Posts Tagged ‘horse refuge’

Surviving the credit crunch is difficult enough, but when you have horses and ponies which rely on you for nurishment, shelter and medicine, every small amount saved helps.

It’s a well known fact that dozens of horses and ponies are abandoned every week, as owners struggle to cope with the economy as it is, because of this there are currently many horses for sale.

Sara Tuppen from the Horse Refuge in Wittersham Kent, knows all about looking after horses on a tight budget, having to rely purely on donations to keep more than 40 rescued horses in good condition. She believes there are a few points which could help make keeping a horses during a recession a little easier:

1. Many horses can live quite happily outside for most of the year, providing there’s nurishment, water and shelter available. If this is a suitable option for your horse, it could reduce your stabling prices considerably.

2. Removing shoes can be an easy way to keep costs down. If not ridden regularly, and not ridden on rough surfaces, a great deal of horses will not need shoes.

3. Sharing your horse is a fantastic way to cut (even halve!) costs, and provides a cheaper introduction to horse riding for another person.

4. In many cases it is possible to get free stabling and perhaps even hay and straw in return for chores. Mucking out, grooming the horses, yard and paddock maintenance etc. are all ways which could save you money for a little hard work!

5. Visits to the vets are an unknown quantity but still have to be considered. If money’s a little tight, you may sometimes discover a lot of Vets will allow you to spread the cost.

6. Most of us can make lifestyle changes! It’s not all about finding ways to keep your horse for less, see if you can do it for yourself!

7. Wherever possible, horse owners can often club together to buy feed and bedding in bulk, reducing the overall price and helping everyone save a little.

8. Finally, you can look into placing your horse in a foster home, even as a family friend.

If you’re fortunate enough to be in a position to share, or even purchase a horse or pony, there are still many horses for sale and ponies for sale available.

Living through the financial crisis is difficult enough, but add horses and ponies which depend on you for food, protection and medical care, every little bit helps.

It’s a shame that many horses and ponies are abandoned or given up every week, as horse lovers fight to cope with the current economic climate.

This is exceptionally thorny for horse charities and Sara Tuppen from the Horse Refuge in Wittersham Kent is an expert about looking after horses when money is limited, living off on donations to keep over 40 saved horses in good health. 

She lists below a few points which could help make owning a pony on a tight budget more manageable:

 1.      Many horses can exist quite happily outside for most of the year, as long as there’s food, water and protection to harsh elements available. Could this be an option for your horse, it could reduce the cost of stabling considerably.

2.      Removing shoes is an easy way to keep costs down. If not ridden regularly, or on rocky ground, most horses will not need shoes.

3.      Sharing your horse is a great way to reduce (even divide in two!) costs, and provides a cheaper introduction to horse ownership for someone else.

4.      Frequently you can get free stabling and sometimes hay and bedding in return for doing jobs. Mucking out, grooming, maintenance etc. are all tasks which could save you cash for a  little hard work!

5.      Vets bills are an unknown factor but must be considered. If money’s a little difficult, you may find a lot of Vets will consider spreading the costs, and pay in instalments.

6.      Most people can make lifestyle changes! It’s not all about finding ways to keep your horse more cheaply, see if you can do it for yourself!

7. What about your other pets, you may have put animals in boarding, what about a pet sitter? The pet may prefer it and the pet sitters often do other things.

8.      Is it possible that you can club together to buy feed and bedding in bulk, reducing the total price and passing on savings to all.

9.      I hope it does not come to it, you can look into getting your horse a foster home, even as a companion.

  If you’re in a position to loan, or even buy a horse or pony, there are many horses and ponies that are for sale, try a good directory such as the Horse and Pony Directory.