How Much Does It Cost To Own A Horse Per Year Uk

Introduction

If you are thinking of buying a horse and want to know how much it will cost to keep your horse, this article is for you. In the UK, there is no minimum price for owning a horse. The cost depends on where you live, what type of horse you choose and how much time you have to care for it.

Later on in this article we will talk about the costs of buying, insuring and maintaining equipment…but let’s start with feeding your horse. This will be the biggest part of your monthly bill if you own a horse!

How Much Does It Cost To Keep A Horse Per Year?

How Much Does It Cost To Own A Horse Per Year?

Owning a horse isn’t cheap. And before you make the jump, you should know how much it costs to own a horse per year.

Considering all aspects of your expenses as an owner—from feed and stabling to vet bills—the average cost of owning a horse per year in the UK ranges from £1,500 (about $1,900 USD) for ponies and horses up to 14.2hh or so, up to about £6,000 ($7,600 USD) for horses over 15hh or more. This does not include tack or other equipment costs like saddles or harnesses (which may run another £200–400/year).

Feeding the horse

The cost of feeding a horse varies depending on the type and quantity of feed, how often you feed it, how much hay you give it, and what supplements your horse needs. A growing young animal will eat more than an adult one.

The cheapest way to buy a year’s worth of food for your horse is in bulk from a feed store or online retailer such as Amazon. You can also buy in smaller quantities from pet stores like Pet Supermarket or Tractor Supply Company; however, their prices may be higher than if you ordered online.

The average annual cost per head is £621 ($857), which includes the cost of all types of food (including hay) as well as grain and supplements that are fed only occasionally (e.g., during training)

Grazing

Grazing costs depend on the location and the time of year. In the summer, it can be as low as £15 per month in some areas, but in the winter it can be as high as £500 per month if you’re paying for private grazing land. If you have access to common land, you may not need to pay anything at all for your horse’s food during this season.

You should consult with local landowners to determine whether or not they allow horses on their property before making any plans to graze your horse there.

Stabling and bedding

The typical horse will need a box (also called a stall or stable) to sleep in, as well as some kind of bedding material. The most common type is straw, which you can buy in bulk from farmers or equine suppliers.

Straw is usually changed every few days (this depends on how many horses are using it). It’s stored in barns and trailers for easy access—you only have to carry out what you need when it comes time to change it!

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are a relatively small cost and they are a one-time cost. Horse owners can expect to pay between $50 and $100 per year for vaccinations, which is less than what you might pay for other common types of pet care.

In addition to the cost of keeping your horse well-fed, vaccinations are among the most important things that you can do to keep your horse safe and healthy. Vaccinations help prevent them from contracting diseases such as tetanus, strangles, West Nile virus and rabies.

Vet bills

Vet bills can range from £200 to £1,000 depending on the size and health of your horse. The cheaper option is to keep them healthy yourself, as vets are only necessary if there is an emergency.

The cost of vet bills can also be reduced if you have a good relationship with your local vet. You may be able to negotiate lower prices with them if you have known each other for a while or have been using their services regularly in the past.

Worming and parasite treatments

Worms and parasites are common in the horse world, and it is important to be aware that they are a problem. Worms can get caught up in your horse’s digestive tract and cause them to lose weight or become sick. Parasites can also infect your horse, but they do not live in their digestive tract like worms do—instead, they live on the skin or feathers of your horse.

Worming treatments usually include dewormers that treat all types of worms at once (and sometimes other parasites as well), but there are also specific products for particular types of worm infections if you think your animal might have one type over another. All horses should be wormed regularly according to the guidelines set out by their veterinarian; however, it is recommended that any animal with symptoms such as diarrhea or drooling should be treated immediately with anti-worm medication until an expert can determine whether there is indeed a parasite infestation present.

Farrier and dental treatment

In addition to the cost of regular care, there are other costs that you might encounter. Your horse will need to see a farrier (horse shoer) at least four times every year. The frequency and cost of these visits will depend on your horse’s breed, age, and condition. For example, if you have a shod horse with hoof issues then they will require more frequent attention from the farrier than those who don’t have any problems with their hooves.

The cost of having your horse’s teeth checked is relatively inexpensive: $100-$150 per visit should be enough to pay for everything that needs to be checked—largely because it doesn’t take long for veterinary dentists and hygienists to do this type of work (an hour or so). In fact some practices offer free consultations where you can discuss any concerns with them before making an appointment for treatment at all!

Equipment and tack

The cost of tack will depend on the type of riding you’re doing, your horse’s age, and size. For example, a saddle designed for dressage (a form of competition) will be different from one designed for endurance riding (riding a long distance). If you have several horses in your stable then equipping each one with their own equipment can add up quickly.

Insurance

When you think about the costs of owning and caring for a horse, insurance is often overlooked. It’s not an absolutely necessary expense, but it’s a good idea to insure your horse in case something happens.

There are many different kinds of insurance policies available—some more comprehensive than others—and they can be very expensive. For example, some insurers will require an annual premium of around £1,000 per year (about $1,300). If you’re looking for an affordable policy that covers basic needs and leaves room to grow over time, you might consider starting with the bare minimum option and adding extra coverage as needed (this is especially important if you plan on riding or showing your horse).

Some policies also provide valuable financial protection in case something happens while traveling with your horse; however this kind of coverage tends to be pricey because it requires additional information on where they’ll be going before each trip out into public areas such as parks or trails outside town limits…

Taxes or fees for access to common land

The cost of owning a horse is not just the cost of buying the horse, or feeding and stabling it, or any other direct costs. You also have to consider taxes and fees. In England, land that is owned by a local authority may be available for people to ride on with their horses. However, this can be subject to charges – sometimes called ‘tenure fees’. These are usually based on how much time you spend exercising your horse there and this varies depending on what area you live in. For example:

East Sussex County Council charges £1 per day per person (or £3 per week). This applies if you live within four miles of one of its parks;
Surrey County Council charges £2 per week per person;
Hampshire County Council charges £15 per month (or part thereof) for non-residential users who wish to exercise their horses in one of its parks;
Suffolk County Council has no charge for access but does require written permission from them before riding in any parklands

Owning a horse is not cheap with expenses ranging from less than £1,000 per year to over £5,000 per year.

The cost of owning a horse is dependent on the age, breed and size of the horse. The older the horse the more expensive it will be to own. However, there are other factors that contribute to the cost as well. The location in which you keep your horse can affect how much you have to pay for its upkeep. As well as this, if you have an all-rounder or an eventer then this will also impact what kind of costs you incur when looking after your animal.

Conclusion

Owning a horse can be expensive with costs ranging from less than £1,000 per year to over £5,000 per year. There are many factors that determine the cost of keeping a horse such as the types of feed and bedding used, whether or not you have access to land for grazing and if there is any tax imposed on it. The most affordable option is to borrow or rent an existing pasture because then there will not be any added expenses from taxes or fees associated with using common land.