How Much Does a Horse Cost

Owning horses is such fun. They are fascinating to look at, fun to ride, and wonderful companions. However, having a horse entails significant financial commitment. The horse’s actual purchase is the only significant expense to consider.
Horses require a considerably longer and more expensive commitment than other pets because they can live up to 33 years old. When caring for a horse for that long, there are numerous expenses to take into account. What you need to know about the short- and long-term costs of owning a horse is provided below.

Bringing a New Horse Home: One-Time Costs

The price of the horse itself should be considered first. Depending on the horse you buy and where you buy it from, prices can vary significantly. If you’re extremely fortunate, you might spend absolutely nothing. However, if you want a horse with a distinguished pedigree, be prepared to spend more than $3,000 to $5,000.

Free
If you are ready to put in the effort and are not bothered with the horse’s age, you may be able to obtain a horse for nothing. Your objective will be to locate someone who is searching for a decent home to give their horse to since they can no longer care for the horse themselves, as opposed to going to a breeder or even a humane society.

Numerous people grow too old to safely care for their horses or have changes in their financial situation prevent them from being able to support their horses. Horse owners in situations like these are more concerned with finding a secure and devoted home for their horse than with making money. Set up a banner ad in your local newspaper, and contact 4H clubs to connect with horse owners looking to rehome their pets.

Adoption
$25-$500
Adopting a horse instead of buying one involves working with the humane society or another kind of animal rescue center. If horses are not common pets where you live, you may have to reach out to rescue centers outside of your community to find one that cares for homeless horses.

You can expect to pay an adoption fee to help the rescue facility recover any costs they endured while fostering the horse before adoption. This fee can be anywhere from $25 to more than $500, depending on a variety of factors, including the length of time the horse has been housed, the type of horse they are, and whether the horse has any special needs.

Breeder
$500-$5,000+
Buying a horse from a breeder is the costliest option but the most flexible. You will be paying for pedigree, showmanship, and breeder expertise. You can expect the horse price to be anywhere from $500 to more than $5,000 from a breeder. Pricing will vary from breeder to breeder, so comparison shopping is always a good idea.

List of 4-8 Breeds and the Average Cost

Supplies

• $800+

• List of Horse Care Supplies and Cost

• 

•  

  Food (Hay, Fruits, Veggies, Salt, etc.)	$100-$300/Month
  Feed Pan	$10-$30
  Water Trough	$25-$100
  Halter	$25-$200
  Lead Ropes	$10-$50
  Hoof Pick	$2-$10
  Grooming Brush and Comb	$5-$20
  Fly Repellent	$5-$30
  Saddle	$100-$500
  Bridle and Bit	$50-$250
  Stirrups	$20-$100
  Lead Ropes	$10-$30
  Blanket	$50-$150
  Washing Accessories	$25-$50

  Annual Expenses

  There are many yearly expenses to consider when deciding whether to adopt a horse, and these expenses will continue throughout the horse’s life, so serious thought should be put into whether recurring annual expenses may become a burden at any point in the future. Here is what you should know about the annual expenses that come with owning a horse.

• Health Care

  • $300-$600 per year

  Yearly healthcare costs can add up quickly, so expect to put away $300 to $600 each year to cover all your expenses. First, your horse will likely need about $100 worth of dental care every year of their life. Checkups can run anywhere from $200 to $300 a year. Then there are things like vaccination costs to keep in mind.

  These are just cost estimates for a healthy horse. If your horse ends up needing surgery or physical therapy, you may end up looking at thousands of dollars in healthcare bills before the year is up. Luckily, emergency and extensive care are not typically needed when horses are well cared for.

  Check-Ups

  • $200-$300 per year

  Every horse should be checked by a veterinarian two or three times a year, and each checkup visit should cost about $100 unless an illness or injury needs to be addressed and treated, in which case, the cost could be more. Scheduling checkups regularly is an important step that should be taken to catch problems early before they become too expensive or complicated to deal with.

  

Vaccinations

• $110-$190 per year

Horses should be provided with a deworming medication every two or three months, which costs about $15 each. Vaccinations are typically administered twice a year, which includes boosters for diseases such as influenza and tetanus. Vaccination booster visits can cost between $25 and $50 each.

Dental

• $75-$125 per year

Horses need dental checkups just as they need health checkups. Their teeth need to be cleaned by a professional regularly, or they may get cavities or develop other dental problems (like the need for a root canal).

Emergencies

• $0-$10,000+ per year

Emergencies are never planned. A horse can go their entire life without ever needing emergency care, while others may require such care several times before they become seniors. It all depends on the genes, diet, health, happiness, and quality of life that a horse experiences. Some emergency services cost only a couple hundred dollars, but others, like surgery, can cost upward of $10,000 or more.

Insurance

• $300-$12,000+ per year

Equine insurance is available to horse owners, but the type of coverage and the cost can vary depending on the type of horse that an owner wants to insure. Insurance policies that cover medical emergencies, mortality, or both can be found through veterinarians and independent companies. The cost of equine insurance is typically based on the value of the horse that will be covered.

Food

• $125-$350 per year

The typical horse can eat between $100 and $300 worth of hay bales each month throughout their lives. Horses enjoy eating fruits and vegetables to supplement their diets too. They also need salt and sometimes supplements, depending on their access to fresh foods. This adds another $25 to $50 in monthly food costs.

Environment Maintenance

• $60/$170 per year

There are just a few environmental maintenance costs to consider when it comes to owning a horse. The biggest expense would be boarding if and when it becomes a necessity. If owners do not choose to board their horses and instead keep them at home, fencing installation, maintenance, and repair costs are unavoidable. Also, toys should be purchased and provided to horses for mental stimulation and exercise.

Total Annual Cost of Owning a Horse

• $1,000-$2,500+ per year

The bottom line is that owning a horse is expensive. You never know when an unexpected expense will arise, and even if there are no surprises, it can cost thousands of dollars each year just to meet the minimal needs of a horse.

Owning a Horse on a Budget

If you are on a budget, owning a horse might not be the best option for you. Too many financial variables may come into play that makes it impossible to meet the needs of a horse at any given time. Renting a horse for occasional rides or taking a horseback tour once or twice a year might be a better option.

Saving Money on Horse Care

There are not many ways to cut costs as a horse owner. However, you can save money by letting your horse free range for food instead of making them rely solely on you. They will not need nearly as much hay, fruits, or vegetables that you must buy. The savings of free-ranging your horse can add up at the end of the year.