How much does your average horse cost?

[Mini Horses]

As others have said, initial cost is "up to you".....but, the upkeep will be similar for a free to 5K animal. While I had riding animals in the past for years, my current ones are minis. Bay is right on with the feed. For my old ones (28-36 yr olds) they cannot chew hay, so senior feed is $20 a bag! Yeah, no hay to buy for them but, costly.

Plan on having an emergency fund. An older, well-broke animal will generally have more sense and keep out of a little trouble. FL can have issues with sand and sand colic. MOST people there use a sand clear method on a regular basis, to prevent the eventual problems and vet bills. Check that in your area. Good pasture can help with hay/feed costs.

There is no one answer. Every horse & location is different. I would certainly think with buying hay, grain, having regular foot/teeth care, vaccines, etc., for a no problem horse you will average close to $200 per month...some months $50 & some $300. Plus emergencies.

 

[Poka_Doodle]

How much does your average horse cost per year? I'm going to buy a horse and am wondering what the yearly budget will be.
Vet. Vaccines. Everything.
Thanks

So, I don't pay the vet bill, and my fairer info is not with me currently. But I think we spend about seven dollars on each bale of hay, and my big horse goes through a bale every other day. I spend near a hundred each year for new tack, grooming supplies, and tack cleaning. I have my e-records else where, but that's what I know from the top of my head.

 

[Baymule]

We have several horses in our neighborhood. So it's not like he'd not see any. But we'd probably start with one horse. He can see can see them from his pasture.

Not to sound mean or rude, but that's like putting you in a room where you can "see" other people, but you can have no interaction or talk to them. Some people I might like not having any interaction with....LOL Horses are herd animals, a lone horse feels vulnerable to predators and they really need a friend.

 

[norseofcourse]

I've known someone who kept their horse by himself at their house. It worked for her, but she had a lot of time to spend with him, and he did seem lonely. He could also be a handful when she went riding with someone, if he got too excited being around other horses.

A horse by itself, even if it can see other horses, might develop nervous behaviors like fencewalking. It might jump the fence to be with other horses. It might not pay as much attention to you when you're working with it. It could get barn sour. It might misbehave on rides with other horses. You're likely to see at least some side effects of being alone.

On the other hand, if you get two horses you'll have to work with them to make sure they don't get too bonded to each other, and you can ride one away from the other one if you want to. Two horses can sometimes get 'buddy sour'.

If there's other horses in the neighborhood, what about asking around to see if anyone who already has a horse, might have room for another? Then your horse would have company, and they may even be interested in you working in exchange for some of the board.

 

[Poka_Doodle]

Not to sound mean or rude, but that's like putting you in a room where you can "see" other people, but you can have no interaction or talk to them. Some people I might like not having any interaction with....LOL Horses are herd animals, a lone horse feels vulnerable to predators and they really need a friend.

How true. My horse is on his own, he does talk with horses that he can see from a distance, but it's hard for him.

I've known someone who kept their horse by himself at their house. It worked for her, but she had a lot of time to spend with him, and he did seem lonely. He could also be a handful when she went riding with someone, if he got too excited being around other horses.

A horse by itself, even if it can see other horses, might develop nervous behaviors like fencewalking. It might jump the fence to be with other horses. It might not pay as much attention to you when you're working with it. It could get barn sour. It might misbehave on rides with other horses. You're likely to see at least some side effects of being alone.

On the other hand, if you get two horses you'll have to work with them to make sure they don't get too bonded to each other, and you can ride one away from the other one if you want to. Two horses can sometimes get 'buddy sour'.

If there's other horses in the neighborhood, what about asking around to see if anyone who already has a horse, might have room for another? Then your horse would have company, and they may even be interested in you working in exchange for some of the board.

Totally agree with you. My horse gets ancy, and tries to play around other horses, because he's alone. We've had many issues as a result.
Like you said, at the same time when we had two horses, they wouldn't let each other out of sight.
One idea for having only one horse is to also get a goat for them to have as a friend.

 

[Simpleterrier]

It all depends on how u want to do it. I have a horse and a mule the cost me around 30 dollars a month combined. But this is how it adds up. I have good pasture and they can both be tied out on picket in the yard if I like. I bale hay with the neighbors and get free hay in the winter months. I don't grain and I give shots myself. Also my dad has trimmed and shoed for over 40 yrs. Alot of people over complicate it I would not keep a horse that is not ok being alone or need special feed. Right know mine get tied out from five to nine every night and look really good. A good horse on a picket and a 4 yr old kid can have fun for an hour or so. So it can be as simple as you like or has complicated. I like to call my horses free range. No stalls here no round pen or lunge lines. But u can go out right now and go for a ride.

There are horse people and people with horses.