How Much Does Owning A Horse Cost

Introduction

There are many costs involved in owning a horse, and the truth is that it can be an expensive endeavor. However, owning a horse can also be one of the most rewarding things you do. The key to success is having a realistic budget and understanding how to stick to it.

The Horse

The price of a horse depends on the breed and age of the horse. For example, a young thoroughbred may cost $20,000 while an older pony can be bought for as little as $2,000. The average cost of owning a horse is between $2,000 and $20,000. Horses also need to be fed and have their hooves trimmed regularly so these costs should be considered when determining how much it will cost you to own a horse.

Boarding the Horse

There are a number of variables that can affect the cost of boarding your horse. The first is location, as most horses prefer to be near their owners so they can get used to them and vice versa. This means if you want your horse in a stable or private home, you’ll want to consider where the closest stables are located and how much they charge. If it’s right next door, great! But if it’s two hours away by car or plane and there’s not much else around town other than farmland, maybe think twice about moving there just yet.

The second variable is whether you’ll be boarding at a stable or at someone’s private residence (a “home-boarder”). While stables generally offer lower prices for boarders compared with home-boarders due to economies of scale (they have more room), these costs will still vary depending on what kind of facility you choose—whether it has indoor stalls for each horse or outdoor paddocks like those pictured above from Pony Valley Farm in North Carolina which costs $500 per month for two horses along with all feed supplies according to their website –so check them out before making any decisions about which option feels best for both parties involved!”

Feed and Supplies for the Horse

Feeding your horse will probably be the most expensive part of owning a horse. A good grain mix, hay and supplements will set you back $300-$500 per month, depending on how much you feed him. You should buy the best quality food you can afford because it will make your horse healthier, happier and more energetic.

So now that we’ve covered everything there is to know about what it costs to own a horse, let’s talk about how much money people save by having their own horses!

Care for Your Horse

It is important to remember that even if you own a horse, you still have to pay for its care. You’ll need to keep your horse groomed and fed, which means paying out of pocket for veterinarian visits and veterinary medications. In addition to regular grooming and feeding, horses require routine care such as hoof trimming or shoeing (to protect their feet) and vaccinations against diseases such as West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). Horses also need de-worming medications every six months, which are not covered by insurance plans. In order for the animal’s hooves not to crack from age or other factors like heat or extreme cold, they will require frequent shoeing services from a farrier who specializes in this area.

If there’s anything else we’ve missed here please let us know in the comments below!

Emergency care for horse

If you’re not a vet, it can be hard to know what to do in an emergency situation.

If your horse is injured:

Move the animal as little as possible, and keep him or her calm.
Call your vet (or local emergency animal hospital) immediately. Don’t try to take care of it yourself! You don’t have all the tools or knowledge to treat the injury properly—the vet will have those things available at his/her clinic or office.

If your horse is sick:

Again, call the vet ASAP so that he/she can help figure out what’s going on with your horse and prescribe treatment options for whatever’s going wrong!

Feed and Supplies for the Horse.

You will also need to feed your horse. The cost of feeding depends on the horse’s weight, age, and activity level. Hay costs are usually around $100-200 a month for one horse. Feeding grain can be expensive but it is necessary for a healthy life for many horses. For example, a mature draft horse that weighs 1,500 pounds needs about 20 pounds of grain per day at $4 per bag which would come out to about $80 per week or $320 per month! That is just for one meal! If you have multiple horses this price can quickly add up. There are other supplies that you might want to purchase such as fly spray or boots if your horse has tender feet from being kept in stall so long during winter months when there isn’t much grass left outside due to snow coverings blocking sunlight rays needed by plants (such as alfalfa). You may also need antibacterial soap if he gets sick with colic symptoms because sometimes those medications cause diarrhea which requires special cleaning procedures before returning him back into his regular surroundings again after treatment has been completed successfully without complications happening again later on down stream…

Health Care for the Horse.

As with any animal, there is a cost to keeping your horse healthy. These costs vary widely depending on where you live and how much work you want done for your horse.

Some of the most important aspects of taking care of your horse’s health are vaccinations, deworming and farrier bills (shoeing). Many horses need vaccinations once a year or more frequently. Deworming medicines like ivermectin are typically given every 6-8 weeks throughout the year as well. In some areas, deworming every 8 weeks is recommended during mosquito season because it reduces the risk of EPM which can cause paralysis/weakness in horses if contracted too often.

Farrier bills include trimming hooves when they grow too long or come out of balance due to injury or poor hoof quality; shoeing horses that need special shoes because they have weak feet; etc.. Farriers charge per visit usually around $100-$150 per hour plus materials such as nails/shoes etc..

Training Expenses & Other Costs.

Training costs vary, but the average cost of training a horse is roughly $1,500. That includes tack, equipment and all other expenses related to getting your animal in shape for riding or competing.

Additional training costs include:

Horse trailer rental (if you don’t already own one) — $300-$500 per year
Breeding fees — $1,000-$3,000 per breeding session
Vet bills for vaccinations and routine checkups — $200-$400 per year (depending on the vet)

Conclusion

If you’ve been thinking about buying a horse, we hope that this article has inspired you to take the next step in your journey. There are lots of reasons why owning a horse can be a rewarding, life-changing experience for both you and your new friend—not to mention all the great exercise you’ll get! We also know it can be an expensive decision to make, but if you keep these tips in mind as well as budget accordingly (and maybe get yourself some help from friends or family members), then there’s no reason why this couldn’t be one of the best years yet.