More than 1,400 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, “Will you spend more or less on your horse(s) in 2009?”

• About the same  54.83% (783)
  
• More  23.39% (334)
  
• Less  21.78% (311)

Readers shared tips on how they’re cutting costs in the comments below.

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• I have my own mini-farm now.
  
• you do not haveto feed prepackaged feeds . check into mixing your own formula at local mils . you c
  
• buying deworming in bulk
  
• repair tack rather than buy new!
  
• They still need all of the care they did before
  
• Traveling to fewer shows, but feed and vet costs will continue to escalate.
  
• Unless there are unforseen vet bills.
  
• On ‘managing the mob for meals’…try feed bags, they are inexpensive, less waste no parasites!
  
• switching from a high priced pelleted feed to oats/barley and basic vit/min supplement
  
• I now use a motorized manure fork to sift the shavings in my stalls. It saves time and shavings.
  
• Depends on the NAIS vote. If I am registered w/o consent , NO spending for govt snopes!
  
• Everything is more expensive!
  
• yes i will spend more
  
• more due to increases in cost of grain/hay..goatman
  
• He will be having cancer treatment again this year.
  
• growing my own hay and beet pulp in ’09. Also working new pastures for better hay and crop.
  
• planting rye in one of my established pastures has really saved on hay
  
• sell off some horses
  
• 2 special needs horses, costs never go down 🙂
  
• preventive care as much as possible
  
• Buy your grain in bulk, you can custom feed and it’s much cheeper.
  
• using 2 good quality supplement instead of 3. No irrigation of the pasture.Feed is enough.
  
• Husband was laid off 3 years ago, so we started belt tightening then:sold 2 horses and daughter took
  
• using sawdust from tree cutting companies or private lumber cutter instead of bagged shavings.
  
• Good hay and pasture
  
• doing more horse showing with more horses
  
• toys made from empty milk jugs with treats put inside then hung upside down in paddock or stalls
  
• food, farrier, health care all increased. No cost-cut tips here.
  
• NO SHOES JUST REGULAR TRIMS
  
• I cannot pamper more than he is already
  
• Buying a trailer. Traveling to endurance rides.
  
• weigh feed worm and float teeth and keep body scores at 6 or 5
  
• I won’t sacrifice health or fitness to save a buck.
  
• No luxuries or fancy stuff, but they will be kept the same, all their needs covered.
  
• buy a hay rack for each stall & paddock
  
• Instead of supplements from highest quality, I am trying less expensive ones with same ingredients.
  
• Hay costs???
  
• don’t buy new tack,buy 2nd hand
  
• Trying to find another
  
• Will keep looking for ways to cut back without jeopardizing health of my 22 yr.old horse
  
• send spent ones for slaughter
  
• blanket your horse so you dont have to feed it as much.
  
• Doing my hoof trimming and vaccines.
  
• Ebay!
  
• Think about if I REALLY need it!
  
• Use parasite control to get the best use of quality feeds & forage; unshod & trimmed
  
• An adventure in alpacas has pinched my horse budget
  
• I have 2 fewer horses, due to a death and an adoption.
  
• using mats and cutting way back on bedding has greatly helped (and saves time)
  
• No need for new equipment, barn and fences in excellent repair, presently status quo
  
• A little more because I have decided to promote the Nokota Horse and I now have a breeding Stallion.
  
• Actual horse care isn’t something I will economize on. I can save in other areas.
  
• don’t breed!
  
• 4-H & horse club tack sales
  
• They are my babies. Must have good care.
  
• have a young one who will need more time
  
• only because prices are rising so fast
  
• too many ads slow download goodbye
  
• Going to an “all-in-one” 250lb barrel pelleted stable mix feed instead of purchasing individual bags
  
• Sell your old stuff at tack swaps, and buy stuff at tack swaps!
  
• wants cut costs???? get rid of the horse(s).
  
• Less money coming in means not trainer or showing this year.
  
• wash horse with apple cider vinegar for great shine, cheaper than com. products, great bug spray too
  
• I will probably make do with less for myself to help cover the increase cost of caring for the horse
  
• use less shavings
  
• More hay, less or no grain. Do my own vaccines. I’m laid off.
  
• Horses do not now what the ecomony situations are….
  
• Everything has gone up in price. From feed to veterinary costs, the list just goes on
  
• got everything but the man 🙂
  
• The hay for the year was double last year.
  
• I no longer have to pay for shoeing, cuz I do my own trimming, saving atleast $300 a month
  
• Less shows.
  
• More barefoot time
  
• More, of course everything keeps going up in price!
  
• I have 25 horses and do all my own vet work, farrier work, and cut my own hay. I can’t cut back!
  
• I’ve sold two of my young horses, reducing my feed costs and labor load.
  
• Will be spending more on promoting new stallions
  
• i will have to ship 2 when we move
  
• Reduce herd
  
• $$$ hay $$$
  
• Lucky enough to find a better and less expensive boarding barn.
  
