They say no horse is free… but what’s the real cost of owning a horse? 

You can never say without absolute certainty what you’ll pay each month because horses are not the most predictable creatures. Sudden lameness or illness can set you back thousands of dollars in one month’s time. But, thankfully, the cost of owning a horse is typically closer to a couple hundred dollars per month, plus the cost of board.

The Cost of a Horse: Boarding at a Barn VS. Keeping Your Horses at Home

For years I did the whole ‘barn thing,’ you know where you board your horse for X amount of money in exchange for a stall and 2 meals a day. You pay extra if you want lunch, blanket service, etc. Board at a nice stable for one horse can easily cost $500 a month.

With my sister and I both riding, there came a time when my non-equestrian parents had enough of #barnlife. My mom was sick of sitting at the barn for hours on end waiting for us and my dad was sick of coming home from work to an empty house. And the cost to board multiple horses was getting out of control as my sister and I continued collecting four-legged cutie-pies.

I was a 12-year-old girl who loved nothing more than horses, so needless to say my excitement shot through the roof when my parents purchased horse property. I was elated to know Nikki, Aspota and Abbey (my three horses at the time) were going to be within walking distance of my freakin bedroom.That was over 15-years ago, and while I moved out of my parent’s house years ago, my horses still live there. And, boy oh boy, am I thankful for that!

I know what it’s like to board at a barn but I know even more about what it’s like to keep your horses at your house. There are ups and downs, but overall I cringe at the thought of ever returning to a barn. I try to tell myself it won’t be that bad, because I know it’s eventually coming, after my parents, whom like I said don’t ride horses, get sick of living on 6 acres of farmland with no kids at home.

So, Is It Cheaper To Board Your Horse Or Keep Your Horse At Home?

Over the long haul, it’s cheaper to keep your horses at home, simply because you don’t have to pay board every month for their stalls. But what you save in boarding costs, be warned, you’ll spend in time taking care of the horses. Feeding, cleaning, maintaining the arena and property, this all takes time. Plus, don’t forget to factor in the costs of building (and maintaining) stalls, an arena, hay shed and anything else that isn’t already on your property that your horses may need.

 

How Much Money Does A Horse Cost Per Year?

For the sake of simplicity, I broke down each expense per horse. But keep in mind that horses are pack animals and should live with a friend, preferably another horse, but a goat, cow or sheep is the next best option. Even if you plan to spend 5 hours a day with your horse, he or she is still alone for 19 hours every single day, and that’s not healthy or fun for anyone. Not to mention, who is lucky enough to spend 5 hours at the barn everyday? I WISH!

Cost Of Basic Horse Veterinary Care: Around $300 – $1,000 per year, plan to set aside at least $84 a month.

These numbers reflect a horse with minor health or wellness issues. A horse with serious health or wellness issues will cost a lot more per year in vet expenses, with one surgery easily costing $10,000+. 

No matter how low maintenance your horse is, you’ll never get out of seeing your vet at least once a year for annual vaccinations and teeth floating. Horses get sick and hurt way more often than us equestrians would like, which means you’ll probably end up seeing your vet more than once a year.

The amount of money I spend on vet bills varies drastically from year to year. Last year, I spent just $250 on my younger horses (that included his annual check-up, vaccinations and teeth floating). But my older horse, Aspota, cost me closer to $850 because he had a colic episode. After all my years owning horses, I would consider last year a cheap (and very lucky) year. This year, I’ve already spent $2,000+ on vet bills for my older horse–and it’s only May! Keep in mind, he is an older horse with health issues.

Why The Vet Can Cost Less For Boarders

At a barn, multiple boarders often use the same vet, and so when the vet comes out for pre-planned exams, shots, etc., a bunch of boarders can band together and split the vet call fee. When your horses are at your house, you’re on your own to cover the cost of the farm visit. My vet charges a $60 flat farm call fee, but every vet is different. If you have any neighbors with horses, you might be able to coordinate vet calls with them in order to split the fee.

Cost Of Horse Farrier: Around $90 every 4-6 weeks, or $720 – $1,080 per year

No matter where you keep your horse you need a farrier to come out once every 4-6 weeks or so. Hoof care is just as important as veterinary care. My horses only wear front shoes and are barefoot in back, which brings my costs down ($90 per horse) compared to horses that get all 4 shoes or any specialty shoeing. [I have since switched to a more experienced farrier and I am now paying $150 per horse–it’s a lot more but it’s SO worth it].

Cost Of Supplements & Medications: $0 – $100+ per month, $0 – $1,000 + per year

The sum of money you spend on medications is totally indicative of your horse, what he eats and if he needs an