Horses are expensive, but just how expensive is the question. There is an old horseman’s saying – the purchase price of a horse is the cheapest part of owning a horse. Hay, grain, farrier, shots, board, there is a lot to consider when you are figuring out the cost of owning a horse. There are some ways to save money, but it’s a good idea to figure out just how much room you need in your budget before you bring your four-legged friend home.

Where Will You Keep the Horse

If you have a bit of land, you might be able to keep your horse at home. If you live in the city or suburbs you are most likely going to need to board your horse. Both scenarios have pluses and minuses, but here are some things to consider when you are calculating this part of owning a horse.

Keeping Your Horse at Home

The first thing you need to consider when you are keeping your horse at home is if you have enough land to support a horse. The general rule is one to two acres of pasture per horse, depending upon your location. Drier locations where grass is harder to grow will require more land than places where pasture is plentiful. Besides the mortgage payment required on your piece of land, here is a short list of costs associated with keeping your horse at home.

• Hay – and someplace to store it. If you don’t have storage you may have to pay higher hay price in the winter or a storage fee to your hay supplier.
• Grain
• Bedding – shavings or straw, and someplace to store it. Shavings bought in bulk is a much cheaper option than bagged shavings but you will need a good place with a cover (or a heavy tarp) to keep the shavings dry.
• Manure disposal. Check your local ordinances to see if you are allowed to have a manure pile or spread manure on your fields. In some cases, you may have to pay to have your manure hauled away or you may want to do this to keep the fly population down.
• Maintenance. Horses will destroy fencing, pitchforks will break, and your nice dry paddock will turn into a muddy mess. You will need to figure some monthly costs to fix all of the things your horse destroys.
• Equipment. Wheelbarrows, pitchforks, tractors, feed and water tubs are all things you will have to consider when bringing a horse home. Most of these will be one time purchases, but consider this in your initial estimate.
• Farm sitting. If you want to go on vacation, who will take care of your animals? In some cases, you may be able to trade farm sitting with a friend, if not you will need to hire a farm sitter.

Boarding Your Horse Out

Boarding your horse out is a pretty simple calculation. Everything listed above is included in the cost of full board. However, prices vary wildly across the country and there is a variety of boarding options. You will need to do your research to find out if full board in your area goes for $500 a month or $2000 a month.

Horse Care

Besides the basic food and water, your horse will require some additional care. Most horses require farrier care every four to eight weeks, depending on the workload of your horse. Horses also require worming every three to six months, shots, and in some cases supplements or maintenance medication. Medical and life insurance is also a good idea for most horses. If you don’t have insurance, a good emergency vet fund is required to cover unexpected vet calls.

You will also need a basic set of brushes and a few good hoof picks. Hoof pics tend to grow legs and walk away so it’s always a good idea to have at least a few around the barn.

Photo by Kenny Webster on Unsplash

Tack and Horse Clothes

Horse people collect tack like kids collect rocks. It seems we are always in need of a new halter, a new saddle, or just one more pretty lead rope. If you are just starting your collection, start with the basics. A few halters, a few lead ropes, a saddle, and a bridle. Eventually, you will be like the rest of us and have enough bits, halters, saddle pads, and polo wraps to start a small tack shop. The point is, figure on spending a bit of money up front for these things, and then budget a monthly amount so when you see that one thing you have been dying to have, you can grab it.

If you live an extremely cold location (or have a wussy TB like me) you will also need to consider the cost of blanketing your horse. Most horses won’t need more than a medium weight turnout, but it will depend on your horse.

Training

Horses and people require training. No matter how long you have been riding or how broke your horse is, it is always a good idea to have an extra set of eyes on the ground or someone to throw a leg over your trusty steed to give him a bit of a refresher. If you have a young or green horse, the price goes up. The greener you and your horse are, the more money you should allow for training. This one will also take some research on your part as prices will vary depending on location and discipline.

The True Cost of Owning a Horse

The cost of owning a horse has a lot of variables. Location, discipline, and where you keep your horse will all change what it costs for you to own a horse. The age and maintenance your horse and property requires should also be figured into the equation. You should also add a little bit to your budget for your blingy bridle habit.