• Boiled Barley for winterfeed – very low cost for bulk healthy weight maintaining feed
  
• Pick-up hay from the field while farmer bales–reducing his cost and yours.
  
• Reduce herds–stop breeding.
  
• Are you kidding? They always cost more than last year!
  
• I am spending more because my horse is older and I’m chasing lameness problems.
  
• I pretty have all that I need except new clippers and a few training DVDs
  
• sell some horses
  
• feed only enough hay to keep in good body condition, not any extra for boredom relief
  
• Cutting back on supplements
  
• higher hay/feed/tack/stable supply prices
  
• Selling two of 4, I hope.
  
• I use less stall shavings now and only put it down in area where most absorbtion is needed.
  
• I have not bred any of my mares due to the economy. This, alone, will reduce my costs for 2009.
  
• keep them at home vice vboarding
  
• Buy only the tack you need LOL
  
• review the ingredients in supplements and make sure that you’re not duplicating
  
• Purchase deworming packs offered by some suppliers that have the appropriate dewormers for the year.
  
• Buying good quality, necessary feed and cutting back on frills.
  
• scaling back but everything costs more, so, about the same
  
• less, assuming there are no huge colic surgery bills in 09
  
• They are our responsibility
  
• Will not be going to as many shows.
  
• I showed at more 4-H type shows rather than breed shows.
  
• had shoes pulled for winter, cutting back on supplements
  
• No choice but to spend more due to cost of feed, hay, bedding, & vet/farrier
  
• switched to a less expensive grain
  
• I have two less and I’m doing my own vaccinations
  
• i plan to do more with my horse this year, showing and lesson-wise, so will cost me more.
  
• Never pay someone else to do a job you can do yourself get out of horses!
  
• I plan on selling one horse, so hopefully less. Otherwise about the same
  
• feed once a day, not twice
  
• give own vaccines, more efficent feeding program
  
• I’m going to scale back on supplements since I have gone to a better grade of feed.
  
• The only reason it is more is because everything is costing more to produce feeds..
  
• Cut back on showing/training expenses.
  
• Moving to round bales in lieu of square bales of hay
  
• ROUGH BOARD!
  
• resolution of acute medical issue that increased costs last year
  
• one dental visit instead of two, less chiro visits, less showing, do more things myself (training)
  
• Feed more good grass hay and less feed concentrates (grains, pellets, etc.). It’s even better them.
  
• Horses do not need shoes. Period. check Pete Ramey’s site he knows, follow his advice.
  
• when the feed store has your bran of feed on sale stock up on it.
  
• I may put together ingredients for senior horse feed as suggested by my friend, much cheaper.
  
• I vow to ride 1st & do projects 2nd. Of course I’ll need to wear blinders on the way to the barn!
  
• Buy hay by the ton, not the bale. Store it in a hay shed (roof but no sides).
  
• hay is more expensive this year
  
• I have been adding pelleted beet pulp to their senior feed at dinner time instead of straight feed.
  
• He needs Legend injections every six weeks so this will add a little more cost
  
• I’ll do what I can afford without compromising the needs of my horse!
  
• cutting down on number of horses & searching for economical hay alternatives
  
• Horse with EPM last year, so hope to keep everyone healthy this year. Hay going up rapidly a worry
  
• HAY IN OUR AREA IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN LAST YEAR
  
• My mare is 29 so I do more preventative and try to maintain her current health.
  
• evaluate supplements
  
• i have more riding goals this year and the babies are growing so have to get them started
  
• shop sales,buy quality
  
• moved to a barn with cheaper board
  
• I cut costs in the non-horse areas of my life….
  
• Fewer toys, expensive treats. More carrots.
  
• Hay & feed costs have risen and also farriers.
  
• 1/3 bleach 2/3 water for thrusth control, tea tree oil for white line disease and bad thrush
  
• Using slow hay feeders to lessen waste and to make the hay last longer.
  
• I’ve cut everywhere I can but trying to maintain their quality of care
  
• lyme disease cured
  
• Keep it simple!
  
• I’ll try to use what I have instead of buying the latest and greatest.
  
• stay out of tack shops
  
• Doing all vaccs except rabies myself,buying feed with friends by the ton.
  
• spending on training this year
  
• Don’t overfeed; Blanket in winter
  
• Large round,rubber tub in stall for hay for horse health and no loss of hay in shavings
  
• We have been buying hay by the semi truck and trailer load – the volume discount.
  
• I’m going to stay away from my
  
• because I am cutting my numbers in the herd
  
• You can earn free Omelene feed at Omelene.com!
  
• cut back on supplements
  
• Not going to put horse in training and not going to travel as far for trail rides. Won’t be showing
  
• Buy good hay they will eat. You may get cheap hay, but the food value will be less therefore more
  
• I take my committments seriously and owning a horse is a committment.
  
