What are the requirements for owning a horse?

Question

I am interested in buying a horse for my son. I want to know what are the requirements. Can a horse live in a house in a regular neighboorhood?Do you need a permission from the city? Does it need a big back yard? Is it costly? Please help

Answer 1

You need to check with the town hall to see if zoning regulations permit you to have a horse in your residential area. Horses need a three sided structure to block them from the wind and a roof to keep them dry from rain and shaded from the sun. Your fence must be safe and sturdy to secure them inside their enclosure. The general rule of thumb for pasture space is one acre per horse. A horse will graze that down quickly and hay will have to be fed as a staple to the diet. Manure clean up is crucial to keep the pasture clean. Horses eat about on average 4 to 5 pounds of grain a day and about one bale of hay every two days. They can drink up to 20 gallons of water a day too. They require an annual vet check up for rabies shots and they need their hooves trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks. They need their teeth floated (filed down) twice a year. They are a lot of work (usually too much for a young child on their own) and are not cheap but they are a lot of fun to own. If you live in suburbia, then you will have to board it at a stable as zoning won't let a horse stay there. Board is 400+ dollars a month where I live in New England, but is cheaper out in the mid west and down south. Vet bills usually are never under 100 dollars and a hoof trim ranges 20 to 40 dollars. Feed comes in 50lb bags and ranges from 7 dollars a bag (maintenence feed) to up to 30 dollars a bag (performance feed). Hay needs to be of feed quality (mulch hay will make a horse colic and die) and ranges from 3 or 4 dollars to 10 to 12 dollars a bale (depends on the season and where you live). Horses need dewormed every 3 months, wormers range form 10 to 20 dollars each. Tack and equipment are important if you want to ride and halters (to catch and lead your horse) are necessary and need replaced about once a year, grooming supplies and brushes are needed as your horse will need groomed every day too. Other necessities add up as well, blankets, buckets, brushes etc. It is best to consult a trainer or stable manager for more information. Maybe you should get your son riding lessons and become more familiar to the equine world before you purchase a horse. Good Luck.

Answer 2

Let's see...here's what I pay: $275 a month in board $80 every six weeks for shoes $5-10 for wormer every two months Vaccines every year- varies, but my average is $70-100 if I bring my horse to the vet Teeth floated every other year; depending on work, I have paid as much as $300 for specific work. My saddle cost $500 $100 saddle pad $70 Bridle $20 Halter $10 lead rope $50 grooming supplies (shampoo, diff brushes, hoof pick, etc) And a whole lotta other stuff....when I used to keep my horse at a friends house it costs about $200 for a ton of hay around here...and my horse is a hard keeper, so it cost me an average of about $120-150 a month for hay. Now it's just included in my boarding bill. A lot of other prices come into play...I had a $1500 vet bill recently...and many more in the past years. Those are fun because vets want payment up front, no exceptions. :-( So, it's a huge commitment, with an acceptance that once in a while the already large costs may be even larger due to medical issues. Horses are awesome, but a huge money and time pit. I spend time with my horses everyday...I always make sure they're fly sprayed everyday in the summer, blanketed in the winter, well exercised, grained (not included in board!), hooves are picked out everyday to keep any thrush at bay...it's a lot of work, but worth it. :-)

Answer 3

To keep your horse at home you need to find the requirements for your area. For the horse's sake, you should make sure the horse has at least an acre. You need to make sure the field is seeded right and that the soil is balanced so the horse will stay healthy. For your son's sake, you need to make sure he has plenty to do with the horse. You don't want him getting bored quickly there needs to be something for him to do: trails to ride on, an open area to set up jumps or obstical courses....

It is very costly to own a horse. I promise, my point of making this sound dismal is not to make you not want a horse, but it really is the truth. Insurance isn't a must, but it's a VERY good idea. Knowledge is a must. You may not have to know much right away, but you need to learn as much as you can. Don't depend on others so much as learn for yourself.

