Equine Business Resources – The Real Cost of Owning a Horse

Important questions to ask yourself before purchasing a horse:

Why do you want a horse?
What will you use this horse for?
- Pleasure, show, breeding stock, work horse, racing, etc.
How are you going to care for the horse’s daily needs?
Where will you keep the horse?
- At “home”:
  - Barn/shelter – a barn can bring on more time and management care
  - Pasture – consider sectioning the pasture to rotate horses and keep pasture healthy
  - What type of fencing will you use?
  - What daily care and maintenance will be needed?
- Boarding facility:
  - What are the costs?
  - What are the amenities?
What are the expected costs?
- Feed, medical care, upkeep, etc.
Do you have horse knowledge?
- Increase your knowledge by spending time with trainers and attending horse clinics
- Do some research

Benefits/Concerns of Ownership

Benefits:

Horses are wonderful companions
Horse riding can be a lifelong hobby
Enhances self-esteem
Provides an opportunity to develop friendships with other riders/owners
Excellent form of exercise and recreation

Concerns:

Ongoing financial commitment
Great deal of time and physical labor involved
Horse knowledge is needed
Horses can live a long time, some up to 40 years
Requires daily care: stall cleaning, feeding, watering, and daily observation
Can cause accidents, even when practicing all safety precautions
Horses need exercise

Costs associated with ownership:

Feeding ($100-$250 per month per horse)
- Grain: (about $10 to $25 per 50 lb)
  - 1,000-lb horse needs 2 lb/day
- Hay: (about $6 per bale)
  - 1,000-lb horse needs 20 lb/day
- Supplements can vary in price
Housing and fencing
- Bedding is needed for stalls
- Stall should be 12 ft x 12 ft
- “Run-in shed” should be 90 to 150 square feet per animal
- Pasture: two to three acres per horse is ideal space
- Fencing: wood board, plastic PVC, V-mesh wire with a top board
- Fences should be 4 to 5 ft high, with no sharp edges, narrow corners, or projections, and bottom fence and gates should be 8 to 12 in. off the ground (about $3 per foot)
Boarding
- Pasture ($75 to $300 per month)
- Stall ($250 to $1,000 per month)
Health care
- Vaccines: done twice a year by you or a vet
  - Vaccines ($75 to $125)
  - Coggins test ($50 to $75 per year)
- Deworming: done every six to eight weeks
  - Rotate products ($50 per year)
- Teeth care: done one to two times a year ($75 to $200)
- Hoof care: done every six to eight weeks
  - Trim ($25 to $50)
  - Front shoes-four shoes ($50 to $125)
  - Specialized care ($100 and up)
- Emergency care
  - Surgery ($1,000 and up)
Showing costs
- Training and lessons
  - Monthly lessons ($200 and up per month)
  - Full training with board ($1,000 and up per month)
- Show fees
  - Local shows ($10 and up), large/national shows ($125 and up), and trainer fees ($50 and up)
- Transportation fees
  - Gas from home to destination
- Show apparel and equipment
  - Helmet, hat, boots, breeches, shirt, chaps, grooming supplies, tack, blankets, barn equipment
- Insurance
  - To help prevent more expensive situations

Making ownership a long-term investment

Research local horse market before making a purchase
Budget cost of housing and care
Maintaining records and reevaluating expenses often can help with budgeting
Costs will vary because management and care for each horse are different
Buying land, with facilities, a truck, and a trailer are purchases that would be beneficial to those who might want to make horse ownership a long-term commitment

Additional Resources: