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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
  
Location: Texas | I love these animals so much and want to be able to afford it all on my own one day, but I am so scared that financially I won't be able to do it. In november my horse cut his leg and racked up a good $1500 vet bill. Made his first run back the last weekend of march(just a cruise through to see how he was feeling) entered him the first weekend of April and then last week 3 days after the show the horse came down with strangle and is now looking at a nearly $2000 if not more vet bill. After this he's gonna have to get his hocks done and teeth done before I can run him again because I know those are both due as well. That's almost $4000 in 6 months that wasn't planned on being spent.
I'm sure some of you have been through worse. Do vets offer payment plans? Are you constantly worried about the what ifs? I'm afraid if I keep horses in my life I may never have money in my savings account. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 683
 
Location: Ohio | I am not made of money and vet bills and maintenance costs add up fast. I used to work for a vet and got everything at cost so when I changed jobs it was pretty scary. I have an amazing vet who has known me and my family long enough that he will let me make payments on large bills. Another thing that has saved my butt in the past has been Care Credit. Its basically a credit card that can be used at most vet clinics and even some human medical clinics. I think any charges over $250-$300 is interest free for the first 12 months so it really helps in a pinch. The only thing I hate more than debt is being without my horses... if you're not made of money it becomes a necessary evil. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1165
Location: California | I am thankful for an amazing vet who let's me make payments! Life can throw so many curve balls that horses are not the only sudden large expense unfortunately. I honestly don't know how I paid for all of my mare's lameness vet, farrier, and chiro bills over the 6 month we worked to get her sound again! I don't even want to add it all up! |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | Ditto on Care Credit and a vet that allows you to make payments. I do try to save money for that kind of thing but not always possible. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | Care Credit is how I plan for unexpected vet bills as well. It will also cover uncovered procedures for yourself as well, like Lasix. And you have 12 months interest free to get it paid. It has saved my butt quite a few times. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | Bubble wrap is cheaper.......LMFAO.
Otherwise, place aside 10% from each paycheck into a savings account. I have carecredit as well, but refuse to use it as the interest rate is outrageous.
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | I cry..........................and am grateful for incredible vets that allow us to make payments. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I agree with having a slush fund for the horses.
Also learn what you can from the vet, and do as much as possible yourself.
My vet has taught me how to flex joints, do a basic lameness evaluation. I have hoof testers to test for abscesses. I keep basic drugs on hand, antibiotic, bute, banamine, etc as well as bandage supplies.
I can bandage a wound better then some vets. |
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I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | ...or you could just do a Gofundme Acct  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | cheryl makofka - 2016-04-15 8:23 AM
I agree with having a slush fund for the horses.
Also learn what you can from the vet, and do as much as possible yourself.
My vet has taught me how to flex joints, do a basic lameness evaluation. I have hoof testers to test for abscesses. I keep basic drugs on hand, antibiotic, bute, banamine, etc as well as bandage supplies.
I can bandage a wound better then some vets.
I have my own emergency kit at home. I usually keep meds, antibiotics, bandages, bags of fluids, needles, IV's...and anything else I can think of in it. I use my CareCredit at a last resort only. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| THis might sound mean but.......... I actually have a set dollar amount I am willing to spend on each animal I own, horses and dogs included. The amount is different for every animal and based on several things. One example is, I will not pay for a colic surgery on one of my horses because he has a lot of other issues soundness wise and that would be wasted money on a horse that is not going to stay sound forever anyway. I have insurance and a HIGHER amount on my young horses that I feel have a productive future. I love my two little Jack russels to but small animal vets and procedures are CRAZY and I to have an amount set on them. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1446
Location: Wisconsin | Girls_Gotta_Jet - 2016-04-15 8:43 AM cheryl makofka - 2016-04-15 8:23 AM I agree with having a slush fund for the horses. Also learn what you can from the vet, and do as much as possible yourself. My vet has taught me how to flex joints, do a basic lameness evaluation. I have hoof testers to test for abscesses. I keep basic drugs on hand, antibiotic, bute, banamine, etc as well as bandage supplies. I can bandage a wound better then some vets. I have my own emergency kit at home. I usually keep meds, antibiotics, bandages, bags of fluids, needles, IV's...and anything else I can think of in it. I use my CareCredit at a last resort only.
