Keep A Horse And Save Money

Keeping a horse can be exorbitantly expensive, but any equestrian with a little experience will know that there are ways of keeping costs down. However, as the cost of feed such as corn has risen over the past few years, the ability to mitigate price rises has become ever more difficult. This is particular the case when higher operating costs are forcing stables and vets to pass on the extra cost to owners in the form of higher bills. So faced with such demands on your resources, how can you ensure that you are not priced out of horse ownership?

Although not a huge expense, one of the areas that can often be cut back on is grooming products and accessories. For the absolute essentials, it is best to buy in bulk and reap the rewards of larger discounts. If you do not have the resources to pay for a large bulk order up front (and face it, few people do), then why not form a syndicate with other owners from your stables to share the cost across a larger group. Shopping online is also a great way to save money and this applies as much to food and tack as it does to other accessories. Online stores usually have a national reach and so they can benefit from economies of scale that can be passed on to the consumer. Moreover, because they do not have the same running and overhead costs, prices are not kept artificially high. A quick search online will elicit a wide range of results, ranging from the large, well known brands, to smaller niche retailers. Whoever you choose, however, make sure you look at their returns policy before committing to buying anything. Most online retailers will accept anything back if it has not been opened and is returned within a few weeks, however it does vary from store to store, so be careful and always check the fine print.

Another great way of saving is to share stabling fees by finding a stable that offers larger stalls and then sharing the costs between you. The reductions in lighting and heating make a big difference to your overall stabling charges and so long as the horses get on, you will not need to worry about having to shoulder large fee hikes on your own.

Feed is always expensive and this is especially the case if you use any food supplements or additives. However, many people do not realise that the efficacy of known brands is often no different to that of independent providers that have a less well-known name.