I have been thinking about the issue of prioritizing a lot lately as it relates to my equine. As a full-time graduate student on a pretty limited budget, I find that I often have to figure out what issue is the most pressing and allot funds for one thing at a time. While it would be great to have an unlimited budget, I do need a roof over my head and something to eat every few days :) There are a few things currently on my horsey plate that I feel need to be taken care of:
Paying off my vet bill/Fall Shots: Definitely a necessity, as the vet would probably NOT be happy if he didn't get paid on time. I managed to rack up a $250 vet bill for Reno's recent illness. In the big scheme of vet bills, this one is pretty small. Still, for me parting with a few hundred dollars is pretty significant. Fall shots are also right around the corner and something that he has to have. Thankfully I got his teeth floated in the spring, so this time around it shouldn't be too bad.
Moving: While I may be able to find cheaper board, I do have to pay BM to haul Reno to Raleigh (about a 3 hour round-trip). I could potentially talk my dad into hauling him for me, but I think I would feel safer with BM driving. I could also look into a transport service, but am not sure if this would be the cheaper option.
Chiropractor: I would really like to get the chiro out to see Reno and get him worked on. He is a bit frozen in his left hind and also had some back soreness a while back that I feel could use a little tweaking. I would like to make sure he is 100% physically so that any issues we have in training are behavioral and not from pain.
Saddle: This is a biggie. I don't love the way either of my saddles fit Reno. I would love to have someone come out and fit him (as I think he is going to be a tough one to fit). I would love to invest in a new saddle that fits him better and one that we could grow with.
So that is the long and short of the top things on my priority list. Obviously the vet will be #1, but I would welcome some insight into where the others should fall or possible alternative options to dealing with some of these issues. Playing the lottery is option #2, but so far I have yet to collect ;)
I like the order your priorities are in: vet, moving, chiro, saddle. No other order really makes sense.
ReplyDeleteFor moving, it's really helping me to make big lists divided by what I need, what I want, what I don't care about, and what I can't live with. It's an excel spreadsheet right now so I can compare everything side by side. I'm visiting any barns that even sound somewhat likely, asking lots of questions, and I'm more than willing to call back with extra questions.
Good luck! Maybe we should have the great barn race to see who gets settled first. ;-)
I agree with Sprinkler Bandit... the order you listed makes the most sense.
ReplyDeleteAs far as saddle fit goes that one you can potentially make do with by creative use of saddle pads. I know some can be a little expensive but better than buying a new saddle right now. If you think neither saddle fits good then I would for sure do something temporarily about that. After all if you are making him sore from an incorrect saddle fit then you can be wasting money on the chiro... and going round in a circle.
All in my humble opinion!
Good luck and I hope you get him moved close to you soon!
Sprinkler- The spreadsheet is an EXCELLENT idea! What a great way to compare barns. Plus that way you can look at them as a whole. Might have to make one this weekend!
ReplyDeleteStephanie- I agree 100% about the saddle. It would be counter-productive to get the chiro to come out without some sort of fix. I am thinking I might head to the local tack shop and try a few on Reno to see what fits, then from there either try to trade one of my saddles or find a pretty cheap one that I can use in the meantime.
Maybe see if you can a few people interested in a saddle fitting and split the bill? Also price what your equipment is worth and see what you could get that would work well off of the money you could get selling your ill fitted tack?
ReplyDeleteOtherwise I just totally feel your pain. I agree your priorities are great ones. Hang in there!
Yikes, I know just how you feel. I'm still struggling with all the horse-related expenses even now that I'm working and out of grad school. Vet bills are never good. You should see the one from when Tucker scratched his cornea! I feel like I keep sending payments and it never goes away! Ugh!
ReplyDeleteMy advice would be to break the vet bill down into smaller payments each month, and call their office and let them know what your plan is for paying it off. Most of them seem okay with that and then even if you don't have the whole thing paid off by the time fall shots come around, you'll probably still be okay.
As for the saddle, I'd hold off until you're positive that he's done growing. I promise you (believe me, I've been there) something that fits him now won't fit him when he's done! I'd try to make the ones you have work with saddle fitter pads, the ones where you can buy shims for the front or back to improve fit. They're not that cheap but they're cheaper than a new saddle, for sure. If it's not causing him terrible amounts of pain or anything, I'd make do with what you have until he's done, so that your investment won't be a waste in a few years.
One piece of advice..never sit down and add up all you've spent on your horse. Don't do it. :)
ReplyDeleteSecondly, having a plan of priorities will help and sticking to it.
Lol Kristen that is good advice :)
ReplyDeleteMarissa- Breaking up the bill is a good idea and one I had not thought of. It will be a bit more manageable in 2 payments.
I agree with the saddle fitting, I am pretty sure my boy still has a while to grow. I may try to trade out my mom's saddle for a bit and give her mine and see if her's is any better, as it is a wide tree.