GUEST AUTHOR:  Desirai Schilds

Desirai Rushforth Schild worked as a reporter on daily newspapers for nearly 20 years. She now writes monthly horse columns and special features for the Capital Press, Salem Oregon. She also writes articles for Farm and Ranch magazine in southeast Idaho and writes features for special sections for the Post Register, Idaho Falls, Idaho. Desirai and her husband, Ron, live on a 30 acre farm in Fort Hall, Idaho. They have a number of gaited horses of all different breeds as well as a huge collection of formerly homeless or abused cats and dogs.

Horse Owners Face the Troubled Economy©

The world economy has drastically changed how responsible horse owners handle their finances. A friend just sold a horse and put the money into a CD to pay for hay this fall. She's already ordered next season's hay calculating down to the last bale how much she will need in none of her other horses sell. And, they may not. The same factors pinching owners and breeders are making prospective purchasers think twice before taking the plunge into a first horse or adding to the herd.

Drought and fuel costs have pushed hay prices skyward, and experts say horse quality hay is never going below the current benchmark again, so equine owners must prepare to pay. new laws may force livestock owners to provide adequate food whether they want to or not.

About 30 horses starved to death near Pocatello, Idaho, this winter. The owner got a slap on the wrist because animal cruelty is now a misdemeanor. However, Idaho just made dog fighting a felony and humane organizations and individuals plan to push next year's Legislature to make animal neglect and cruelty a felony. Law enforcement representatives say they are ready and willing to enforce animal abuse laws that have some teeth. The threat of jail may well induce some horse owners to feed their animals since common kindness hasn't. Either way, there will probably be more people vying for the crop of hay so put your order in early.

I used to travel to out of state horse shows once a month. With fuel prices projected to go up again this summer, a group of us have planned to attend one such show this summer and to share the ride. We're also organizing more local events so we don't have to drive as far.

One wise couple sold their smaller trailer and bought a four-horse goose-neck. They ride with Back Country Horsemen and have events at least once a month. The new trailer will carry their two horses and two extras. They already have people lined up to share the ride and expense. The gooseneck has a place for a mattress over the truck bed so the couple will save more by sleeping in the trailer when they travel for multi-day horse events. They figure the trailer will pay for itself in one season.

Another money-saver is to do some annual horse care necessities yourself. I've wormed and vaccinated my own horses for years. I mail order rotational wormers by the case; getting a year's supply  at a time. Quantity buying reduces price and shipping charges. When the wormers arrive, I mark each tube with the name of the horse and the date to be given.

I buy all my vaccines in bulk at the vet's office. Since I have several friends who are not comfortable giving shots, I often vaccinate their horses, too. My vet was happy to teach me how to give shots quickly and efficiently.

Horses are a way of life for many of us and increasing costs won't change that. What is changing is the activities we'll have and the way we'll assure our animals' needs are met despite increased financial challenges.