• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
I Heart Horses
  • Contribute
  • Horse Care
  • News
  • Horse Videos & Fun
  • Horse Fun
  • Rescue
  • Tips For Riders
  • Videos
  • Heartwarming
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Contribute
  • Horse Care
  • News
  • Horse Videos & Fun
  • Horse Fun
  • Rescue
  • Tips For Riders
  • Videos
  • Heartwarming
  • Fun Facts
  • Stories
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Horse Care

    How Much Does It Cost To Own A Horse?

    Published: Mar 5, 2020 · Modified: Sep 2, 2020 by Dani Buckley · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Have you been taking lessons or leasing a horse for a while and feel as though you're ready to jump into the horse ownership pool? Owning a horse is a great feeling, but it also comes with  a lot of responsibility and can be costly. Here is a general idea of how much it will cost to own a horse and where your money will be going once you’ve become a horse owner.Rider with the horse are walking in a stable outdoors

    Cost of buying the horse: $0 to… millions (once)

    When horse shopping, it all depends on how much you want to spend on the actual horse and what discipline you fancy. Already broke horses with well-known pedigrees are going to be in the high hundreds to four and five-figure prices. Performance horses go for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

    Housing: $0 to $1200 (a month)

    Where will your horse be living? If it will be staying at your own home, lucky you! For the rest of us who use Pinterest to build our dream horse property, we will need to board our horse somewhere.

    Boarding facilities can cost anywhere from $150 to $1200 depending on whether or not your horse will need a stall and if you will need someone else to care for your horse. Sometimes you can make a deal to work at the barn in exchange for at least some of your boarding fees.

    Owner horseman taking care of chestnut horse hoof

    Veterinarian/Preventative Care: $200-$400 (yearly)

    Your horse is going to need yearly vaccinations and before they receive those vaccines, a veterinarian will need to perform an exam to ensure your horse is healthy. Accidents happen and emergency vet bills can add up quickly. While this amount gives a ballpark on preventative care, it does not give an amount for a sick or injured horse. It’s best to have an emergency fund saved up to cover those situations.

    Are you thinking about purchasing your first horse? Check out our article 7 Mistakes First-Time Horse Owners Should Avoid! 

    Farrier: $45 - $130 (every 6-8 weeks)

    The amount you pay your farrier also comes into play when determining the cost of owning a horse. As the saying goes, “no hoof, no horse.” Regular farrier visits are an absolute must. Prices range depending on the lifestyle, type of shoe, and any additional additives that are necessary.

    Feed: Average $200 (monthly)

    Feed is a variable expense when it comes to owning a horse because it depends on the housing situation. Most boarding facilities include feeding expenses in the boarding fees, and if the horse is on pasture, they may only need hay in the winter.

    The cost of feed also depends on whether or not your horse is fed grain or pellets. If your horse is on supplements, this category will be higher.

    cost of owning a horse 2

    Dentistry: $80 to $250 (yearly to every 6 months)

    Dental health is important because a horse will stop eating if their mouth hurts. Most horses need their teeth floated yearly or every 6 months.

    All the extras in the cost of owning a horse (tack, show fees, horse trailer, and gas to transport horse): variable

    All of those memes about a horse eating money is no joke, as the average yearly cost of owning a horse (after buying the horse) is about $2800, which doesn’t include all the extra new boots and fancy bridles.

    However, not all horse-owning lifestyles are the same and the cost of owning a horse could go in either direction. Either way, owning a horse is basically like making a car payment every month. But owning a horse is so much better than a new car, wouldn’t you agree?

    Horse Courses by Elaine Heney

    • Listening to the Horse - The Documentary by Elaine Heney & Grey Pony Films
    • Shoulder In & Out Training for better balance, bend & topline development with your horse
    • Over 110+ Polework Exercises & Challenges to Download
    • Dancing at Liberty & Creating Connection with Your Horse (11 lessons) - Grey Pony Films
     

    How Much Does It Cost To Own A Horse

    More Horse Care

    • Cushing's Disease in Horses: Important Warning Signs And How To Treat It
    • The Different Types Of Horse Colic And What To Do About Them
    • 6 DIY Ways To Prevent Stall Boredom For Horses
    • How to Estimate Your Horse’s Weight

    Sharing is caring!

    10.8K shares
    • Share10.5K
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Frank Horbay

      July 13, 2022 at 1:45 pm

      But it’s all worth it and 4 H is an amazing chance for your daughter to meet like minded friends. Life long friendship

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    Search

    Recent Posts

    • 15 Fantastic Pictures of Horse's Jumping to Make You Smile
    • Pros and Cons of Braiding Your Horse's Mane or Tail
    • 10 Things to Do with Your Horse That Aren't Riding
    • 30 Stunning Pictures of White Horses You Must See
    • 17 Inspirational TikTok Horse Accounts To Lift Your Spirits

    Categories

    Follow Us

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    iHeartHorses.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 · iHeartHorses Inc.

    10.8K shares
    • 10.5K

    Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy