Heres an overall look at what owning a horse will cost and where your money goes after becoming a horse owner. You are probably aware that the upfront costs to buy a horse are not going to compare with the longer-term costs of ownership. The initial horse purchase price might seem like an expensive expenditure, but daily care is truly the biggest expense in owning a horse. If you are keeping your horse on your own property, you will need some common upkeep costs to ensure that it is all taken care of and is working properly.
If owners choose not to board their horses, but rather to have them stay in the house, there are unavoidable costs associated with fencing installations, maintenance, and repairs. If you are keeping horses at home, there is an upfront cost to building fencing, shelters, hay storage, and feeders; but once built, it is a lot cheaper to keep them at home. For example, if you own a horse barn, you will save thousands in board costs. As I mentioned, if you are boarding your horse somewhere, and paying full-time care or pasture boarding, then you probably do not have to worry about buying hay on your own.
Services like cleaning the stalls, feeding, and turning out the horses in the pasture probably are not included with boarding costs. Boarding facilities can range anywhere from $150-$1200 depending on if your horse will require stalls and whether or not you will need another person to take care of your horse. Boarding your horse can range in price depending on where you live and what your stable does, but the costs of board could easily be $500 to over $1200 a month. The cost of owning a horse can vary wildly depending on where you live, where the horse will be living, what type of horse he or she is, and so much more.
The cost of feeding your horse can vary widely, depending on what type of hay and grains are provided, and how often you choose to feed your horse daily. In general, it costs about $150.00 a month to feed a horse, however, it should cost less if your horse is just eating hay. The average price for a square bale of horse-quality hay may range between $3-20 depending on when you buy. In general, it costs around $6,000 a year to keep a horse, but costs can vary widely depending on factors like the health of the horse and its age.
Horses can range in price from $500-$3,000 depending on their bloodlines, performance records, and good behavior. The starting cost for a horse can range from several hundred dollars to a few thousand depending on pedigree, condition, and training level. The costs can be significantly different depending on the age of the horse that you obtain, and the place that you happened to obtain it from. In addition to the initial purchase price for the horse itself, costs for hay, feed, vet exams, training, and care are also involved.
Equipment costs will vary among individual horse owners, but generally include purchasing and maintaining equipment related to grooming, feeding, and care (brushes, buckets, forks, etc.). While the initial purchase of the horse has a price, there are many other costs associated with horse ownership. There is a greater financial commitment involved in horse ownership than just the initial cost of buying a horse; there are ongoing monthly expenses associated with caring for your equine friend. The initial costs to owning a horse are a one-time cost, which gets you the minimum amount of what it takes to ride and handle your new horse.
Instead, think about the yearly costs and get started on one of many affordable alternatives to buying a horse. When you are calculating what you believe it would take to purchase a horse, be sure to factor in sales taxes, transport costs, and pre-purchase vet checks. Before buying a horse, you should check out what horses cost and figure out your budget first. Before buying a horse, it is good to evaluate your financial budget monthly to make sure that you will be able to meet your horses needs.
These costs can quickly add up, so it is good to talk with seasoned horse owners, research local fees, and create a budget to make sure you can afford to own a horse. You may also take on a horse that has a medical condition or soundness issue, which could cost you quite a bit even though the initial purchase price is lower.
The cost to shoe your horse can really add up, depending on your horse and the types of shoes he needs. The cost to shoe a horses annual horses is different for each horse, as it depends on how much he is going to ride or work, what kind of shoes it needs, and how frequently he needs shod.
You might need to consider the costs of your time and gas to feed and care for your horse twice daily. If you are paying your horses feed each month, you will find it could cost a pretty penny each year to give him hay, grains, oats, alfalfa, treats, and the other supplies that he needs to remain healthy. Just as your dog or cat needs periodic care and grooming, your horse does too — and that costs much more than caring for a smaller pet.
Horses are serious price-tickets, and a registered, well-trained horse at peak performance could easily run you $10,000 or more. Poor hay harvests and rising feed and fuel costs may impact the amount of horses available for sale, and may impact the asking price for these horses in a given year.
There are ways to reduce your horses ownership costs by buying feed wholesale, or even growing your own alfalfa and hay (as some owners at horse stalls and barns do). While owning a horse is a costly investment, direct expenses that you will want to consider include where you live, and how you choose to care for the animal.