How much does keeping a horse cost?

(Regretfully, much more than you think!)

Budget very carefully before you fall madly in love and buy a horse you cannot afford to keep. Having said that, most of us are willing to give up a lot of life’s little luxuries to be able to keep our horses and we never regret a single one of them.

Before you buy a horse, you should make sure you have a firm grasp of the expense involved in buying a horse and keeping a horse. Buying the horse, paying for the vetting and transporting it to its new home is only a minuscule part of the cost of owning a horse.

It is quite difficult to give an accurate approximation of total maintenance costs. Below is a list of the standard costs of owning a horse. Buying it is only the beginning!

Remember that often unforeseen expenses occur such as rug and tack repairs, additional farrier visits when shoes are cast, unexpected veterinary expenses etc so you need to be fully prepared financially.

Expenses

Accommodation

Your horse needs safe, dry and comfortable accommodation. Sometimes you can rent a paddock from a farmer; this is often the least expensive option. You will need 1, 5 to 2 acres per horse, depending on the quality of the grazing. These fields usually have limited facilities like stables, access and water supply. Horse owners may also be responsible for looking after the field (dung duty) and fences.

The best choice for most horse owners is to keep their horses at livery where there are a range of facilities available like safe tack rooms, lit schooling arenas, muck heap, jumps, etc. You have three options: DIY, part-DIY and full livery. Prices vary from yard to yard. So find out how much the yards in your area charge before you buy your horse!

Bedding and Feed

Horses kept on grass rarely need extra hay - usually only in winter when grass is scarce, for 5-6 months of the year. The amount required will vary depending on the type and size of horse or pony. Stabled horses require hay all year round. Stable bedding is also required, straw or shavings. Costs vary.

Depending on the type and size of horse, its exercise routine and whether it is stabled or at grass it may also need hard feed.

Vet's Fees and Insurance

Annual vaccinations include Influenza and Tetanus. Horses and ponies also need to be wormed every 6-8 weeks whether stabled or at grass. Vet's fees in case of illness or accident can be astronomical.

Rather than risk having to pay out several hundred or thousand pounds for an incident many owners prefer to insure their horses. The cost of insurance to cover vets fees will vary depending on the type of cover taken and the value of the horse.

Farrier

A horse's hooves, even if unshod, will require attention from the farrier every 6-8 weeks at least.

Conclusion Keeping a horse can cost anything from £2000-5000/ $4000-10 000 a year!

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