How Much Does It Cost To Feed A Horse For One Year

Introduction

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You get what you pay for.” This is a good rule of thumb to follow when buying a horse. The most significant cost in owning a horse is feed. You can’t skimp on it, and you shouldn’t cut corners because your horse deserves to eat the highest-quality diet and stay healthy. So how much will it set you back?

Know your horse.

Know your horse. The first step to determining how much it costs to feed a horse for a year is knowing what kind of horse you have, and how much he or she really needs to eat. Here are some things to consider:
Age, weight, diet and activity level
Health
Temperament (what kind of eater are they?)
Breed (does it matter if they’re part Arab? Or quarter-horse?)
Gender (does a gelding need more calories than a mare?)
Conformation (is there anything about the way your horse’s body is put together that might affect their nutritional needs?)

Keep horses occupied.

In order to keep your horse healthy, it is important that they be kept busy. Horses need to be worked, trained and groomed. They also like being fed and bathed, as well as brushed. In addition to all of this, you will need to make sure that they have plenty of space in which to run around. This can be done by purchasing a large pasture or building a corral for them in your backyard (if you live on property).

Use shade and shelter.

Your horse can easily be dehydrated and overheated, so plan to provide shade and shelter from the sun.

If you don’t have a large barn or pasture area, try creating a small covered area for your horse using PVC pipe or sheeting. You can also use shade cloths that are available at most feed stores, as well as homemade versions made from scrap lumber and plywood cutouts.

Shelter from wind is also important for horses in any season — even winter! The cold air can give them frostbite on their ears and sensitive areas like the tail head.

Prepare for hot weather.

Horses cannot regulate their body temperature as efficiently as humans, so they can suffer in extreme heat. You need to be prepared to provide lots of shade, lots of water and places where they can stand or lie down that are cool. Horses need different levels of shade depending on their coat type and whether they’re an adult or young horse; this is something you should research if you aren’t familiar with horses and know what constitutes a good deal on them.

You will also have to avoid overfeeding your horse in periods when it’s really hot outside, because this can cause digestive problems that will make him unwell (and therefore unhappy).

Create chlorine-free water.

Chlorine is used to kill bacteria and other germs in water. It’s also harmful to your horse and can cause irritation, stomach problems, damage to the eyes and respiratory system.

If you want to make chlorine-free water for your horse, there are several ways you can do it:

Boil the water until all of the chlorine has evaporated out of it
Bring a small container of water into your house (the kitchen sink works well) so that it sits next to or underneath an activated charcoal filter overnight

Add electrolytes to your horse’s diet.

Electrolytes are needed for the body to function properly. They help maintain the body’s water balance and aid in muscle contractions. When your horse is working out, he loses electrolytes through his sweat and urine. If you add electrolytes to the diet, you can make sure that your horse has enough of them to keep him healthy and fit.

Eliminate stressful situations.

Stress is a huge concern for many horse owners. Stress can lead to colic, poor performance, and illness. Stress can also increase your horse’s susceptibility to injury as well as cause them to eat less or drink more water than normal. If you notice your horse losing weight or not eating properly, it may be a result of being stressed out by situations in their environment (e.g., having too many horses in their pen). It is important that you eliminate stressful situations by keeping things quiet and calm around the barn so that your horse stays happy!

Feeding a horse can cost $4000 per year or more, so it’s important to know how many hay bales you’ll need and what else you’ll have to buy in order to feed your horse well each year.

It’s important to know how many hay bales you’ll need, and what else you’ll have to buy in order to feed your horse well each year.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Hay needs vary from horse to horse, but the average adult requires about 15-20 pounds of good quality hay per day. You can figure out how much hay your horse needs by weighing them every day for a week or two and dividing their total weight by 7 (that’s how many days there are in a week). So if your horse weighs 1000 pounds, then they will eat about 167 pounds of hay each week!*
Grain is also important; most horses need between 1-3 pounds per 250 lbs of body weight daily.* Supplements vary depending on whether or not your horse needs supplemental minerals or vitamins, but typically cost between $2-$5 per month.* Water should be available at all times; it costs nothing to provide this service but could save hundreds if not thousands when compared with dehydration emergencies.* Salt blocks can run anywhere from $0-$20 depending on where you live and what type of block you use (wet vs dry), so it may be worth doing some research into which option works best for your situation before making any purchases.* Mineral salt costs very little (less than $1) per pound but some people feel more comfortable buying premixed mineral supplements instead which range in price between $10-$40 depending on how much product comes inside each package

Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide has given you an idea of how much it will cost to feed your horse for one year based on their size and lifestyle. If you have any other questions about feeding your horse, do not hesitate to contact us!