Getting a horse of your own has always been seen as a luxury that only those with endless amounts of disposable cash can ever wish to acquire. However, thanks to some nifty tech solutions and horse communities banding together, it is now more affordable than ever to look after and own a long nose.
Free Apps That Help You Care for Your Horse
There is no doubt that taking care of a horse is a whole different ball game to owning other pets such as dogs, cats, or furry rodents. Horses are very intelligent animals, and often demand more of your time and energy than a pampered tabby cat or a lazy Labrador.
There are lots of horse owners out there with money to burn, who spend thousands of pounds every year on everything from veterinary bills to state-of-the-art analysis hardware and software.
Luckily for those horse lovers who do need to count the pennies, some of the best horse welfare monitoring apps are completely free, such as Equilab and Horse Riding Tracker, both of which are used by amateur riders, professional racehorse trainers and jockeys alike to track rides and analyze training stats. This means you could well find yourself using the exact same horsy app that the trainers of hotly tipped steeplechasers and flats racers use to make sure their steeds are on course for victory.
If you do come into some extra cash and want yet more piece of mind when it comes to your horse, why not give Trackener or Nightwatch a whirl. They allow you to remotely monitor health stats such as heart rate to make sure your horse is always in good health.
Make Use of Different Boarding Options to Make Big Savings
One of the main challenges is trying to get your horse comfortable in their surroundings and daily routine. Unless you have a garden big enough to house a stable and an exercise area all of your own, then you will have to pay to stable your steed somewhere.
While almost all professionally run stables with a full-board option, most will also allow you to choose from less costly options as well. This can include having your horse share a stall, or you can sign-up for what is known as Self-Care Board. In the case of the latter, just be ready to do everything for your horse, including providing bedding, food, and tidying up after the animal – otherwise known as “mucking out” – which is very much a daily task.
If all of these options still mean the bill is too high for you, due perhaps to an irregular income, then you could always offer your services to the stable, either helping out with riding lessons or mucking out horses other than your own. Just remember that such tasks require lots of time and effort.
Keep Tack in Good Nick and It Will Look After the Pennies for You
Horse tack such as saddles, reins and stirrups can easily break and stop working if they are not cared for correctly. This is especially true if you regularly ride in wet and dirty conditions. Be sure to invest in high quality second-hand gear that will last, and then do everything you can to maintain it well. You may be able to get years out of the gear before having to replace it. .
Of course, sometimes nothing can be done about something snapping or wearing too thin, and all that is left to do is to go in search of some new tack. Rather than heading straight to an expensive shop or website, why not check out one of the many horsy car boot sales held up and down the country?
It’s All in the Hay
Contrary to popular belief, and unless advised differently by a vet, horses rarely require any more sustenance than plain and simple hay.
Stick to good quality hay and you can cut back on the cost of pricey grains and other types of concentrated food stuffs. Stock up on hay in the summer if you can, as it will be certain to cost more in the winter months.
Keeping water systems and driplines free from contamination with OxylPro horticulture
And there you have it. Keep your horse safe and happy for less.
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