What is the average you spend on your horse?

Question

How much do you spend on your horse monthly and/or yearly(sweet feed, hay, vet, farrier, supplements...etc)? I am looking at getting a horse soon but want to know aprox how much money I need to prepare to spend every month(I live in the South east USA)

I know it varies from person to person, but I just want a vague idea...

Answer 1

I live in CT, which will be more expensive.

My board is $425/mo., which includes feed and bedding. The farrier is $185 ever six weeks, cuz my horse has bar shoes, think he charges $135 for regular shoes.  Supplements are running me about $70/month (3 kinds). Vet is hard to "average" because it varies so much. Throw in another $50 to $200/month for "miscellaneous" things like bug spray, vet wrap, hooflex, linament, etc.

If you are getting your first horse, don't forget that you will have a lot of extra "startup" costs the first year, like tack, blankets, fly mask, etc.

Answer 2

I live in central Georgia. I keep my horse at home and I have a 5 acre pasture so I only need to buy hay 1/2 the year....

$30/mo/per horse sweet feed

$25/mo/per horse farrier (barefoot trimming)

$20/mo/per horse vet (once a year farm call for shots/dental averaged out monthly)

$21/mo/per horse - one round bale of hay lasts 3 horses for a month when I have to buy it.

I don't feed supplements - I feed quality hay and feed instead but you might need supplements if your horse is arthritic or something - that can cost upwards of $30/mo

You will also need to be prepared for vet emergencies which is not included in the figures above.  And of course you will need to have a pile of money for all the other stuff you will need, buckets, water trough, feed trough, manure fork, hay rack, saddle, bridle, blanket, fly mask, grooming supplies, shelter etc, etc, etc.  Horses are expensive and this is list is probably not complete but I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Answer 3

Im lucky enough to have free rent & hay as my dads has a farm so i woulds say a year i spend about £700-£800 for the two ponies & one horse But one is just a baby so i havent started buying tack for her yet.

Im going to be more broke than i am all ready!

Answer 4

In CT -

$500/mth for board (full board, which includes grain and hay)

$60-$70 every 6 weeks or so for farrier work

$20/mth for treats

$200/yr for the shots and a check up from the vet

Haven't had to have is teeth done yet, they were done before I got him.  I think the average in my area is $75 each time they are floated.

Congrats on getting a horse!  Don't forget all the tack you have to have - saddles and bridles and such.

Answer 5

They say that the cheapest part of owning a horse is buying the horse, and I think that's true. I assume you are going to board your horse, so I would plan on a minimum of $300 per month for full care (including grain, hay, stall-cleaning, turnout, etc.), a bit less if you can find a place that will let you do some of the work yourself. Board prices vary a lot by location (close to cities it is higher, more rural areas, lower) and amenities; for example, an indoor riding ring will add about $100 per month. Plan on an average of about $200 a month more for farrier, vet care, tack, worming products, and other incidentals. If you plan to show, it can cost thousands to pay for lessons, show tack, transportation, etc. If you just want a pleasure horse, you can get used tack. An accident with your horse can bring big vet bills fast, so have an emergency fund or get insurance for your horse.

Answer 6

I have two horses, one with health issues, and the other with none. My one with some issues cost me last year around $10000.00 for the whole year. That was vet costs, farrier, supplements, feed, lessons, etc. I don't like to add it up too much since it usually scares me. lol...I do enjoy it, and I guess it really is worth it.

Answer 7

I keep my girl at home and just trail ride and runs me about $1,500 a yr.  (hay, farrier, dentals, vaccinations, sprays, fly control, grain, wormers, and on and on:)  I feed hay 6 months a yr.

Northern MI

Answer 8

Feed-100$ monthly

Halter and lead rope- 20$

Saddle and bridle- 450$

Saddle pad- 25$

Bit- 15

Brushes- 25$

Fly spray- Every two months 15$

Farrier- 25$ every 6 wks

Teeth- 35$ yearly

horse- average 1000$

All vaccines- 100$ yearly

Wormer- 20$

You also want to make sure you have proper first aid for your horse on hand, just in case.

Also get books on horse care. Read a lot.

That's a mistake people often make. They buy a horse and have absolutely no idea how to care for it. You have think:

Do you know how to put a saddle on, a bridle on, do you know what colic is?

