Take my advice (I'm not using it) on horse frugality

As a matter of fact, I do know some little money-saving techniques for horse owners. Unfortunately I don't use them, usually. When I try to save money, I'm troubled by what ifs, and spending the extra bit gives me peace of mind. I'm much better on saying what you should never skimp on:

• Shoeing (adding weeks between shoeings is a false economy
• Eye/eyelid injuries (call the vet NOW)
• Saddle, boots, helmet (buy the best you can afford)
• Horse purchase. Buy a bit more horse than you can really afford -- the monthly cost of a mediocre horse is the same as a great one. Don't sweat the one time costs.
  

When the financial tips are down, though, here are some cost saving tips...

Today's theme is abstinence...
It wasn't a realistic message during sex ed in high school and it may not be realistic now. But maybe there are behaviors you can abstain from, such as:

1. Impulsive vet calls. When your horse is lame, and there is no obvious injury or severe pain, wait 7 days before calling the vet. Ditto if an **abscess is suspected, even though there may be real discomfort.

MY LEARNING EXPERIENCE: As a yearling, Riley's hock swelled up for no apparent reason. Oh, no, OCD! I called the vet after 3 days. Six x-rays and $300 later, surgery was advised. A week later, I have an appointment at New Bolton. Hired a hauler ($150) and met with Dr. Dean Richardson at NB (Barbaro's doctor). He scoffed at the field x-rays and took his own, to the tune of $1000. Riley is pronounced AOK. Did I mention that by day 9 the swelling is gone, and he's sound? Total expenditure because I didn't wait: $1450. Oh, and his perfectly fine hock is now excluded by my insurance.

2. Supplements. Of the supplements you feed or want to feed, which of them ACTUALLY RESULTS IN MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENT IN ANYTHING -- soundness, hoof quality, etc.? Can you see/feel/tell a difference--really? Fine. Keep those.

As to the rest, use'em up, throw away the container, DO NOT REORDER. No matter how nice the Smartpak service rep is, you can skip the bee pollen, the vitamin C, the herb stuff that smells so nice and looks like potpourri. Really. Your horse does NOT CARE.

3. The latest new training aid. You know, like the Parelli Confidence bit that "teaches horses to have more confidence"? Or the slew of new stirrups on the market (see right)? Ask yourself, "What did they do 20 years ago?" The answer is, they did without and kept things simple. And they got results. Align yourself with the likes of Bill Steinkraus, George Morris, Reiner Klimke, etc. Go without.

Okay, now the disclaimer: Earlier this morning I bought a Nathe bit online. It's a flexible mullen mouth bit, a cable covered with gooey polymer--at least it's legal in competition. It is supposed to be good for sensitive horses. $60 plus shipping. Epic failure of frugality.

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**When a horse is showing signs of an abscess, it probably is an abscess. And if it isn't an abscess, the next most likely thing is a fracture of the coffin bone or some other bone in the hoof. According to The Horse magazine, it sometimes takes 10 days to 2 weeks for the edges of a fracture to demineralize/become defined enough to show up on an x-ray. The hoof itself serves as a cast, and so long as the horse isn't running around, waiting will not result in further damage to the fractured area.