• Get botulism shots and feed round hay bales.
  
• Won’t be doing an embryo transplant. That should save a bunch!
  
• Having scrutinized supplement labels I found a duplication in some vitamins and minerals so I am
  
• studying supplements extra carefully
  
• MORE, because costs keep rising!
  
• I try to take the best care of the horses as I know how to do.
  
• Mare is bred this winter.
  
• Omit grain feed and feed only hay
  
• I shop carefully and am do my own vaccinations.
  
• I will spend more because of increased prices
  
• More forage – less concentrates. More trail riding, less showing
  
• Depends on the costs related to fuel…
  
• Less on outdoor bedding
  
• I use $3.00 hay nets to keep hay off the ground for less waste.
  
• by feeding the best you can afford you actually use less feed and always feed good hay@/or pasture.
  
• depends on the rising cost of general maintenanc
  
• I will price hunt, but will not compromise care and feed quality
  
• They are dependant on me. They will get whatever they need. That is responsible ownership. If some
  
• I’m giving one horse away to a good home, showing less, no new tack planned
  
• re use what you currently have
  
• although I will be buying a new bit & saddle for 1 of them
  
• Feed good hay and quality feed.
  
• haying season was better last summer and things look good for 2009
  
• layed off-coastal hay in pasture instead of tiffton rd bales (go to fast)
  
• I will give up things that I need or want to be sure my horse stays fit
  
• Got a free-lease on a barn and formed a co-op.
  
• My anhidrotic horse is going to need AC this summer; going to be expensive.
  
• I spend on shoeg (1 horse), hay, feed & vet.
  
• give my own shots. Check into the use of round or large square bales of hay
  
• the same to care for my horse, less on things for me, lessons, clothes, boots,
  
• clear out some more pasture
  
• Feed high Quality feed and hay, you use less in the long run
  
• Down to 2 horses from 3, otherwise about the same.
  
• Needed care will be fully provided
  
• I hope to move my horses to my own property, so I won’t have to pay board anymore.
  
• Plan to reduce number of animals on farm
  
• I promise to trail ride MORE and horse show less!!
  
• buying hay in quanity
  
• Will spend about the same on basic care, less on extras such as showing
  
• I’m cutting back on the number of supplements that I feed.
  
• Because everything casts more!
  
• providing vet care, food costs what it costs
  
• feed costs keep going up and medical/Rx are necessary for mules’ well being and comfort
  
• Whatever it takes. I’ve already gotten a part time job to help out! They’re mine to take care of!
  
• about the same to me, unless the cost of food gone up.
  
• I cut back on horses so my costs should be less
  
• much more seeing as how I’m going to be breeding my mare for the first time
  
• I can do without certain things, my animals can’t. Therefore, I’ll continue to spoil them!
  
• less for me
  
• Quality Hay
  
• analyzing hay, then just supplementing the necessary minerals to diet
  
• i trade with my equine dentist for spots in my clinics
  
• Read the labels before you buy. This avoids duplication which is expensive.
  
• More overall, BUT less per individual horse.
  
• money is best spent on health maintenance to lessen emergency vet calls
  
• Old chest freezers make great grain bins
  
• how can I not with hay and fed double or more what I spesnt in 2007-8??
  
• Will cut back on non essentials
  
• Well, hay costs are up, grain costs are up as are farrier, vet etc..who won’t be spending more?
  
• feed only top-quality food.
  
• less shows and clinics
  
• Cheaper feed and hay, also sell some of my horses
  
• switch to hay cubes
  
• I pay for top care, but I also have one horse in which I can indulge. If I had more, I would reduce
  
• Keep a cat instead!
  
• Great deals to be had. Saved $6,000 on a NEW trailer. Now is the time to buy if you saved like me.
  
• I will spend less on myself as the animals always come first.
  
• Less horses this year, bought all my desired tack/saddles in 2008.. ALL SET!
  
• Already spending less, our board went down!
  
• time for teeth floating.
  
• I spend on them what needs to be……who else can they count on…
  
• I run a basic operation and not much has changed. No luxuries to delete.
  
• Hoping less, because I spent a lot on meds for EPM last year, hopefully he won’t be sick this year!
  
• Planning about the same… unless I lose my job.
  
• I hope to spend a little less, had lots of vet bills this year.
  
• herd reduction
  
• Ask neighbors for leftover carrots & apples, so they don’t go to waste.
  
• I have 5 instead of 3 now — and since I’m breeding two mares, I expect a lot more expenses in 2009.
  
• I’ve become a natural hoof trimmer, order my own shots/wormer
  
• i’ll be spending more..board went up $50 a month.
  
• Everything costs more……
  
• After footing the hay bill, not a lot left for frills
  
• Either have a vet day between ne and Neighbor or do my own shoots, and try to keep my nags barefoot