How Much Does It Cost To Own A Horse A Year

Introduction

It’s no secret that horses are expensive. While the price of the horse itself can vary greatly, the costs associated with boarding, training, and caring for a horse are generally less flexible.

The total is substantial: Based on a survey of more than 1,300 equestrians across the country with varying ranges of income and experience levels, it seems clear that you’ll spend an average of $3,000 to $5,000 a year on your horse (though not everyone will spend quite so much).

However, there are ways to minimize costs if you’re willing to put in some work yourself or get by without luxuries like daily rides or competitions several times per week. A survey respondent who gave her age as 35-44 put it this way: “It depends how much money you want to spend.”

If you’re thinking about purchasing a horses or already have one but aren’t sure how much it will cost you each year. We’ve broken down all the expenses below so you can make an informed decision before taking on this big responsibility.

Cost of food

To keep your horse healthy, you’ll need to feed it. This is one of the biggest expenses associated with owning a horse, but there are ways to keep costs down. The amount you feed your horse will depend on several factors: its age, size and weight; how much time you spend riding and exercising it; as well as what kind of feed you use (hay or grain).

There are many different types of feeds available on the market today in varying price ranges. To save money on this purchase, it’s best to shop around for deals at local stores or online sites like eBay or Amazon.

It’s also important to remember that horses don’t need much food compared with other animals like dogs or cats—you’ll only need enough for them not only at mealtime but also throughout the day since they graze all day long when left alone (unless they’re stall-bound).

Cost of the horse itself

One of the most important parts of owning a horse is getting one in the first place. Horses can range in price, depending on their age, breed and training. If you buy a young horse that has not been trained yet, it will be cheaper than buying an older horse that’s already been trained by someone else.

If you have the time and patience to train your own horse however, then this could save you quite a bit of money when compared with purchasing an already trained animal from someone else. Horses are also available for free if you know where to look; some farms will give away their old horses for free as long as they are taken care of properly by their new owner! However if this isn’t an option then expect to pay upwards from $1,000 USD per month just on feed costs alone!

Veterinarian bills

One of the costs that can be overlooked is vet bills. You should have insurance to cover these costs and make sure you are prepared if an emergency happens. If you don’t have a savings account or insurance, consider finding a way to pay for unexpected vet bills before purchasing a horse.

If your horse gets sick, you will have to pay for vet bills. Make sure you have a good relationship with your local veterinarians in case anything does happen and make sure they can give advice on how best to care for your horse when he is sick so that he doesn’t get any more ill than he already is!

Equipment

There are many different expenses you can expect to incur when owning a horse:

Equipment: You will need to buy equipment for your horse, including a halter, lead rope, saddle and bridle. Feed buckets are also important because horses do not eat from bags or buckets attached to their stall.
Tack: In addition to the equipment listed above, there are other items that will help you ride your horse safely and comfortably. These include saddle pads (or pads for under the saddle) as well as grooming supplies like brushes and shampoos.
Feed/Hay/Grain: This may seem obvious but it is still worth mentioning that feeding costs vary based on breed—a pony requires less grain than an Arabian horse would eat in one month! Also keep in mind that some horses require supplements such as vitamin C or electrolytes when they work hard during strenuous exercise sessions or races due to sweating too much fluid out of their bodies which depletes electrolytes needed by muscles cells functioning properly…

Horse gear and accessories

The cost of gear and accessories varies widely depending on the type of horse your child wants to own. The more common breeds, such as Quarter Horses and Arabians, are less expensive than Thoroughbreds and draft horses. However, they all need the same basic needs:

Saddle (about $500)
Bridle ($150)
Blanket ($60-$400)
Halter ($10-$20)
Lead rope ($5-$10)
Fly mask ($10-$30)

You will also want to purchase a hoof pick for your horse so that you can keep their feet clean and healthy at home (about $5). A bottle or two of hoof oil will help keep their hooves from cracking too much during winter months when they spend more time indoors (about $15 per bottle).

Transport

A trailer or truck and trailer: If you’re on a budget, this option is by far the cheapest.
Horse trailer: The cost of a horse trailer will depend on whether it’s new or used and what kind of features it has. You should expect to pay around $2,000 for a basic horse trailer without living quarters (this type will only accommodate one horse), but the price can go up to $10,000 – $20,000 if you want something fancy with living quarters or other luxuries like an air-conditioning system (for hot days), heating system (during cold weather) and bathroom facilities for humans!
Horse trailer with living quarters: This is where things start getting expensive because these types of trailers also have built-in bathrooms/kitchens that are designed specifically for horses. Some models even come equipped with stoves and refrigerators! These units are often custom made so keep that in mind when shopping around because there’ll be no two exactly alike 🙂

Housing and stabling

Your horse’s housing and stabling costs will depend on a variety of factors, including your location and the size of your horse. If you live in an area with plentiful grass, your monthly budget will be lower than if you have to buy hay year-round. If you have only one or two horses that don’t require much space to move around, you’ll pay less per month than someone with a large group who needs more room.
The quality of stabling also affects its cost—a barn with poor ventilation and minimal heat might be cheaper than one with electricity and running water but will end up costing much more over time due to illness or injury from cold weather.
Finally, how often do you use your barn? If it’s only for exercise once or twice per week during summer months (and maybe not even then), then any extra expenses such as lighting fees won’t affect your budget significantly, but if it’s used throughout the year for lessons or showing competitions then those expense categories become much larger compared to other parts of ownership costs

Getting a horse home

If you’re buying a horse from someone, you have to make sure the seller has all of their paperwork in order. This means they’ll need to have a bill of sale or some other document that covers the legal aspects of what they are doing. You should also look into getting vet records if possible and make sure that you’re getting your moneys worth out of your purchase. If you’re buying online and can’t see the horse in person, ask for photos or videos so you know what to expect when it arrives at your door step.

If you already own a few horses but want another one, moving them around can be costly because many states require special permits depending on how far apart they live or where they are headed. Some places will require multiple permits if there’s no designated route between two locations; some states even require an extra rider with each animal! Other states don’t allow any sort of transportation without proper documentation proving health certificates along with proof that all vaccinations were administered within six months prior to travel time.”

A horse can be both fun and expensive.

The costs of owning a horse are going to vary depending on the type of horse you get, where you live, and whether you’re renting or buying land. If you buy an average-sized horse for around $1,500 and feed it hay at about $100 per month (for an adult), that would cost about $2,600 per year.

If we add up the cost of owning a horse over five years (including initial purchase price), we get approximately:

$13,000 in total expenses
$16,000 if the owner purchased additional equipment needed over time (for example: saddle and bridle)

Conclusion

With horses, it’s important to remember that although they’re a large investment, they are also a source of joy and companionship. If you’ve been dreaming of owning one for years but haven’t had the means to do so yet, don’t give up hope! The cost is likely worth it.