How do you pay for your horse habit?

[Ajinx]

I know for some of you its just the way of life, but with the economy the way it is its getting tougher,so is your horsey life a living or a habit?

I wish I had the benefits of doing something I loved everyday. I work full time, but I was wondering if any of you have any part time gigs to justify your horse costs.

[Michelle McConnell]

Working full time really gets in the way of this habit!
I do chores and house/horse/pet sitting.
Used to have an additional job (part time) but that went away.

[whisper]

I work fulltime and have the horses at home. We (kids and I ) shop tack swaps for show clothes and tack. Sell what we don't fit into anymore. I have a friend that owns a tack store and gives me deals on the stuff I buy. The ex supplies the hay and pays half of all the horse expenses since "our kids" are very active with horses. I have friends help me with trailer repairs and truck repairs if I can't do it myself. They usually go buy the parts since it seems men don't get as much bs when buying parts plus one gets discounts cuz he has his own repair shop. I have a friend that is an electrician so if I need something done I buy the parts etc on sale and he installs for the price of a couple of beers.
I also plan on starting a side business of some sort possibly repairing blankets and washing them or doing Avon book parties or something to that nature. Have thought about making up snacks for horses and rabbits to sell at the shows we go to. But knowing my kids they would feed them all to our livestock before we'd get any sold. :)

[Heidi Mutcher]

The stimulous check our government handed us this past year, was used to pay for some of my hay. I picked up a short term side job to cover the cost of the rest of the hay. The horses weren't supposed to be with me anymore (anticipated finding them new homes by August 2007) and it's been tough, but we manage...somehow. In spite of the fact that hubby is out of work and looking. To date, selling off wares has been the way I've been raising money for the barn costs but this year, nobody's buying anything!

[Morgan Girl]

I am triple leasing a horse. That will help to split the board, and farrier costs and also the gas costs to get to the barn. I also ask for riding lessons as a Christmas present and space 6 lessons out thoughout the year.

[dreamer]

2jobs. I go visit when i have "evenings" off....If i did'ft board at my friends for 50$ a month.......not sure what would go on......But we all make it work huh !

[Chris]

I take care of horses and live in the apartment above the barn, then I travel for a couple months at a time with 10 or so TB racehorses to different tracks where I can train them, and race them. While I'm in Minnesota, I do odd jobs, and help people with their horses as much as I can.