We all have heard someone tell us that horses are expensive. I knew this before I got my horse, but I didn’t know how expensive horses really are. There are many costs when owning a horse- farrier, vet, chiropractor/massage therapist, feed, and more. Let me give you the breakdown of how much it costs to care for a horse for a year and how you can keep track of how much you spend.
Farrier
Farrier costs are by far the highest costs for my horse. Your horse needs its hooves trimmed regularly every 4-8 weeks depending on the amount of hoof growth. For a hoof trimming, it can range from $25-$50 or more. That is in my area, of course, it depends on where you live and the experience of the farrier.
You get what you pay for, and in my book, it’s worth paying more to have the best and most experienced farrier for your horse. For one year I had $270 spent on hoof trimmings. That was on the cheaper side, not for $50 a trimming. In my experience, it's best to pay more for a knowledgeable and experienced farrier.
If your horse has to be shod, then that is more expensive than leaving your horse barefoot. A half set of shoes could start at $100 and full sets $180. It’s important to have a good reliable farrier for your horse. Don’t be afraid to ask your farrier questions and for help when needed.
Vet
Vet expenses can be one of the highest expenses when owning a horse. For most horses, they won’t need to be seen by a vet but maybe once a year and get vaccinations. However, if your horse was to be sick or have an emergency, then that will be a big vet bill you will have to pay. You need to make sure to have money on the side just in case something was to happen. Some vets do float horse’s teeth, but you could also find an equine dentist if your vet does not do this.
Horse Care Products
At the end of the year, I have a long list of horse care product purchases. The largest purchases on my list are usually fly spray. Fly spray is not cheap! For one gallon, you could pay $25-$80. As I said earlier, you get what you pay for. So, I get the best fly spray that I have found to work best for my horse (which is Absorbine UltraShield EX).
Other horse care products are dewormers, shampoo, detanglers, coat sprays, etc. All of these aren’t necessary (mainly only the dewormer is), but I want my horse to feel and look her best. I also get fly gear like a fly mask and fly boots, and purchased a turnout sheet for the winter months.
When making a big purchase on a turnout sheet or blanket, I recommend buying one with a warranty. My horse had a SmartPak turnout sheet and it got torn and was not usable. Thankfully, it had a 10-year warranty! I was able to return the sheet and get a new one for free. I give a shoutout to SmartPak’s amazing customer service for this!
Barn Costs/Pasture Care
To have a healthy pasture for your horse, you need to fertilize and reseed it. This costs a lot of money, depending on how much acreage you have to cover. There are also barn costs like electric, plumbing, and water bills. It is important to set aside money to take care of your barn and pasture, because the home and safety for your horse is most important of all.
Feed
Horse feed consists of hay, grain, and supplements. Not all horses may need grain or supplements, but if they do, it can be costly. If you buy hay, it can range from $4-$15 per square bale (depending on where you live). Supplements can be very costly if you decide to feed them to your horse.
My horse, for example, needs a hoof supplement. To cut costs, you can feed a combo supplement that serves more than one purpose. My horse’s supplement is a joint and hoof combo, so I know she’s getting both the hoof and joint support she needs.
If you decide to feed more than one supplement, then SmartPak might be a good choice for you. They specifically pack your horses’ supplements to fit their needs and this can be cheaper than buying the supplements separately.
Boarding
If you are not able to have your horse on your own property, then you may have to board your horse at a boarding facility. This can be very costly, up to $600 per month or more. There are many options for boarding your horse. There is pasture boarding, which means your horse will only stay in the pasture. There are also options for your horse to be turned out for part of the day and then be in a stall.
When looking at boarding barns, make sure to find what you are looking for. Does the boarding facility have all the amenities you are looking for? Will your horse have daily turnout, and is the facility highly trusted and recommended?
Keeping Track of your Expenses
Keeping track of how much you spend on your horse is a very smart thing to do. I like to stay organized, so I created a chart that shows what expenses are made, what category they fall into, where I purchased it from and the date of the expense.
You can download my Horse Expense Chart here:
How much does it cost to have a horse for 1 year?
So, how much does it cost to own a horse for one year? It can vary, but having one horse and purchasing the bare essentials like deworming, farrier, and fly spray, it Chan cost $1,000-$2,000. Keeping track of your budget will help you set aside money for your horse in the years to come.
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