Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2009 | Page 89

EQUESTRIAN - Sponsored by Brickfields and Froghill Tack getting value for your money or simply pouring it down the drain. It’s well worth spending a little time researching how useful the supplement really is and asking your vet for their opinion before handing over your cash. MAKE YOUR HORSE SING FOR HIS SUPPER If you feed forage in a haynet, try using one with small holes, or put one haynet inside another. This makes it harder for your horse to get the hay out, which has two benefits. Firstly, it will keep him busy – great for his psychological well-being. Secondly, it means your horse will be less likely to spend most of the night spreading his forage throughout his bed – so you can save money on both hay and bedding. Of course, it is essential not to make it too hard for him to eat his fill and, as ever, you should monitor his weight and condition. WATCH YOUR WORMING Adequate worm control is essential and part of any horse owner’s duty of care to ensure the animal’s welfare. However, we are often guilty of overusing wormers – bad news for our pockets and, in fact, it contributes to resistance against worming products. You can save money by giving your horse the correct amount of wormer according to his weight. Over-estimating the dose won’t benefit your horse and just wastes cash. Make sure that you worm strategically – use the right product at the right time of year. Your vet can advise you on which products to use, and when to use them – as can BHS Welfare. Rather than routinely administering a dose of wormer, consider getting your horse’s faecal egg counts done regularly. This is cheaper than buying a wormer and means you can dose your horse only when he actually needs it. Ask your vet about arranging faecal egg counts for your horse. LET YOUR HORSE BE A HORSE A horse in a stable is more expensive than one in a field when you factor in the cost of bedding and feed. So, to save money, turn your horse out as much as possible. Most horses can thrive outdoors in almost all weather – providing they have access to good quality forage, hard standing, a good shelter and are rugged appropriately. Of course, this isn’t suitable for all horses, particularly if they are elderly or poor-doers, but it does have the added benefit of allowing the horse to meet his behavioural needs for exercise, foraging and socialising. Turnout can be easy on your pocket and great for your horse! GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM YOUR FRIENDS Clubbing together with friends means you can buy in bulk and obtain discounts on items such as feed, hay, bedding and wormers. It might also be a good idea to try and car-share on the way to the yard or tack shop to save on fuel costs. If you don’t know many other horsy people in your area, why not get involved with your BHS county committee where you are bound to meet like-minded people? MAKE DO AND MEND Remember that your horse doesn’t care what he looks like – there is no need to spend a fortune on fancy rugs and equipment just because it’s stylish! What matters is that your horse is warm and well looked after. So, save money by getting your rugs repaired and re-proofed, and keep your tack in good condition with regular cleaning, it’s a lot cheaper than buying new and your horse won’t thank you for spending a fortune on the latest fashions! life The right sharer will contribute towards costs and can save time with stable duties and exercising your horse. It’s important to ensure you get the right sharer – one that will get on with you and your horse and that you can rely on. This might take a while, so don’t leave your search until you’re desperate for the extra income. It’s also vital to make it clear where everyone stands – put everything in writing and have a signed agreement that covers who is responsible for which costs, stable duties – and when the sharer has access to the horse. Also, make sure you include any restrictions on the use of the horse – for example, perhaps he is not sound to jump or can’t be hacked out alone. BHS Welfare is happy to discuss sharer agreements with anyone who might be considering this course of action. If you have any top tips for surviving the credit crunch, email: [email protected]. uk and we will add the best tips onto our website SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE Getting a sharer for your horse may seem like many owner’s worst nightmare, but it can work well and save you an awful lot of money as long as you go into it with your eyes open. The Island's new funky radio station www.wightFM.com 89