Ditto- being raised in a farming family, we werent able to call a vet out for every issue. You keep supplies on hand, and learn to fix up animals yourself.
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | FLITASTIC - 2016-04-15 9:16 AM
THis might sound mean but.......... I actually have a set dollar amount I am willing to spend on each animal I own, horses and dogs included. The amount is different for every animal and based on several things. One example is, I will not pay for a colic surgery on one of my horses because he has a lot of other issues soundness wise and that would be wasted money on a horse that is not going to stay sound forever anyway. I have insurance and a HIGHER amount on my young horses that I feel have a productive future. I love my two little Jack russels to but small animal vets and procedures are CRAZY and I to have an amount set on them.
Our family is the same. I love our animals, my husband likes them lol, but we are reminded that they are just animals and not something we should put on pedestal. We pay annual fees; teeth, shots, worming, and if need be other vet visits for a small colic episode or whatnot, but we aren't made of money. If a horse needs a pricey vet visit we sit down and evaluate if we have the money, the horses overall health, how much longer we can use the horse, and if it would be cheaper to put the horse down or sell it as a companion horse if that is an option.
I'd love to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars for a horse that I like to keep them up, healthy, and happy but sometimes we just can't. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| Growing up on a ranch I learned the importance of vaccinations. It is much cheaper to vaccinate than to have huge vet bills for illness. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You can give them yourself and save. Maintenance like worming can save you in the long run also.
I knew that I could never afford the kind of horses that I like just working a minimum wage job so I did without and managed to get through college. As I drove to work the other day, I realized that is one of the best decisions that I have ever made. If I had to make a suggestion on college today, I would recommend something in the medical field or in business administration.
Other suggestions that have helped me save money for my horses over the years are
*Have a hauling partner so you can split expenses.
*Take your food with you---concession stands are expensive. My trainer gave me a Yeti cooler for Christmas because I take one everywhere.
*I take my lunch to school with me everyday and save enough to pay vet bills with just that.
*Take an equine nutrition course so you won't have to think you have to feed the most expensive feed you can buy.
*Set aside a percentage of each pay check put part in an emergency fund and part in some kind of investment fund.
*If you are on a limited budget don't have 6 horses stick with one.
The main thing is to set some goals and have a plan to achieve them.
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | A credit card with a big limit! I've had to do that once, when my gelding needed surgery and I didn't have enough in savings to cover it. I don't rely on my credit cards for every expense, I just use them when I REALLY need to. |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | FLITASTIC - 2016-04-15 10:16 AM
THis might sound mean but.......... I actually have a set dollar amount I am willing to spend on each animal I own, horses and dogs included. The amount is different for every animal and based on several things. One example is, I will not pay for a colic surgery on one of my horses because he has a lot of other issues soundness wise and that would be wasted money on a horse that is not going to stay sound forever anyway. I have insurance and a HIGHER amount on my young horses that I feel have a productive future. I love my two little Jack russels to but small animal vets and procedures are CRAZY and I to have an amount set on them.
I know a lot of people will think that's heartless, but I'm kind of the same way. I have a couple of animals that I will spend every last penny I have to save, but some of the others, I don't feel that way, for various reasons. If it's something simple that they can definitely recover from, sure I'll spend the money. However, if there's a good chance they won't make it anyways, then I'm not going to go broke trying to save them. |
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 Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | CC..... Spent $2500 in vet bills last month and no answers so she's getting bred. I'm pretty young and my parent's don't help me out with expenses other than paying my cell phone bill because it's on a family plan but they know I'm getting swamped with vet bills so they said they'd pay the stud fee as part of my grad gift since I'm finally done University. I'm pretty darn thankful because looking at my CC makes me want to cry. So now I'm moving and my horse gets to stay with friends and I'm paying for a horse 10 hours away. Ah yep, thats love. |
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  Witty Enough
Posts: 2954
Location: CTX | I recently had a discussion with someone at a race. They already have 3 or 4 horses, but nothing really competitive (yet), so she was saying she NEEDED another horse for her eldest girl (they have 3 girls and all 3 race now)....
I am sorry, and I might offend some people now, but what you NEED is clothes on your back, food on the table, and a roof over your head, oh and a vehicle to get around.... I will never understand why people get a loan for a horse, or get one on payments.... Then again, I grew up in the Netherlands (where besides a home nothing was bought on credit in the 70's and 80's, most people still don't have a credit card over there) and I got everything I needed from my parents, if I wanted something extra I would either save up from my allowance, or I would get a job. Simple as that. And face it, a horse is NOT a life necessity....
To get back to your question: I try to save a part of my paycheck every month, and we have a credit card for emergency expenses. Also I have insurance for colic and other major things. And I also agree with another poster that said only to stick with 1 horse when funds are limited.
I do not know the Care Credit thing so I can't comment on that. Sounds like something to look into though.
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| cecollins0811 - 2016-04-15 11:24 AM FLITASTIC - 2016-04-15 9:16 AM THis might sound mean but.......... I actually have a set dollar amount I am willing to spend on each animal I own, horses and dogs included. The amount is different for every animal and based on several things. One example is, I will not pay for a colic surgery on one of my horses because he has a lot of other issues soundness wise and that would be wasted money on a horse that is not going to stay sound forever anyway. I have insurance and a HIGHER amount on my young horses that I feel have a productive future. I love my two little Jack russels to but small animal vets and procedures are CRAZY and I to have an amount set on them. Our family is the same. I love our animals, my husband likes them lol, but we are reminded that they are just animals and not something we should put on pedestal. We pay annual fees; teeth, shots, worming, and if need be other vet visits for a small colic episode or whatnot, but we aren't made of money. If a horse needs a pricey vet visit we sit down and evaluate if we have the money, the horses overall health, how much longer we can use the horse, and if it would be cheaper to put the horse down or sell it as a companion horse if that is an option. I'd love to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars for a horse that I like to keep them up, healthy, and happy but sometimes we just can't.
Ditto and we have plenty of money but we don't let that guide every decision. Two weeks ago my retired 19 year old gelding stepped on a nail and infected the coffin joint. A&M's estimate was 15 -20k with a 50/50 chance. Even though this is my very special guy and we could easily pay for it, I just could not justify spending that. I took him back to my vet, wanted to at least give him a shot and $1500 later he is doing fantastic :). |
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 Expert
Posts: 1395
Location: Missouri | cranky B4 10am - 2016-04-15 12:13 PM
I recently had a discussion with someone at a race. They already have 3 or 4 horses, but nothing really competitive (yet), so she was saying she NEEDED another horse for her eldest girl (they have 3 girls and all 3 race now)....
I am sorry, and I might offend some people now, but what you NEED is clothes on your back, food on the table, and a roof over your head, oh and a vehicle to get around.... I will never understand why people get a loan for a horse, or get one on payments.... Then again, I grew up in the Netherlands (where besides a home nothing was bought on credit in the 70's and 80's, most people still don't have a credit card over there) and I got everything I needed from my parents, if I wanted something extra I would either save up from my allowance, or I would get a job. Simple as that. And face it, a horse is NOT a life necessity....
To get back to your question: I try to save a part of my paycheck every month, and we have a credit card for emergency expenses. Also I have insurance for colic and other major things. And I also agree with another poster that said only to stick with 1 horse when funds are limited.
I do not know the Care Credit thing so I can't comment on that. Sounds like something to look into though.
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I don't know how to highlight but your comment about 'all you need is food, clothes, a roof, a vehicle.' YES. This. Everything else is just gravy.
To answer the OP. I used to set aside X per month in case of vet emergencies. Granted, I've been very fortunate (knock on wood) and my largest emergency bill was no more than $800. Everything else was planned maintenance or vax/teeth, etc. I don't do this anymore, homeownership and kids have the budget a little tighter than it used to be (ha!) but a few yrs back, knowing I had that cushion, gave me a lot of peace! I also didn't buy fancy tack (not saying you do) or go to any many races as I'd have liked, but I always put that money away first. Now if I'd have an emergency...I'd have to charge it :( |
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