| verage price of a horse is about $3,000 but the | | | | your horse. |
| cost of keeping a horse can easily reach | | | | Add all of this up, and you get a total of $170 |
| $100,000. For prospective horse buyers, the | | | | month to $935/month. This is a wide range, but in |
| question is not 'Can I afford to buy him?' but | | | | practice actual costs of a horse do vary widely, |
| rather 'Can I afford to keep him?'. The monthly, | | | | depending of factors such as whether you |
| yearly and long-term costs are as follows. The | | | | self-stable or use a professional stable. Multiply by |
| costs given are typical costs; in some areas they | | | | 12 and you get annual costs of $2040 to $11220. |
| will be higher and in some lower. | | | | Over 10 years this totals $20,400 to $112,220. |
| Professional stabling typically costs $200 to $600 | | | | Based on an average horse cost of about $3000, |
| per month. If you stable the horse and do all the | | | | these totals indicate that the cost of keeping a |
| required work (e.g. mucking out) yourself, it will still | | | | horse for 10 years is between 7 and 37 times |
| costs about $75/month for bedding, straw and | | | | the cost of buying it. If you keep a horse for its |
| other feed, salt, minerals and incidentals. In some | | | | entire life, this could be 30 years, thereby tripling |
| areas costs could be much higher than this due to | | | | the figures above. |
| high prices for hay and feed. | | | | Of course, individual owners may find their costs |
| Your horse will need to have his feet trimmed | | | | higher or lower than these typical figures. For |
| every 6-8 weeks, at a minimum cost of $30 per | | | | example, there are many horses being sold for |
| time. If he has shoes, the cost will be doubled. | | | | less than $3000 and many horses being sold for |
| Medical costs include annual inoculations ($120), | | | | much more, in some cases for millions of dollars. |
| annual dental checking and floating of teeth ($120), | | | | Likewise, some owners have very low costs for |
| and worming ($60 per year). Horses can be | | | | keeping their horses (e.g. if they are kept mainly |
| injured or become ill, in which case there are | | | | on pasture, so no bedding or feed costs), while |
| veterinary costs. On should allow a minimum of | | | | other owners will pay much more (e.g. if they do |
| $300/year for veterinary costs, although a bad | | | | high-level competitions). Therefore one should |
| case of colic can set one back $5000 to $10000. | | | | note that the figures used in this artile are typical |
| To avoid such large bills, horse insurance is worth | | | | figures, which match the costs of the majority of |
| considering but this costs about $40/month. | | | | horse owners. To understand and calculate what |
| If you ride your horse, you will need saddle and | | | | your costs would for your individual |
| tack. This wear out over time and need to be | | | | circumstances, one could use the online calculators |
| repaired or replaced, so one should allow an | | | | at |
| average of $20/month for this. Assorted costs | | | | In any case, the fundamental point remains the |
| (e.g. fly repellent) will average a minimum of $10 | | | | same: purchasing a horse is a large financial |
| per month. | | | | commitment, extending far beyond the purchase |
| The above covers just the basic costs of having | | | | price to the much greater monthly and annual |
| a horse. If you show or compete with the horse | | | | costs of keeping the horse. Prior to buying a |
| there are additional costs. Allow $0-$200/month | | | | horse, one should look carefully at how one will |
| for such costs, depending on what you do with | | | | keep the horse and the associated expenses. |