The costs usually include: board (unless you're at home), lessons (if you want), food (how much this costs varies), knowledge (education is expensive), time (and lots of it), effort (even more than time), and commitment (you need to be there almost every day for this horse).

Owning a horse is a BIG deal. It's also the most wonderful experience out there, in my book.

Also, horses are stressful. Not so much for the kids as for the parents. They are big, quick, dangerous animals that cost a gazillion dollars to heal if they get sick. Like I said, this is the truth, I'm not trying to make you hate horses. I jumped into it before I quite knew what it was, and let me tell you, it was hard.

Here are the good sides: horses are the best teachers of responsability, patience, and love that there is. they are the most fun there is. they are beautiful. they are playful and very smart. but if you like horses, the fact that they're horses is enough :-).

A few tips would be: get the horse healthy in every way to minimize stress. find a program that is SAFE, for a mom it's hard to watch your kid deal with such a big animal if they're not safe. spend more money now so you don't have to spend as much later - do things right the first time. and learn the right material. learning the right stuff is so important. don't believe everything you hear from trainers.

Answer 4

How interested is you son?
Is you son taking Lessons? If not I would not even think about getting a horse. One needs expirence to handle them and enjoy them. He should take lessons for about a year, then if he still really wants one ask his instructor if he can take some lessons that focus on horse care and handeling instead of riding.....
You want to make sure he really wants one before spending all this time and money.

Now on to the requirements.........

A horse can live 30+ years.
They are A Lot of work....
Feeding at least 2 times a day (every day.....on his B-day....on X-Mas morning)
If kept inside their stall needs to be mucked....usually once a day, or twice a day if they are inside the whole day........
If kept outside during rain or snow, then they need a shelter or run-in.......
You need to pay for tack, food, vet bills, and farrier bills (getting their feet trimmed and maybe shod).....
They can't live IN a house......
Horses are happiest outside and with at least one other horse.....some people that can't keep 2 horses buy a goat or mini donkey..........
Where we live you can have a horse in an area that is zoned residential if you have three acres or more.........However, you will have to check with where you live........People usually say 3 acres for the first horse abnd 1 more acre tor each horse after that.......however, there are many farms that have a single horse in a one acre field.
You can also board you horse........this may be a better option for you because yopu don't have to put up a fence, barn, or run-in, or pick out feed or hay.....
A good safe horse for your son will be hard to find........if you look hard you might be lucky to find one for $1,800......

My best advice would be for your son to take lessons......then go from there.

Answer 5

Buying an animal you know nothing about is not a great idea. Before buying a horse, you should first enroll your son in riding lessons and make sure they teach horsemanship as well. Many riding stables will allow you to lease a horse/pony. This is an excellent way to see if owning a horse is for you. Your son will learn responsibility and learn how to handle a horse under a controlled setting. Horses can be dangerous animals and are easily spooked. If you or your child doesn't know how to handle a horse, you are putting yourself and him in a dangerous situation. If you live in a "regular" neighborhood, chances are that you cannot keep a horse there. It would need to be boarded. And yes, they are costly.

Answer 6

It all depends on what you have. Horses can be costly for buying all the tack, feed, vet and firer bill, and stuff like that. It also depends on what kind of land you have, and the city, In my area I think you have to have 5 acres pf land to have 1 horse. I don't know what your situation is bet your best bet is probably to go to a local stable and look into lessons or a share-bored. If you want to go full out with the horse, I suggest you keep it at a boarding stable if you don't have the land or if your in the city,

Answer 7

I agree with ml. Owning a horse is costly. We have 8 of them. And since we are in a drought here, hay is nearly $15.00 a bale for plain grass hay. My feed bill per horse runs about $200 per month. Yearly shots and worming about $200 per year. Shoes are $90 every six weeks. We spend about $3000 - $4000 per horse yearly just on general upkeep. And if you plan on keeping him in the back yard (if the city will allow it), you are going to have to spend the money for a truck and trailer to be able to take your son somewhere he can ride. If not, you will have to board him, and this can cost anywhere from $150 to $300 per month. My suggestion is to give your son riding lessons. If he sticks with them, then think about buying him a horse. If he loses interest in six months, then all you are out is the cost of the lessons. Good Luck and hope this helps!

