How To Budget For Horse Ownership – An In-depth Guide

The cost of keeping and looking after your horse will outweigh the initial cost of purchase over a small number of years. In this guide we will outline what the costs are and give average figures for those costs for US and UK horse owners.

In the US the average cost of horse ownership per year is $5,960.

In the UK the average cost of horse ownership per year is £5,580.

These figures are based on keeping your horse at a boarding facility and doing the majority of looking after the horse yourself. The below costs can vary dramatically depending on location and the use of facilities and services. A competition horse at full livery will be far more expensive to keep than a family hack kept in a local field. Costs will also vary throughout the year, with the cost of ownership rising in the winter months as your horse requires more care and food.

Annual average cost of horse ownership UK and US

The above table does not include the cost of buying a horse or of the equipment necessary to look after and ride. More information can be found on how to buy a horse in this article. We shall now look at the above costs in detail, and at ways to reduce them.

Yearly Costs of Horse Ownership – and ways to reduce them

You have done it! You own your first horse or pony, now you have to work out how to pay for it. Do not despair, even though owning a horse is not cheap, there are ways to reduce the costs of horse ownership.

Let us look at the costs you will incur now that you have a four-legged friend in your life.

Housing or Livery costs – £2280 $2240

You are going to have to find somewhere for your new friend to live. If you are lucky enough to live on a property with enough room for your horse, the problem is solved. Even though you may be keeping your horse at home, depending on where you live it may be necessary to build additional shelter to make sure that your horse is comfortable during the winter.

Keeping your horse at home:

This is a great option if you already have horse facilities on site. If there are no facilities the cost of making the property horse ready could easily run into many tens of thousands. This option is not recommended if you are a complete novice and new to horses. The learning curve relating to horse care and proper management is steep. If there is not a competent horse person on site, the safety of the horse and rider could be in question.

• This can be the cheapest option if you already have horse facilities on site.
• The cost of building stables or shelters can run from a few hundred to tens of thousands.
• You may not be able to take advantage of the bulk buying prices that managed barns and stables can often negotiate with suppliers. This means that you will end up paying higher prices for hay, shavings and feed.
• There may be a lack of riding facilities at your home. This can cause problems in finding suitable places to ride or access to riding instructors.
• Having your horses at home means that if you go away for any length of time it will be necessary to find someone to take care of your horse. It can be difficult to find suitable help, especially if you live way, way out in the country.

The last thing to consider when keeping your horse at home is loneliness, both for you and your horse. Horses are heard animals and prefer to be with other horses, even if it is only a neighbour’s head over the stable door. For riders, the camaraderie of riding and horse people is a great thing. The way we learn about horses is from other horse people. Having other people around especially when things go wrong can be comforting and potentially save you or your horse from harm.

If you are not able to keep your horse at home you will need to find a livery barn or stable where you’ll be able to keep him. Most liveries will offer a range of options as to the level of service and the amount of care that they can offer. Depending upon your budget you will be able to have your horse fully looked after or the livery stable can supply either a field or a stable for your horse to live in.

Full Livery (Full Board) – £6100 $7300 Per Year

A great option for owners who lack time, have other commitments, and do not mind paying for the premium services.

• This is the all-inclusive way to keep your horse. Pretty much all of your horses needs will be taken care of – for a price. This is a great option if you have limited time to look after your horse and just want to concentrate on riding.
• Services offered may include tack cleaning and tacking up.
• Most barns and stables will schedule regular farrier, dentists and vet visits. This can reduce the costs of these services as the call-out element of the charge can be split many ways or discounted completely.
• Full livery will normally include all food and bedding. Turn out and bring in if pasture is available.
• Exercise of some form is usually included; this could be anything from the use of a horse walker, exercising with a rider to full on training.
• It is usual to be able to use any riding facilities such as indoor/outdoor arenas, jumps and dressage arenas.
• Many full livery establishments will have in-house trainers and instructors and possibly exercise riders.

Partial Livery (Half-board) – £4100 $4500 Per Year

This option is great for those owners that prefer to be more ‘hands-on’ and be involved in the looking after of their horse. Partial livery can run quite a gamut from a simple stable to rent to add-on services that will bring the cost into full-board territory.

• This service will usually include the use of the riding facilities. There could be time constraints on use of some of the facilities as precedence may be given to full board customers.
• Feeding and mucking out are usually arranged on an as needed basis and these services are adaptable; it may be that the owner only wants their horse mucked out during the week while they are at work, but will muck their own horse out at the weekend.
• Partial board allows control over time and money spent on your horse, and is often the best fit, allowing for the most rewarding horse experience.
• This is often the most popular service in a barn/stable and can often lead to making friends with people that are in similar circumstances as yourself.

