of weight gain mix, probably a couple of sacks of that a month, and Alfa A, and she was still quite scrawny!

Now I can afford to feed her haylage and A&P have introduced their soakable feeds, the bill is down to about £22!

 

[LaurenM]

There is a sticky post on Stable Yard with further money saving tips.

I do think you are spending alot! The best way we save money is by sharing;
- the call out costs of the vet. Can't believe your haylage costs so much too; our yard has purchased in bulk to reduce costs and to secure our haylage as everyone was panic buying.
- share transport costs - we have local lorries for hire that allow costs to be shared even if the others are from different yards.

In regards to feed; have you shopped around for the best prices? Alfa A is expensive so its good that you are looking to reduce your usage (at least I think thats what I read).

Were you joking in regards to the horse communicator and masseus? If not, my friend had a chiropractor show her how to release and feel for tension. That would save you alot.

Not sure of your horse's age but every 9 months for teeth is quite alot. My vet taught me to feel if they needed to be done, can you ask yours to do this?

Overall, it doesn't seem like you are exploiting the knowledge of others at your yard. Whilst I am not saying you need to believe everything they may say it seems that your are spending way too much.

I'm so glad I have a barefoot Sec D that lives out 24/7...

 

[nona1]

Hi

It sounds like you love your horse, have a lot of fun with him, and enjoy the competing, so don't feel guilty about spending money on your 'hobby' if you can afford it.

However...

you are probably going to think I'm an old fogey, but

I have been out of the horsey world for 20 years or so for various reasons, and just started to get back into it in the last couple of years. Boy, are there huge changes. I'm just stunned by a lot of modern horse ownership practise. I'm not a luddite, and I'm all for improvements, but I can't help thinking a lot of what is happening and what I see discussed here is pure exploitation. Yep, that's the word for it. I work in marketing and know exactly what is going on here. There are so many needs and requirements and products in the horse world now that are nothing to do with the horses needs, and everything to do with very clever marketing guilt-tripping owners, and making them think things that are pure luxuries are essentials. I'm literally gobsmacked by a lot of the posts on this forum and want to shake some sense into people!

So..for my old fashioned view, based on genuine proven for decades old-fashioned honest horsemanship I learned, combined with an honest attitude for improvement and learning new things....

WHY are you getting back/saddler/teeth so often? 20 years ago 99% of horses literally NEVER had this attention and they weren't all cripples. I agree this wasn't a good thing. I think the advance of these services IS a good thing, but for goodness sake, once a year is enough for anyone. Do you go and get yourself checked out by the doctor for an 'MOT' every 3 months? As to teeth, humans need frequent attention because we eat so much sugary ****, but horses don't. Once a year is more than enough. Hobby horses are being treated in the same way as professional athletes, and it simply doesn't make economic sense.

Feed. Hmmmm. Balancers, calmers, supplements, this and that. This is one of the areas that amazes me the most. Horses have been fit, healthy, happy and working on simpler diets for centuries. I truly believe all these other things are a triumph of marketing and nothing else! the cheapest way to feed your horse is in basic straights. Mix your own feeds. It's cheaper, it takes a little bit of research to get a good balance, but it's not that hard, we were all managing it as 10 year olds. Balancers - forget them. Calmers - forget them, you admit your horse is perfectly manageable, so why fuss about it? Supplements - a straightforward mineral lick does the job and costs hardly anything.

Past of what gets me annoyed is that normal everyday hobby horses, even those competing, the manufacturers have managed to con loads of horse owners into thinking that their diets have to be managed like those of Olympic athletes! It's all so unneccessary and nothing but a rip-off.

As your horse is a poor doer, sort out a decent mix of straights. Flaked maize is brilliant for poor doers. Likewise sugar beet. And a tablespoon of cheapo veg. oil. With decent hay/haylage and if he can take them without going bonkers, oats, you've got the basics of a great diet for him. + Barley, bran, chaff, a mix of these grains is what horses have been living on fantastically for practically ever. If you can't get it perfect, it doesn't matter. Is your diet perfect? I bet not, but you aren't exactly fainting or collapsing, are you? Everyday hobby horses don't need a 100% perfect scientific athletic-elite approach to their food. Really, they don't.

Or buy a decent mixed feed and give him that with a top up of sugar beet/oil for condition. He isn't trecking to the arctic or competing at world class level; he honestly doesn't need all that other stuff (supplements/expensive feeds etc).

I had a poor doer who'd drop weight terribly over winter without a bit of thought of my part, but sugar beet and flaked maize did the job over winter on top of normal horse and pony nuts.

I wish you'd all stop being taken for a ride by marketing departments. Please. I find it really shocking how the horse world seems to have been convinced about the need for all this rubbish. 10 different rugs for every horse, 20 types of feed, 3 monthly specialist visits, ach, the exploitation is disgraceful.

