In these trying economic times, it is tempting to cut corners in horsekeeping costs. $200 vet visit, $150 for new shoes, $100 for feed – they all add up. However, you should never cut costs when it comes to your horses health.
Try out money-saving tips for equine upkeep in a tough economy.
- Prevention. Save on costly vet visits by vaccinating your horse. Vaccinations prevent disease and though it may seem costly to administer routine inoculations, it is much cheaper than treating the resulting illness. If you are comfortable doing so, save money by vaccinating yourself. There will be some vaccines which you will need to obtain from your vet, like Rabies, but vaccines are a generally simple procedure that many horse owners are comfortable administering. Work with your vet on a sensible vaccination schedule to fit you and your horses.
- Feeding Forage. Good, quality forage is the most important thing for your horse. High quality hay is the healthiest and cheapest diet. Evaluate your horse’s maintenance and energy needs. Feed as much forage as you can and cut back on the grain. You may be able to decrease or eliminate grain altogether. Feed representatives or your vet will be able to assess nutritional needs and guide you towards a feed program to fit your budget.
- Pasture Board. Allowing your horse 24 hour access to pasture can benefit your horse’s health and your wallet. Many boarding facilities offer reduced prices for pasture boarding. You can also save on bedding and stall repairs. It is healthier for a horse to be turned out constantly. The horse is able to breathe fresh air, which reduces health risks such as Recurrent Airway Obstruction. The increased room to move may help prevent legs from stocking up or any stiffness which may occur when the horse is stalled up. Just be sure there is access to some type of shelter (stall, lean to, etc…) for the horse to escape inclement weather.
- Water. Water is the cheapest and most important nutrient you can provide for your horse. If you are concerned your horse may not consume enough, try adding a tablespoon or two of salt to his grain ration to entice drinking.
- Tend to Minor Issues. Correct minor problems before they escalate into major ones. Teeth floating, proper shoeing and farrier work, colics and wound treatment can be handled in early stages before they turn into full blown problems. Haul your horse to the clinic to avoid a farm call charge.
- Deworming. Help your horse ward off parasites with a routine deworming schedule. Deworming every eight weeks just to deworm can be a costly venture. Rather, have your vet perform a fecal egg count which will aid in targeting treatment for specific parasites.
- Making the Tough Decision. If you can’t bear to sell, you might consider options such as leasing your horse or removing your horse from the trainers. Therapeutic riding programs and university equestrian teams often take horses on a loan basis, allowing you to maintain ownership of your horse while ensuring your horse has a long-term home and purpose. If, after cutting back, you find you still cannot afford to keep your horse it may be time to make the difficult decision to sell. When the time comes, MyHorseForSale.com offers ads for every budget. We can help you find your horse a new home.
Horses are expensive to purchase and upkeep. By evaluating your program as a whole, a budget can be created and implemented to keep expenditures at a minimum. There are certain areas where corners should not but cut, but by eliminating unnecessary expenses, horse owners will find there are plenty of ways to cut costs without compromising horse health and happiness.
