silvershadow81
addict
Reged: 15/02/2008
Posts: 565
Loc: Essex
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With all bills rising at the moment I though it may help everyone to share any money saving tips they have come across over their horsey years!!
My first would be a good tip (money saver!) for when your horse has an abcess in the foot and you have to change the pultice at least 2x a day and then end up dropping it in a puddle  ....the packs of pultice you get through go up and up....
Purchase some cheap nappies (Aldi 20 for £2!) and these work wonderfully and even have the straps to help secure. (you will also need to cover with a bag and duct tape)
But much cheaper!! 
They also fit great around hock injuries!
Any other money savers out there??!! 
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Jingle_Bell_Betty
old hand
Reged: 19/09/2007
Posts: 926
Loc: Betty's Little Grotto!
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Buy supliment oils from Supermarkets ie tesco..
Much, Much cheaper!
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silvershadow81
addict
Reged: 15/02/2008
Posts: 565
Loc: Essex
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OOOhhh YESSSS...
Holland and Barret better than half price sale. You can get glucosamine supplements much cheaper!!
love it! 
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Dianchi
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 26/02/2007
Posts: 1829
Loc: Herts
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contact local farmers in search of "carrot men"! Bags delivered to our yard are £1.50 instead of £4.50 from local tack shop/feed store.
Get the whole yard in on it and save a fortune!
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If your gonna do something you might as well look good doing it!
No advertising here!
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Naturally
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 26/11/2007
Posts: 1850
Loc: Cheshire
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Ooh my fav topic!!
Own brand baby shampoo instead of horsey shampoo, baby oil, wet wipes make good eye/bum wipes etc
Many things like cotton wool rolls cheaper from Chemist not saddlery
Wash rugs that don't need re-proofing in the bath yourself
Stock up on swedes from supermarket end of day reductions, they still keep for ages.
Learn to sew or make a friend who does - lots of things easily repairable instead of throw away, e.g. velcro comes off something.
Do an occasionall reccy shop around for best price/quality straw, hay, shavings etc. don't assume you are still getting a good deal from your current supplier
See something you like in your local tack shop? If you can wait a few days for it, go home and mooch the internet to see if you can get it cheaper
Ebay is amazing!!
Get together with others to buy feed/straw etc in bulk
Look after your things - maintain tack and rugs etc, and if you have a theft problem on a yard a lock and chain is cheaper than constantly replacing things
Visit the pound/cheapo shop for storage boxes, sponges, vaseline, dustpan and brush, cheap small brooms make good yard brooms if you don't have to sweep the whole yard, laundry baskets make good skips
... told you it was my fav subject 
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brightmount
veteran
Reged: 25/01/2006
Posts: 1389
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Freecycle for wheelbarrows, yard brooms, buckets and pretty much anything and everything!
eBay for supplements and potions. American eBay for Cortaflex (Corta-flx).
Boot fairs for horse stuff that invariably looks grubby (horse stuff always does) but will easily clean up!
Big washing machine so you can wash your own rugs. Removable neck covers make rugs fit better in the machine. Reproof yourself with Nikwax. I find the sponge-on method the best.
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brightmount
veteran
Reged: 25/01/2006
Posts: 1389
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That reads wrong - I meant reproof the rugs yourself, not reproof yourself... I'll get my coat...
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magicmillbrook
old hand
Reged: 10/10/2006
Posts: 951
Loc: Norfolk
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Big bale haylage (if you have enough horse to use it up)
Second hand bins at the tack shop/equestrian jumble sales, got two lovely caveson nose bands for , some spare stirrup leathers and two peais of reins for under a £10 recently.
Dont be too proud to take your unwanted stuff to the tack room to sell on, its lovely coming away with money!
Less is sometimes more - got some exspensive camrosa shampoo two years ago, a tiny bottle, but it is so concentrated you only use a teaspoon or two in a bucket of water. Same with supplements. I swear by cortafelx. Its exspensive but you only use a tiny amount. I only use two pots a year.
Home made fly repellant - once you buy the essential oils you will be set for years.
Overalls - I bought myself and daughter a pair each (£4), it saves me a fortune on stained jops/washing powder etc. I can do morning stable in my work clothes, its also very liberating not having to worry in the slightest about getting mucky, they are also lovely and warm without being sweaty and bulky. On downside my daughter was hacking out in hers, made eye contsact with very disshy farm worker, then remembered she was weraring her fetching brown overalls!
I second walking away and thinking 'do I need this?' and also checking out prices online.
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magicmillbrook
old hand
Reged: 10/10/2006
Posts: 951
Loc: Norfolk
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Ooh - also put the word out about things - that how I got in contact with my haylage provider. Its a good source of things like hard core, barrels for jumps etc
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kit279
addict
Reged: 31/01/2008
Posts: 560
Loc: Cambridge
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Tent patches for torn rugs - no need to waterproof them.
Citronella/cold tea/detergent fly repellent.
Growing pumpkins on the old muck heaps and then feeding them to the horses.
Finding someone with an apple tree who is inevitably desperate to get rid of several tonnes of apples.
Converting the gas-guzzling 4x4 to Liquid Petroleum Gas (50p per litre).
Getting the hay off the field yourself - a bit back breaking but 80p a bale!
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kit279
addict
Reged: 31/01/2008
Posts: 560
Loc: Cambridge
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I forgot..
Free rubber tyres from garages for feed tubs. They also make good jump fillers if you cut them in half and stand them up.
Tesco home delivery boxes makes good impromptu jumps - they have this funny little notch on them which is suspiciously like a built in jump cup! plus no-one will pinch them and you can stack them up on top of one another if you put the handles down.
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artyannie
veteran
Reged: 03/09/2007
Posts: 1223
Loc: Gloucestershire
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But Tesco take their boxes back ?
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Loves her new man 16.3 5 yo Bay Gelding 'Drifter'
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kit279
addict
Reged: 31/01/2008
Posts: 560
Loc: Cambridge
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Umm, they didn't with me? I have about 12!
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xapplex
enthusiast
Reged: 16/01/2007
Posts: 265
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mix up horse poo with water in a bucket and brush on the wooden fences and they dont chew the wood dont buy the sprays ect ...poo and water is brill and you dont have to replace posts
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silvershadow81
addict
Reged: 15/02/2008
Posts: 565
Loc: Essex
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i was wondering where that post was going when i first started to read!!  thats a good idea!
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Toby_Zaphod
Carpal \'Tunnel
Reged: 08/08/2005
Posts: 4107
Loc: Warwicks/Staffs Border, UK
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Buy your feed skips from a builders yard. They are twice the thickness as the flimsy tack shop ones & at a fraction of the price. Colours are limited to black & yellow though.
Don't buy vetrap....... buy an alternative at half the price, & it's just as good.
Go to your local pound shop, you will find loads of things for your tack room & save a fortune.
Keep your tack clean & supple & it will last a lifetime.
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fathorse
enthusiast
Reged: 11/03/2008
Posts: 260
Loc: Bristol, UK
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Cut you own hay if you can...biggest money saver...and if you have too much hay for horse... sell it for profit and that's your horse's food paid for.
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Magic_Magpie
Reged: 06/11/2004
Posts: 8520
Loc: Scotland
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Quote:
American eBay for Cortaflex (Corta-flx).
Also the odd other thing is cheaper to buy from American EBay even with the postage back here. I've bought a lycra turnout neck cover (like Snuggy Hoods) for half the price and Splintex is much cheaper as well. Basically if its American made then it'll be cheaper (which makes sense really!).
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NICE LIFE FOR THE SMALLEST PONY IN THE WORLD?: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KD4j9__qgUs&feature=related
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Ann_i_malPets
Reged: 06/09/2004
Posts: 1493
Loc: East Midlands
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Great post!
Baby wipes can be used for allsorts, cleaning eyes, nose, bum, bridle, saddle.
Milton (baby sterilizing) fluid brings food buckets etc up like new.
I know baby oil has alreay been mentioned but it's aso great to use as a mud guard.
Avon skin so soft and fresh is a great fly repellent.
For a quick coat clean up us hot water, as hot as you can bare to touch with some vinegar and sugar. Use a flannel and soak in the water, squeeze out all the excess water so that you don't burn your horse the wipe over the coat, it steams out all the dirt and gives a lovely shine too!
Asda's smart price shampoo is fantastic for greys!
Ok I best stop now.......
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ann82 x
Edited by ann82 (30/04/2008 14:41)
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solstar
veteran
Reged: 13/04/2007
Posts: 1553
Loc: Barkston Ash, N Yorks.
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the bestest money saving tip of all..... don't have a horse!
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you're on the road, but you've got no destination....
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