Answer 8

Unless your backyard is a few acres and you live in an area that permits livestock I seriously doubt you can keep him in your backyard next to the pool. And-of course-horses are expensive-they are big and require costly feed,hay, and veterinary care just to start. Surely you are not being serious in asking this question.

Answer 9

First,you need lots of land..If you do not have the room to keep it in your back yard,it cost quit a bit to board it.A horse needs lots of grass or hay...If you don't have the grass,you have to buy the hay.Horses need there feet trimed about every 2 to 3 months.You need to make sure they are up on all the vaccines they will need for the area you live in.Most cities have laws about keeping farm animals in town so you need to check first to see is you can have one where you live. Once you have the horse,he will need lots of love and attention..Do you have the time for it? Horses are great.If you do get one i hope you enjoy it.

Answer 10

First off, it is not nessisary for your son to have lessons. I've never had them, and now I'm a fine local horse trainer. Many people have owned a horse in their back yards. Altho this is not fair to the animal as it does not have the space and freedom to really get down and run to stretch it's legs. But if your son will be riding him a lot(everyday) outside the back yard it should be fine. Depending on where you live, you may need to buy a permit if you live in the city, or in a neighborhood. A horse needs about 2 1/2 acres to live adequetly. If you don't have this land, he needs lots of hay. I don't know where you live, so I can't give you estimates.
1. Feed
2. Water
3. cleanlyness
4. Shelter
5. vet and farrier care
6. space and exercise.

1. My horses are fed a coffee can full of a mix of rolled oats, cracked corn, and sweet feed a day. I feed half of this in the morning and half in the evening. They also get a hay net full of hay everyday. 1 horse is being kept on a lot by herself, and the lot is about 1 acre or less and she is fat and healthy. I spend about $40 a month on feed, and I get a big round bale (cost me $60) and fence it off and just feed my horses off of that instead of spending $15 a small square bale.
2. Be sure they have clean water everyday, as a healthy horse can drink up to 10-12 gallons of water a day, and a horse that is ridden everyday and works can drink upwards of 18 gallons.
3. The pen needs to be cleaned every day and the waste disposed of via dump or city clean up. If waste is allowed to build up the horse can get thrush (rotting of the feet) and it is expensive and time consuming to cure.
4. A horse can survive in a 3 sided shelter with a slanted roof (the higher end at the open side) the shelter needs to be raised from the rest of the pasture so when it rains your horse isn't standing in muck (also to cause thrush) You can build one of these for around $500 to $800
5. Your horse will need annual vaccinations, rabies and west nile are the most important, and also one called Rhino. If you plan to haul him anywhere (trail riding, shows, rodeos) you will need a coggins test, which will basically tell you that your horse has no transmittable diseases. His feet will need trimming every 6 to 8 weeks, less if he is ridden a lot. Shoes aren't always necessary unless you plan to ride on rocks or his feet begin to wear down too much. Your farrier should be able to tell when this is happening and may recommend you get some. Annuals-around $60 Farrier- each farrier charges something different, mine only charges $25 to get the feet trimmed while each shoe costs about $20.
6. If you do end up keeping a horse in your backyard at least an hour is needed of riding everyday to keep him fit, happy, and un-stiff. Check around for fenced, empty lots that are bigger than your yard and find out who owns them and see if you can keep him there, or at least let him run around in his own freedom for a few hours while you are away at work or something.
All in all it is a little pricey to keep a horse. The cheapest part of owning a horse is actually buying it. for me it's around $500-$600 a year to keep 1 horse depending they have no medical emergencies. To get started properly, expect to spend about $2,000 to $2, 500 the first year.