How much does it cost a year to keep a horse?

Question

my question is just how much does it cost to keep a horse? Not including the price of board. Im talking vet bills, feed, hay, tack, etc. I want answers from people who really have horses and know the facts. Thank you all for your help. = ]

I'm asking this because i have been taking horse back riding lessons. and now i am looking to get a horse of my own. I am going to be keeping it on my own land so dont need to worry about boarding. but im just wondering how much should i expect vet bills and feed to be. i know it will be tougher the fist year b/c i will be buying tack and everything but i just want to get an idea of what i need to spend before i start looking for a horse.

Answer 1

Feed: Depends on where you live and what your horse will require as each horse can have it's own nutritional needs. Square alfalfa bales can range from $7 to $12 a bale.

Very basic.... but subject to change:
1 bale @ average of $10
1 horse
10X 4 weeks = 40 per month. For my mare, it is about $80 with supplements a month. My youngest gelding is about $60 with supplements and my oldest gelding is about $80 due to his age with extra supplements.

Supplement feeds: This includes alfalfa pellets, oat hay /oats (if not part of regular diet), sweet feed, Mare n Foal, Senior or Junior feed are all examples of extra dietry. Average every other month is $40.

Vet bills: This is one of the main things you will never have an exact number. You will find everyone's number will be different. Why? 1) Location 2) Most vet's set their own amount to fee's 3) Some horses are accident prone and others only need one check up a year.

One year, I spent about $2,000 in vet bill. This included my mare's pregnancy check ups every 3 months, plus her foaling, shots and worming.

For 2 years straight my mare was deathly ill due to secondary strangles. We spent a few grand and had to take out a loan to pay for it.

Vets prescribe some expensive stuff sometimes. A bottle of beut cost me $85 bucks. It lasts a while to the point it expires before it is even half empty since my horses don't need asprine that often.

I would recommend you putting at least $500-$1000 in savings for those just incase times. I know that seems a lot but so are those vet bills and items.

Tack: go to yard sales and auctions. Look for bargins and deals. you can actually save hundreds of $$.

I have ways of making deals with people too. Don't pay for something you know (by researching) it isn't worth the price. People (as I do this) set higher prices in yard sales JUST because they know people will try to mark it down to get it cheaper. Better known as "or best offer".

I have my three horses, plus 4 others on my parents property as I live with them while going through school. I get a lot of support, but I also pay a lot for mine and their horses too. I average $1,500 a year now that I pay for my three with basic care. (triming, supplement feed and buy new tack tools like brushes/bridles/bits/buckets etc).

Your first year will be a little scary, but after awhile, you will get the hang of it.

Answer 2

Good thing I keep record books for 4-H!!
In my first record (second year I owned my pony) it cost a total of $916.02 for feed, wormer, farrier, hay, tack and riding lessons.
In my second record (third year owning a horse) it cost a total of $414.33 which is pretty cheap, but I didn't buy much tack or riding lessons that year.
The next record I have is from this year (I missed last year), and it's for two horses, I had bought a yearling since my last record. The total that year came to $2,937.04 and that was for tack, hay, feed, farrier, a round pen, a few riding lessons and wormer. So you can see my cost increased quite a bit when I had two horses in stead of one. I'd say the normal ballpark range of money it cost to care for a horse is in the $1,000's range, some falling under, some falling over. I hope I helped you get an idea of how much caring for horses cost!

Answer 3

Im not sure exactly how much but I have 2... vet bills rang depending on whats being done... a Coggins test adn shot in arkansas is about 50 per horse and then other things like hoof trimming and shoing if u ride them on pavement... cost of hay, we get out hay cheap... lol we grow hay we have 100 acres of hay ground and we bail it and sell it... then sweet feed or grain is about $20 depending on the bag size tho, salt blocks are about 10... tack is out the butt expensive.. we have to saddle that we bought at a local feed store for 300 a peice... and the headstall, bits, reigns, breastcollar (if u run or barrell race) all together would be about 150 to 200 bucks... a halter and lead rope is about 30 to 50 depending on where u buy it and the quality... then u also have the cost of things like brushes, curry combs, hoof picks, hoof clippers and files ( if u do ur own trimming) adn fly spray or they will be misserable.. we also have different vitamins that we buy from teh vet adn mix in their sweet feed.... I dont know if u have an Orchelins Farm Supply where u live but that is where we get most of our feed and tack... Good Luck!

Answer 4

Probably about $1,000 to $1,500 each year at the ,lowest. But if you want the best tack, the best feed,the best vet,etc....then you're looking to about $5,000 to possibly $7,150. I grown up around horses and own a horse. I'm only a teenager but I've been riding since I was 6 months old at my grandparents house. They are very loving creatures. The best of luck with finding everything you need.

Answer 5

hay might be $50 to $100 a month, shoes and vet bills maybe $500 a year, depending . . .another $500 for tack, but that will change down after the first year . . the bigger cost is the stall fee, and then if you get a pickup and a horse trailer . .

Answer 6

It really depends where you live, if you want this horse for pleasure riding or show and how much of the care are you willing to do on your own.

Vet bills & feed would be determined by your horses age, health, usage, breed & size.

Are you able to post some more specific information?

Thanks

Answer 7

Honestly if you have to ask, you can't afford to keep a horse.