Who keeps horses on a tight budget?

i have been skint for the whole of my life because of horses. i maxed credit cards and had many sleepless nights worrying about money. my relationship of 14 years broke down mainly because i put the horse first....i had to give up in 2018 because i am pretty old and retired and couldnt manage diy any more as it was physically too much for me. i am like a ship without a rudder as my whole life has revolved around horses and i really miss them but have now finally managed to afford to install central heating in my cottage. as you have only just taken out a mortgage i would do as others have said and try and save £400 per month as a minimum and do this for a couple of years to build up the capital to buy the horse and to have a cushion in case of problems... your relationship needs to be strong for your partner to put up with hardly seeing you. i wish you luck
 
I agree with the opinion of others here - to keep horses cheaply is fine - as long as you are not in a position that it HAS to be cheap. It could be a massive stress for you, and you do not want to be in a position of knowing that your horse needs something and being unable to provide it. Plus there is the time - I cannot say how many times I have said that I am 'just popping into the yard really quickly on the way home' and have arrived home 4 hours later, wet, muddy and in no mood to start getting dinner on the table. I am on a yard where they are mucked out, taken to paddock / brought in, given hay and food, rugs changed, and STILL it is minimum 4 hours a day to deal with 2 horses. When I had only 1 it was not that much faster, maybe 3 hours. I would think very very carefully, and the advice to start with saving the money and see how this goes is very good advice.
 
OrangeAndLemon said:
I think it's really about keeping a human on a tight budget.
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This! I've never been on a holiday as an adult, I dont drink, dont smoke, dont buy new clothes or go to the hairdresser/ I'm lucky to have an OH who is interested in those things either. I also dont have kids which frees up an enormous amount of money!
 
Why keep your horse at a livery yard? It's a really expensive way of having a horse - rent for the stable and grazing, rules that horses must be stabled for certain months of the year to save the ground so you have to buy bedding, plus the time you could spend with your horse is eaten into by having to muck out the stable. Plus sides is you get company of other horsey people and horses, electric light, running water, maybe a secure area to keep horse feed, maybe even a secure area to keep tack, somewhere to park your car and an arena to use. But if you think you can do without all of those things (and many horse owners do), then look into renting a field for a year to keep your horse (it should have company of another horse if there isn't one within sight), and keep your stuff at home, and hack out and/or ride in the field. Makes it more affordable for you and a good way of keeping a horse too.
 
@Suechoccy for a first time owner, being on a yard with facilities and a support network would probably be advisable, at least to start with.
Plus round here a field to rent is a) like gold dust and b) often not much cheaper than livery, sometimes more expensive! (3.5 acres nearby was rented out at £600pcm last year :O)
 
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