There is a tooth in a horses mouth, that you can really hurt if you hit it while putting the bridle on and taking it off. If your hurt that tooth, your horse may never want the bit in his mouth again! And it is not easy the first time your try to put one on, so I would suggest getting lessons. Also, there is a special way to put a saddle on. There is a certain knot you have to put it in, so your saddle doesn't slide off. and there is a certain spot you have to put it on your horses back. There is also a certain size of saddle your horse needs, and you need to know what it looks like when the saddle doesn;t fit your horse properly.

The last thing is colic. You have to look out for colic. It is when your horse get a belly ache. horses have VERY sensitive stomachs. Learn about colic and what to do if your horse does, and some signs of colic.

I hope this info helps.

Answer 9

i live in Alaska, so my figures are probably different than yours, but here goes.

Last time I bought hay, (last fall) I paid $320 a ton for brome.  I don't need to feed grain because my hay is good quality and the horses stay fat and healthy on that alone.  Oats and other grains however start at $10 per 50lb bag and go up from there, depending on what you are after.  The more specialized the grain and the more additives that are in it, the more expensive it gets.

You'll need to feed your horse about 2% of his body weight in quality forage every day.  Figure out the price per ton, the size of the horse, and do the math.

I worm every other month.  I pay $12.00 each time.

Vaccinations, I do myself, are $45 per horse.  (annual cost)

I keep my horses barefoot, and am lucky enough to be able to trim myself.  That saves $50 per horse every 6 weeks.  Shoes start at $100 and go up depending on what needs to be done.

Vet expenses add up fast.  Just to get the vet to the house is $100, and that is before she even looks at anyone.  My least-expensive vet bill yet was $500 for a x-rays and a lameness exam, then $150 to the farrier every 4 weeks after for three months for corrective shoes.  That emergency cost me $1100.  I got off cheap.

Every time I go to the tack store, I buy another bit, a new saddle pad, one more bucket....the incidental things add up also.  I just spent $175 for new fencing materials.

Answer 10

Dang.. I'm quite envious of all of you. On average, the cost of my horse for a year ranges from $5000 to $10,000 depending if I do his shoes a few times, or if I need a more experienced eye to do him - as well as horse shows. :(

Answer 11

I live in CT and my horse is a showjumper. I spend $1500-$2000 a month, unless the vet or farrier does something that costs more. I hope you find your perfect horse!

Answer 12

500 or 600$ but it depends on kind of horse and what it can do

Answer 13

Well i have my horse in my own acreage.

i feed him hay (we bought 3 masssive round bales.. about $300 which last ages.)

Pony pellets - $14 a bag which last about a month

and i also give him apples and carrots which ar cheap probly 20 for 2 weeks.

also supplements are about 30$ a month depending on what you buy.

and when you have all the saddles bridle, saddle pad, coats, brushes etc out of the way.. its quite cheap.

so roughly about 80 dollars for food every month.

also with the farrier .. try to get a horse that has no shoes... if the horse has good hooves then it wont need shoes which means so much more money in your hands!

my horse doesnt need shoes but i feed him the right food to keep them very strong. and we usually rasp them down ourselves. but really once you get some bulk food out of the way its not too dear. i hope this helps.. there is alot to take in.

ciao

Answer 14

I live in NC (close to you)

Feed varies.  Cheapest I think is Tractor Supply.

$8 up to $12...depending on what you want (Dumor)

Southern States (I use) I think $10 for their 'Reliance'

Hay is about $4.50 a small square right now.  You can find some farmers selling at $3.00 a bale.  Ya gotta shop.

Farrier Trim:  Certified $30.  Backyardigan: $20-25

Vet:  $50 average for farm call. then shot costs

I don't feed grain to two of my guys.  Their hay is fine and I just add supplements to make me feel better (Omega's and Biotin)  My filly gets Grow and Perform by SS but once it's gone she's on supplements only...and hay.

3 HORSES MONTHLY

If I were to grain them this is what I would be paying monthly:

grain from SS $45

hay: 2 bales daily $270 (winter)

        1 bale daily $135 (summer)

farrier:  $90  (every 6 weeks)

electric for fan in summer:  $45 a month

wormer $36 (every 6 weeks)

vaccinations are given twice a year here.  Coggins and Rabies are done once a year.

