01/13/09 Tips for keeping horses when money is tight

Yesterday we talked about a couple in Bend that have developed a hay donation program to help horses owners feed their animals this winter. I'm Jeff Keane and I'll be back after the break with a few ways all of us can save money on horse care. On our ranch, horses are a budgeted necessity but that isn't the case for the majority of horse owners who must whittle expenses for the luxury of horse ownership. Susan, what are some cost saving ideas you've heard about? The easiest is way to save money is to keep horses healthy, you do that quite simply by feeding high quality hay and feed your horse not the worms. So keep your horse on a regular deworming schedule. Typically eight week intervals. Another money savings tip especially with older horses is to keep their teeth in shape. A routine floating can be the difference between whether the horse chews efficiently or wastes costly feed. Feed expensive supplements only when they provide nutrients that are lacking in the horse's base diet not because of some flashy ad or endorsement. If you need to improve body condition nutritionists recommend substituting fat in the form of inexpensive oils like vegetable, soy or flax seed rather than pricy concentrates. In the winter we keep our horses in stalls and runs and to save money I made the switch to pelleted bedding and have found it more absorbent than shavings. Need quick cash? Take stock of your saddles and sell the ones you don't use at a consignment store or online. You know Susan this past year I know a lot of folks quit traveling to rodeos and ropings when fuel prices were so high. With fuel prices down, it will be interesting to see if the contestant numbers are back up at horse events this Spring I'm Jeff Keane.