Guess we are just immersed in horses, would not know what to do with ourselves! We spend much less than what folks on COTH seem to average a month. We bought a house with acreage years ago, bought adjoining acres when they became available, with everything now paid off. We put up our own hay this year, with hay produced value, equaling half what we paid for purchased hay last year. Expecting a second cutting, which will offset machinery purchases even more. I consider machinery an investment. We can do our hay, get the purchase price back if we sell the machinery, so upkeep is the cost of doing hay. Who knows, we might even have enough hay to sell some!
We do things on the cheap as much as possible, buying used tack, equipment, vehicles. Then use them until they fall apart or we find another bargin, sell the old item. Trailers are OLD, just keep fixing them. They are safe for horses and hauling. Just upkeep expenses, tires, servicing regularly. Taking care of things like tack, makes them last almost forever, easily resold for good money if not needed anymore.
We don’t jump on every new fad in horse keeping that comes along. We investigate truths and misleading advertising statements before any changes, or don’t change anything. We have developed a healthy scepticism when hearing about new “miracle products” in feed, training methods or treatments of problems. This does keep us looking rather old-fashioned in horse keeping practices, but horses are happy, work hard if asked, mentally and physically sound way into their 20’s. We always get compliments on their shiny looks when we go out to compete or enjoy outings with other horse folks. They get good pasture, plain grain mixed to our recipe, vitamins, good hay in winter. Very basic in food here which keeps costs down.
These things all add up, make a big savings in horse expenses for us. I saved hard when employed, did not have much in payment buying. Husband also saved hard. We have a comfortable cushion for old age, not rich, but should be adequate. We both came from families that were poor, NEVER want to go there again. We did get some short time loans for a few things, land, barn, professional fencing work, a big tractor. Mostly “we saved up” for things, paid cash or went without. Did not want to get caught up in debt. Bred our own future competition horses, trained them ourselves, instead of buying older, experienced ones.
Without horses we might travel more, though I can’t see us flying all over or going the RV lifestyle. Not sure what we could fill the day hours with, if horses were gone? Gardening is fun, but not full time! My home will never be immaculate. It has nice things, but not expensive things, some antiques, so we are comfortable. I gain weight easily trying to be a cook, better to not go there! Forced gym type exercise never works, but just doing daily chores does keep us fairly fit, plus uses up our days. I have very good bone density, way better than other folks my age. Another benefit of hoisting bales, water buckets and stall cleaning! I LIKE my horses, enjoy being out with them, using them.
A couple relatives think they won’t retire, because they will have nothing to do. They have money, can buy things, do travel. Being home for Corona lockdowns has brought a lot of new thinking into the picture. They don’t have horses. House and workshop are limited areas to play in full time.
Horses are not a burden here in expenses. They do cost to own, but I really can’t think of any other “fun” things I would rather buy with the money. Our lives, expenses, planning, activities, are pretty much lived around the horses. And we enjoy doing things that way with horsey friends!