Vet (approx for my area):

farm call ...$50

emerg.......$40 (add to farm call)

exam  .......$32

coggins.....$25

rabies........$12

EWT..........$12

West Nile..$20

Rhino/Flu...$20

Strangles...$20

4ways..@ ..$25

sedation... $20

banamine paste...$25

Float teeth once a year-2 years

By a good dental vet:  $170 (includes sedations and banamine)

By an untrained in horse dentistry vet  $50

Sheath Cleaning (males)  $30 once a year

EDIT:

for vaccinations I give EWT/WEST NILE/RABIES and COGGINS.

Answer 15

I live in Ohio.

$100 per horse for pasture board every month

$35 per horse every 6 weeks for barefoot trimmings

$25 per horse every month for grain

$5-10 per horse for worming every 4-6 weeks

Around $100 yearly.. shots

As for treats.. it's only 89 cents for a bag of carrots which last about a week or two.

Right now they are just eating the pasture but for the winter months depending on price of hay it's around 50-100 per horse per month.

Answer 16

for my retired horse, who is on full care 12 hours out 12 in stall, i spend 375$ per month which includes one trim.  That does not include any vet care, fly spray, gas to or from.

the new horses board is 425$ per month.  in addtion to that i have spent 560$ in the first on month on worming, vets, blacksmith, flyspray, vet wraps, salt, etc.

they are really, really expensive.

good luck.

Answer 17

Im in Cali. i spend approx. $1,500 on feed and shoeing a year on my horse. I work at the stable that I keep them at so board is free. I just buy my own feed. I feed them alfalfa and grass. Then factoring in Vet bills....I have the vet come out twice a year for vaccines and i probably spend about $150 each time so thats another $300 to my bill (Vet will give Vaccines, exam, Sheath cleaning etc) Then I take him to the dentist once a year that is about $100 (not including fuel to get him there) So I would say a rough estimate of about $2000 a year for one of my horses. But it seems there is always something you have to spend extra on...like your horse hurts itself so you have to have the vet out and that can be expensive. I hope this helps.

Answer 18

I spend a total of $0.

Food-- We grow our own hay and grass is tall enough for them to graze. Water is free cause it comes from a creek.

Shelter-- We own our own barn and it is completely paid for.

Others-- We trim our own horses feet and my pap is a vet so he looks over them for free. At shows and competitions we win back the amount that we put in to enter. it is really worth it.

Answer 19

I live in the Midwest, USA....here's what I spend roughly.  I have 4 horses.  Luckily I have a few acres of my own to stable them....otherwise you're looking at board charges for stabling your horse in addition to......

$35 (each horse) every 8 weeks for hoof trim

$125 every 2 1/2 weeks for 500# of feed (grain)...and that goes up every time I purchase it.

$2.00 a bale for hay, using about 2 bales per day (they are on pasture too in summer)

$10/month/horse for deworming

$5 per bag of shavings in the stall.....I use about 1 bag every other day per stall...more if there's foals in the stall too.

$400/year renting a tractor to remove my manure pile that has accumulated over the year.

$20/month for fly spray in the summer.....those mosquitos will carry them away!

Vet bills are variable....with broodmares (healthy...with no problems) I can plan on around $500 per horse/year (close to $100 each trip.... Yearly Coggins/vaccinations, foaling/post foaling check, ultrasound for ovarian activity, insemination and ultrasound for pregnancy)....more if there are accidents or injuries throughout the year....and there is always something that happens....Murphy's Law.

$100/horse/year for floating the teeth

If we go to any shows, you can plan on spending for gas, stalls, and entry fees.....not to mention fees if you work with a trainer, and/or to take lessons.

Don't forget about the enormous intial expense for fencing and stalls/shelter, tack and any trinkets or fun stuff you "need" to play with your horses.  It can be a really expensive hobby....but as I always say.....it's still cheaper than trips to a psychologist/therapist! :)

Have fun with your new horse!

Answer 20

I live in Oregon, and my horses are on my property - so no board.  On feed I spend around $300/month and vet/farrier I usually budget around $75-100/month so we are set if something comes up.  Eeek - no wonder my husband calls them expensive lawn ornaments!