Jessi's Q & A - Summer 2009
By Jessica Lohman
Jessi Lohman Manager of Equine Marketing
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Tips for saving money in the horse world
Q: With all the doom and gloom in the economy right now, I’d still like to be able to go to a few shows this summer in order to keep my mind sane. What are some ways I can save money while still getting some time in the show ring? Peter F., Aldie, VA
A: Hi Peter,
I am sure you aren’t the only one who’s hoping to get to some shows this year and wondering how to do it on a shoe-string budget. Below are some ideas to help you have fun with your steed this summer and remain economically sound.
- Packing your own food and drinks in a cooler is a good start. Who wants to pay $5 for a greasy hamburger and $2 for a soda? You can spend as little as $5 at the grocery store on some snacks, fruit and veggies and water/sports drinks. This way, you can save some pennies and stay healthy!
- It’s a no-brainer that local un-rated/open shows cost less to attend than the regional rated/breed shows. You can either go to more local shows, or pick three favorite rated shows to attend.
- A bale of straw covers the same amount of space as 5-6 bags of shavings and costs a lot less. Bedding your stalls at shows with straw instead of shavings will save you a good amount of dough.
- Braiding/banding your own horse at shows will save you $45-$70 a day. If you don’t show until the end of the day, ask another braider/bander if they need some help. Before you know it, your entire show can be paid for!
- Hauling your own horse will save you as much as $1.50/mile. If you are a safe and reputable trailer driver, ask your trainer if he/she has any overflow that you can haul for them - another great way to help pay your expenses.
- You can also ask your trainer if you can work off some of your training bill during the show by helping out in the barn – be it mucking stalls, lunging, cleaning tack, bathing horses, etc.
Most horse show fanatics will adapt to a diet of instant noodles and tap water before they give up horse showing. You might have to make some hard choices and think creatively, but there are ways to keep showing on a tighter budget. Happy trails!
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