Budget Busters
Five ways to avoid breaking the bank

When you own a horse you’ve got to plan for food, vitamin supple-ments,  grooming, boarding, training for both you and your horse, tack including halters, leads, bridles, blankets, saddles and pads, not to mention horse toys, vet fees and farrier costs.   Beyond those expenses, come breeding fees, entry fees, legal inspections, magazine subscriptions and transportation for your horse (think truck and trailer) when you want to leave the barn.

 There’s no getting around it - owning a horse is an expensive venture.  Not only are horses costly to purchase, they take a lot of money to maintain if you’re treating them right.

Of course, the only time your horse needs a vet is on weekends, holidays or in the middle of the night.  And he only comes up lame the day after the plumbing goes haywire, requiring several thousand dollars in immediate repairs.

 But budget busting isn’t always the horse’s fault. It’s easy to overspend in other ways.  Sneaky expenses have a way of multiplying.  If your horse money is doing a vanishing act, here are some places to start looking: 

• A lot of people waste a lot of money on saddles.  They buy for looks, low price or personal comfort, without considering how well the saddle fits the horse.  It’s only later that they discover the saddle pinches the withers or presses down on the horse’s kidneys (or both).  A lot of horse problems are solved when a saddle fits correctly. But for some folks, it takes buying and selling (at a loss) two or three saddles to figure that out. 



•  Another common mistake is to purchase a saddle for a discipline before being sure you want to stick with it.  Prior to investing in a saddle, take some lessons. And be sure to try out the type of saddle that is used, to be sure you like how it feels.



• A third blunder is buying a saddle over the web or from some other source without trying it out first.  You need to sit in the saddle and fit it on your horse before you invest.   Only purchase a saddle that comes with a return policy.  Take time to try the saddle on your horse before you commit to keeping it.



• When you shop at a tack or feed store, or online, do you frequently buy products, grooming tools and supplements because they are such a good deal? Do you scout sale bins, buying extra halters, lead ropes and bridles that might come in handy someday?  Before long, all those bargains add up to big bucks and barn clutter.  



• Fads can be expensive, especially when you rush out to buy the newest item simply because you saw it on another horse and it looked cool.  However, what works for a well-known equestrian or an experienced horsewoman may not be right for you and your horse.  You have to be honest with yourself. Does your horse really need that fancy piece of equipment? Do you have the ability necessary to make the right use of the latest tack fad?  If not, it may end up collecting dust in your basement.



• How many jars, bottles and sprayers of stuff have you accumulated to doctor and groom your horse?   How much of it is dried out, spilled or contaminated?  It’s amazing how many shampoos, oils, soaps, and ointments can amass, almost by magic, along with a horse. Instead of grabbing something new off the feed store shelf, check what you’ve already got.  If it’s not past its expiration date, use it; otherwise toss it so you can easily find what you can use.   Tighten lids and pack up items you’re not going to use during the off-season.  Store them in a cool, dry place so you won’t have to go out and buy everything new again in the spring.

Okay, next question:  How many picks, grooming tools, brushes and scrapers do you own?  Where are they?  If you have two or three of everything scattered around the barn, in the trunk of your car, and out on the back porch, go on a treasure hunt and bring everything back to one spot for inventory.  Get a couple of plastic buckets or tubs and divide the duplicates up into separate containers. Then leave one bucket in the barn, and the others where they will be most handy, so you’ll be able to find the item you need instead of buying a new one.

Blue-ribbon blindness can lead to bankruptcy. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the show-ring...especially when your trainer is encouraging you. But be aware of the hidden costs beyond entry fees.  You may also be responsible for association fees, first aid fees, arena fees, and health fees imposed by the state.  Showing is also going to involve fancier, more expensive clothing, and showier tack.  It’s not uncommon for a trainer to strongly encourage you to purchase another better trained, more athletic horse, further upping the economic ante. And don’t overlook the extra outlay in trainer expenses to bring up and keep you and your horse at competition level.                  

You may save money, have more fun, and bring home more blue ribbons if you enter unrated shows, where you can enjoy the challenge of competing without breaking the bank.