DIY Livery or Self-Care Board – £2280 $2240

This option is perfect for the owner that would like to do all of the work themselves and just rent a place for their horse to stay.

• This level of service does not usually include any looking after of your horse.
• You will be responsible for buying hay and feed, mucking out, turning out, watering and taking care of all your horse’s basic needs.
• Some barns/stables provide bedding and possibly hay. It is worth calling around and find out what is usually included at the level in your area.
• You will be responsible for scheduling the vet and farrier.

Pasture Board or Grass Livery – £900 $1100

This is without doubt the cheapest way to keep your horse. This option also allows for your horse to be outside all the time, just as they are in the wild. While this option may look attractive at first, there are a few trade offs and extra concerns that should be taken into consideration.

• The general upkeep of the field needs to be maintained to ensure that the fences, grass and water are all in good standing.
• Wintertime may require alternative accommodation for your horse depending on how bad the winters are where you live.
• Security can be a real issue with horse theft on the increase.
• There should be some form of shelter to protect your horse from weather extremes.
• Horse left out to pasture all of the time are more prone to injury and illness requiring regular checks to make sure that they are well. The condition of their feet in wet weather is especially important. Overeating the spring and summer may cause colic or laminitis.
• Worming of all of the horses in the pasture should be done at the same time to ensure that parasites are not transmitted between animals.

Farrier costs – £35-£90 $55-$120

The adage ‘No foot, no horse’ is as true today as it ever was. All horses require their feet looking after, even if they live out in a field all year. Horses hooves grow at a rate of approximately 6-10mm per month.

The most basic foot care for horses is the trim. This is where the farrier will remove excess growth, similar to a person having their nails clipped. Most competition horses will have a full set of shoes, which require replacing or refitting every 6-8 weeks.

Many horse owners only have front shoes on their horses. This will provide extra grip while riding yet prevent injury to other horses from kicking if turned out. Many livery stables require the rear shoes to be removed if horses are turned out together.

Vet Fees For Your Horse In An average Year – £440 $480

Vaccinations – £80 $150 – All horses require regular vaccinations. Depending where you live, having up-to-date vaccinations can be a legal requirement. Please check with your local vet as to what is required. All livery barns will require proof of vaccination before they will allow you to bring your horse to its new home.

Worming – £50 $50 – Horses also require regular deworming, and the consensus now is that you should have a fecal egg count done. Your vet can then give you recommendations on what wormers to use when, and how often.

Horses are notoriously delicate. Expect to have unscheduled medical bills for injury, colic and other miscellaneous mishaps.

Dentistry – £160 $200 – Horses teeth continuously grow and are worn down by the action of grazing, and domesticated horses tend to need their teeth ‘floated’ (rasped), once a year. For most horses once a year is usually sufficient, but for older horses, or ones with any dentistry issues, they’ll probably need a visit twice a year.

Horse Feed – £1050 $1250

Supplements can improve the health of your horse especially if they have a medical deficiency. Consult with either an equine nutritionist or your vet as to whether supplements can benefit your horse.

Your horse’s nutritional needs will be based on the type and amount of work that they do. A competition horse under training will have different needs to a hack that spends most of its time at turnout and ridden once a week.

Most horses at turnout will not require ‘hard’ feed such as grain-based food unless they are in regular work. Horses at turnout may require hay during the winter months to supplement the reduced amount of grazing.

Insurance For Your Horse – £440 $590

Horse owners should carry public liability insurance at a minimum; the law can hold the owner of the horse responsible for any damage caused due to the horse escaping or from loss of control.

More comprehensive insurance cover will have an allowance for vet fees, major medical, death and straying.

Horsey Extras – £600 $600

Depending on what you plan to do with your horse there can be unexpected bills for the following:

• Transportation
• Training for the horse
• Riding lessons
• Equipment, blankets, tack

Conclusion

There is no doubt that owning a horse is expensive. Is it worth it?

You betcha! Horses bring a whole new dimension to our lives. The benefits of looking after and nurturing a living animal are well documented. Horses are herd animals and allow us to become part of their herd. The ability to teach and bond with our horses is a process that allows us to function better in all of our relationships.

The practical side of looking after a horse teaches patience…lots and lots of patience! The horse community is filled with knowledgeable and hard-working people that have often given over their whole lives to their passion. To be a part of this world is to be a part of something larger than ourselves. If you are not sure if you should take the plunge, ask any horse owner if it is worth the expense and you will hear a resounding YES!