The Costs of Owning a Horse

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the costs of owning a horse

Owning and caring for a pet can be quite expensive as we all know, but what about a horse? Horses are different in many more ways than a usual pet, especially when you think about their size. They are expensive to buy, need daily care, and they’ve got totally different needs compared to a small pet. So what are the costs of owning a horse?

The initial purchase price is a lot higher than the one of a dog for example and that’s only a small part of what you’d have to pay for owning a horse. It’s not easy to get an accurate indication of how high the total costs of caring for a horse will get to as there are a lot of unpredictable factors at play. But here we’ll try to give you a basic idea on the minimum overall costs.

The Costs of Owning a Horse

No matter the horse breed you have, basic horse care will rise to the same price levels, but that will differ depending on many factors such as the price of hay, fodder, grain or bedding which can modify depending on your location, the weather or various other factors.

To all that you should think of the general health of your horse, dental care, vaccinations or any other unforeseen situations. In the following paragraphs we’ll strive to provide you with an approximate breakdown of the minimum costs for basic horse care.

The Minimum Costs of Horse Care

Take into the account the fact that all these prices are calculated considering that you keep your horse on your own property and do not include all the taxes, property maintenance or insurance you might pay for them. Depending on the place you live, keeping your horse at a private equine property or boarding stable might cost you a lot more, so keep that in mind before even buying a horse.

So let’s break down the costs of owning a horse.

Hay may get you from $3 per day to $10 in some places, as in some locations one-half bale of hay is sold higher than in others. Also, some horses might need more than just one bale of hay per day.

A salt block will cost you around $10 – $14, mineral supplements for six months will go up to $30 and a daily serving of a decent priced concentrate will cost around $30 per month. Farrier services every one to two months will go up to $35 and dental care will cost you a good $125 once a year.

Then there are the core and routine vaccinations to be made – for tetanus, rabies or other conditions, and those will cost up to $95.

In total, the costs of owning a horse and caring for it will rise to $5 per day and around a good $1830 per year. As you can notice, the daily costs don’t seem too much, but they add up to quite a significant amount. And these are only the basic costs for inexpensive items.

Other Considerations

If you go for higher quality hay, supplements or concentrates for example, the total amount will go up a lot more. Also, keep in mind that life always brings surprises – and they’re not always positive ones – so those might up the price even more. For example, if your horse gets injured, that will add up to the vet bill.

Also, if you don’t have the means to keep the horse on your property, take into consideration that boarding prices per month can vary between $100 and $1000 depending on the location, conditions and other amenities.

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