Purchasing a horse is no doubt exciting, but can also be expensive. When buying a horse, one thing to keep in mind is the cost of owning a horse. Unlike a dog or cat, a horse will cost you much more to feed and maintain. Obviously, owning this beautiful animal is worth it if you love your horse, but before you buy a horse, you need to know whether or not you are financially stable enough to maintain and care for your house.
The purchase price of the horse is the easy part, but keeping the horse is the hard part. The cost of keeping a horse can sway a lot depending on where in the world you live and what you want to do with your house. So, if you are wondering what the cost of owning a horse is, here is our in-depth guide!
How Much Does A Horse Cost? – How Much Does It Cost To Keep A Horse?
Food – How much does it cost to feed a horse for a year?
Well, on average, a horse owner will spend around $70 – $100 on hay and supplements, but this can go up depending on where in the world you live and depending on if you feed your house feed grain.
Water
We can’t really put a price on water, but the water bill is another price you will have to consider. Water does vary depending on where you live.
Bedding
Bedding does vary largely depending on what horse you own, but it is estimated bedding for a horse will cost you $800-1000 a year.
Vet Bills
Vet bills are one of the priciest things when it comes to owning a pet. This can really put families under financial stress, as vet bills for horses are much higher than any other animal. The cost for off-hour calls and certain horse surgeries can cost in the tens of thousands. Make sure you have an emergency fund for your horse and plan what you would do if a large vet bill came in.
Boarding
The average cost of boarding a horse will be around $400 to $500 a month, but in certain areas can be up to $1200 a month. Boarding can be very expensive, and if you go away, this is a cost you may have to consider.
Vaccinations
It is important to get your horse vaccinations for lots of diseases such as rabies and tetanus. Annual vaccinations can cost a horse around $100 annually.
Dental Care
It is vital to keep high care of your horse’s teeth; getting your horse’s teeth clean and in good hygiene can cost you around $200-$300 a year.
Deworming/Licing
It is important to protect your horse from lice and worms. Deworming and licing can cost around $100 a year.
Waste Removal
To get a horse’s waste removed, it can cost around $250 a year, but it does depend on how your horses are managed. It also does depend on regional waste management fees.
Remember, all these costs are averages and can vary depending on many factors. Overall you need a few thousand dollars on the low end to maintain and care for your horse. There are many cost increases, such as horse breeding, horse racing, unexpected vet bills, fuel prices, bad weather, an ill horse, or immunizing your house for new diseases, and other regional diseases such as the West Nile Virus.
Do you have to be rich to own a horse?
No, you don’t need to be rich to own a horse. You obviously need to have an income source and a little emergency fund in case of any emergencies that can arise with your house. But, you do not need to be rich to own a horse, but you do need a solid income source to own a horse.
How many acres do you need for one horse?
For one horse, you need around 2 acres of land to allow your house to live a happy life. If managed properly, this will provide your house with an adequate running and roaming space.
What is the cheapest horse?
Unlike dogs, there really isn’t a “cheap horse breed” as all horses are quite expensive, and the purchase price is the least of worries, rather the care cost is much more. In the US, you will pay for the weight of the horse by the pound, so it depends on the weight of the horse you are looking to purchase. Realistically, the cheapest horse in the American Mustang, but this should not worry you, buy the horse you want and feel a connection with.
Conclusion
So there you have it, our guide on the cost of keeping a horse. We hope we were able to help you through this article. One point we want to get across is that no matter what horse you buy, the purchase price is the least of your problems; rather, the problem you need to worry about is thousands of dollar vet bills and caring for your house, so make sure you are able to take proper care of your horse. Thank you for reading, and have a great day!