 

[Bedlam]

I actually can't believe the sheer number of replies this post has received that are essentially saying the same thing.

OK - you can save a bit of money by looking at his feed.

But nobody has yet suggested looking for a sharer - is this taboo?

I think that if you want to have a dentist/physio/saddler out every 6 months, then that's grand. Heaps better than the people that never use these worthy professionals.

But is a sharer such an awful prospect? Get one that fits in with you and pays his/her way and you'll be able to carry on keeping your horse in the manner to which he has become accustomed. You'll also have an exercised horse and a new friend. And a healthier bank balance.

Struggling to see a downside at the moment, but I'm sure we can rely on HHO to supply us with heaps of sharer based horror stories within the week, if not day.

 

[Mearas]

Sorry I haven't read all the posts but it would seem that you have received a lot of good and sound advice. Imho, the cost of keeping horses is not discussed enough. So often people express a desire to compete a horse nationally or internationally without really understanding the financial implications. The cost of competing a horse at International Level can be as much as of £3,000.00 Per MONTH! I hope I haven't destroyed to many dreams but it is certainly something to consider when you are competing.

 

[Beccahh]

it does sound like your spending alot
for my two (inc 24year old vetran)
its £140 a month D.I.Y
£100 a month haylege and straw (we get HUGE bails)
£100 a month on feed inc joint suppliment/garlic/breathing suppliment
£80 on feet vetran is bare foot (winter both are bare foot so only £40)
if im competing then only about £20 as have on transport and dad sorts fuel out
but thats just winter but summer cancells out things ect so it stays roughly the same apart from me compete more

and we always have a few extras pop up like wormers/injections/teeth/saddle fitter/vet visits
i suppose cutting back on competing is one but like you said why work so hard if you cant show it of .. you could always do that dressage test you vid then send of to be marked?
iv heard good things about it x

 

[brucea]

Just remember if you are going to split out the oil from the rest of the feed (as in not feed a product with oil in it) it is far better for the horse to feed something like crushed linseed where the oil has not been processed, is much more available and does not go "through the horse", but also comes with minerals and vitamins as part of the whole seed.

Lots of benefits in feeding linseed meal - not least of which it is a natural anti-inflamatory, and is also a great mucilage for sensitive tums.

Charnwood Mills - £25 a 20Kg bag, lasts ages.

It's time we woke up to the pressure the industry puts on us as horse owners - often to the detriment of the horse who has to eat increasingly processed food of dubious value to him.

Remember the suppliers of these products need you to have them more than you really need them.

A big saving for me was going barefoot 4 years ago with all of mine - the laminitic pony is 100 times better, my ISH is doing stonking well, and the two cobs never noticed the difference.

I own 2 sets of boots - costing about £100 a pair - and they last for ages - the pony has had the same set for 2 years and they have another year in them - he is not hard on them. The ISH goes through a set once a year. So a shoeing bill of £1960 down to less than £300.

And my horses are far healthier for not having shoes on.

 

[PurplePickle]

I havent read the other posts but Ive had to cut my costs down recently due to my husband loosing his job.

I have 3 horses one very large wb who doesnt keep weight on. I now buy haylage large round bales as its more economical.

Hesitantly tried pegasus feed which I think is made by spillars it halved my feed bill and I just throw in some linseed meal and he positively fat on it, very surprised how good it for £4-5 or so a bag. I now get 2 pellets, 1 mix, 2 chaff, 1 normal beet for £32 lasts me a month, bargain!

£80 for a set of 4 shoes seems expensive to me , here is £65 but obviously good farriers are hard to come by. My boy has gone barefoot but it has taken him 2 trims so 16 weeks to come right without shoes, not always an option if you ride regularly.

 

[Firewell]

Thanks everyone, am shocked by all the replies!

I was talking to my mum about it this morning and my mum was remembering back 15/20 years ago when our horses were kept on chaff, pony nuts and sugar beet in the winter and they were fine.

This thread has defininitly got me thinking about how to simplify the management of my horse, there are things I dont need but keeping my farrier and 6 monthly visits from his osteo/saddler and teeth I will carry on. My EDT said my horse should go yearly for dentists once he is a little older and same with the saddle I think but at the moment he's still developing.

I don't want a sharer. My horse is still quite impressionable and he can be sharp so I like to deal with him myself, I also can afford him I just don't want to throw money away unnecessarily. I agree shares are good though, we had a lady that shared my mums old horse for 7 years!

Thanks everyone. I'm going to use up my current feed and I'm going to change it a bit and add micronised linseed, I think that will really suit him.

I've found all the replies really interesting, it just goes to show we can get far to carried away when it comes to our horses!

 

[ilvpippa]

My Tb, in technically light work, hay put out in field & a huge haybar over night, schooled most days over the winter, 2 days off a week probs, nt hacked out in a while cause of weather & jumped once a month.

Was a poor doer, but ive found this works for her, as pencils fizz her up no end!

£112 per month for livery
£20 for big bale of hay per 3/4 weeks in winter(Summer last around 7/8 weeks)
£9 for topchop lite every month, 5 weeks in the summer (Only feed a small breakfast & a full round scoop in the evening.
£100 per month for riding lessons

£241per month

£6 for high fibre pencils bag last ages! (only gets a handful if worked, pencils fizz her up, she has good grass & hay!
£9 speedi beet, shared between two TBs, 2 small scoops in winter, 1/2 scoop in summer.
£42 for calmer every 2 months
£15 every 3 months for general suppliment as she has no pencils in dinner.
£60 every 7 weeks for shoes

£132 for add ones.

I dont compete regually, but if i do its local & costs £8 for entry throughout the summer

 

[Princess P]

What about going on to full livery where bedding feed and hay is included?

I have seen several posts on here saying that when you add it all up it works out cheaper that way?

I normally budget 200 pounds a month but that is for a cob who is fairly straightforward, although have spend about 250 pounds in the last couple of months on vets bills due to mud fever :-(

 

[stevieg]

Wow! Thats an awful lot of money.

Think everything has more or less been said. All I would say is:

1. If you can afford it & you enjoy it then it is NEVER a waste of money.
2. Feed bill seems very OTT
3. Farrier also seems expensive
4. As somebody else suggested write down everything you spend & then ask yourself - Does he really NEED this OR do you just WANT to give it to him?

My daughter showjumped every weekend as a junior with two ponies & we spent an absolute fortune.

Now she is onto horses & paying her own bills she has cut back to a huge extent & you know what? Our horses still look absolutely great.

 

[munketytunkety]

just about sums it for me I'm afraid!!!
I am also very old fashioned when it comes to feeding. I honestly believe that if you keep it simple they are better off health-wise and your bank balance is better off. I have just New Forest ponies now but when I used to take on ex racing tb's I had the same approach; plenty of good quality hay/haylage and a mineral lick available at all times. I would then only add any extra feed to their diet if they were in hard work and even then it would be very little. I had two tb's come to me that were literally skin and bone, they were both being fed ludicrous amounts of extra feed that their bodies weren't/couldn't digest or absorbing properly and unnecessary supplements. They both went straight onto adlib hay and good quality pasture and in 6-8 weeks were both looking much healthier.
I do think that all this extra feeding just makes us feel better about ourselves as owners alot of the time. I'm oblivious to it all now and just keep it basic. With 10 to feed, you soon 'learn' what their 'needs' really are.

 

[abina]

Cost of horses will vary from area to area so please don't panic if someone is paying a lot more / less as regions will vary.

Livery - DIY is always considerd a cheaper option but adding it all up against a full / part livery then some times it does come out cheaper - no additional hay / bedding bill and only one journey a day instead of two or if on full a day or two off - saves lots on fuel and wear and tear on car. Can you get Part livery at a competition yard where they hold comps on site so you could compete twice a month but only have entry fees to pay - or offer free help in return for a free entry.

Buying bulk always works out better - get togther with others and see how you can help each other.

Feed - your bill does seem rather expensive - I feed 25 horses and my feed bill is only £300 per month ! Your best bet would be to get in touch with the feed companies and get their professional advice - many supplements are really not needed as if your not careful some feeds will overlap each other and are not required- same as with worming.

Only you know your budget and sometimes we all have to compromise but it doesn't mean that we have to fail our horses care.

Sharers can work in some situations with a contrubution to costs - not for everyone aI agree but look at all angles. Good luck with your budget I'm sure many of us should do as you have done but are tooooo scare too !!!

 

[zipzap]

Hi



I wish you'd all stop being taken for a ride by marketing departments. Please. I find it really shocking how the horse world seems to have been convinced about the need for all this rubbish. 10 different rugs for every horse, 20 types of feed, 3 monthly specialist visits, ach, the exploitation is disgraceful.

Spot on nona1 - couldn't have put it better x

 

[toomanyhorses26]

Sorry didn't make myself very clear - I had a farrier who I thought was ok - he shod my horse every 5 weeks as he told me that the horse has poor quality feet ,was a tb etc etc so I carried on with this regime. Due to other circumstances with him I ended up changing my farrier to my current one thinking I would still me on the same intervals. It is now becoming fairly apparent that my farrier was slowely crippling my horse and that in actual fact my horse had better feet than I realised and simply needed a thicker shoe (there is a proper name for this but I can't think of it ) to prevent the damage he was doing to the lower half of his foot - very split/chipped etc . 6 months down the line and his feet look amazing and he is lasting for double the time that he was previously. It has been a massive saving for me in an area I didn't expect to save in and it has no way been to the detriment of my horse - if anything very very beneficial