cost of maintaining a horse?

With board, vet bills, feed, farrier, tack, showing, trailering, and anything else that goes with owning a horse, you will be looking at $15,000 - $20,000 US per year.

Maintaining A Horse

I think it depends on where you live (like what kind of area) where I live some stables charge up to $500 dollars for board (but most include feed in the price) but I board my horse on a farm, so I only pay for hay and grain (about $100 a month, 'cuz I buy hay from farmers who don't charge much. And grain I always stock up on when its on sale.) grain prices can be anywhere from 5-20 dollars a bag(usually a 50 pound bag) and hay can be 3-7 dollars a bale. Now bedding. Straw is usually cheap, but shaveings are more expensive. Saddles can be anywhere from 50-600 dollars, but if you buy a used one, remember it will be more comfortable becuase its broken in. Grooming supplies aren't too bad. All you need are simple brushes, some shampoo, and of course a hoof pick. I'd say most of things add up to around 30-50 dollars. Lessons are different everywhere. Group lessons tend to average around $20. It can be higher or lower depending on what barn you go to or how often you go. Vet bills are tricky because horses and injuries are both unpredictable. Yearly you'll need at least two check-ups, and have the horses teeth floated and checked. That can be anywhere from 100 bucks and up! Other injuries could be like $40, but it can be super expensive if its serious. Ferriers can be cheap or expensive. If its just a trim, the price averages around 40 dollars. Shoes can be $60 and up.

Sooooo I can't add, but I know that sounds like a lot. My best advice is always make sure your horse is getting good care and all of his basic needs are fulfilled. Make sure he is healthy and happy and everything should be fine!

(I'm so sorry that there are so many words but i tried to list everything that you mentioned)

If you own the horse and don't have to board it, the average yearly cost is about 900 dollars (or more) but this doesn't include halters and brushes and saddles and other necessities. So probably the first year would cost upwards of $2000 because you have to buy everything else. And of course the yearly cost will be much higher if your horse has to stay at the vet because of an illness.

The $900 includes 3 hoof trims, worming 3 times, yearly vaccinations, and feed. It will be much more if you take lessons or you have your horse trained.

Ok, lets see if I can estimate... I'm going to do it month-by-month, but you can multiply it by 12. It's just easier for me. I'm not sure if you are boarding or not, but I'll give you what my costs are (I keep my horses at home). This is for one horse.

Feed: $25, depending on the feed you use and if you have an easy or hard keeper.

Farrier: Barefoot- $60 Shod- $120

Grooming supplies, saddle, pad, saddle repair, bridle, etc.- $100 maybe, probably less, but initially your saddle, pad, bridle, etc. can be LOTS more than that.

Lessons: Weekly- $100 per week for a private lesson, $50 for a group lesson. You can also get lessons bi-weekly, or even monthly (I have a lesson once every two months).

Vet: Really depends, but probably averages $50 if you break it up.

Hope this helps! That adds up to almost $300 per month for the cheaper end of things, group lessons, barefoot horse, etc. so yeah, it's expensive, but the rewards are so awesome. Good luck!

OK, it REALLY depends on your area, but IN GENERAL:

~Board: $1,200 - $9,600

~Vet (assuming nothing's wrong): $600-$1,200

~Farrier (assuming nothing's wrong): $600-$1,600)

~Dentist (assuming nothing's wrong): $IDK (Sorry)

So that's $2,400 - $12,400, not including Dentist. Remember that the first year will be really expensive because you have to buy the horse, tack, halter, cross ties, lead rope, grooming supplies, etc., plus the cost of trailering the horse to your place. But every year after that, it's pretty much the same cost. Hope I helped! :)

*****Lessons vary a lot, I couldn't even give you a ballpark. Saddles vary from $150 - $10,000, but most are $200 - $1,000. Bridles go from $40 - $120. Girths are $20-$30. Stirrup Irons are $25-$120, stirrup leathers are $10-$20. Hoofpicks are $2-$10, crops are $5-$10, curry combs, soft brushes, and hard brushes are all $2-$5 each. Good luck and before you buy a horse, you should have years of riding experience and a few thousand dollars ready in case your horse gets sick.

So I'll do it monthly, because yearly just gets too big for me to do the math. :)

Board: $250

Lessons: $150

Vet/Farrier: $150

Feed: $150

Tack Upkeep/Grooming supplies: $75

So about $800 a month, but it depends on how often your horse needs shoes, what kind of food you feed, and where you board.

Saddles run anywhere from $200 to $4000 (new) depending on what you're looking for. If you're looking at buying all new tack and grooming supplies for a brand new horse, you're looking at at least a few hundred dollars, if you find things cheap and do your research. Depending on the saddle, you could spend up to a few thousand when you buy a halter, blanket, brushes, shampoos, first aid stuff, etc.

Much depends on where you live and how you plan on keeping the horse, home or boarding. Also, the cost of feed and hay is extremely high this year due to the drought in the south (our hay up north is "going south"). The gas prices have driven up the feed costs (it takes more money to deliver all that feed to the store). And now, corn is getting difficult to get because of the ethanol making. But, I can still keep three horses in my backyard for the same price as boarding one. I'd say, on an average year, I spend $500/horse for hay and feed, $100/horse for shots, farrier is $20/horse every 6-8 weeks for trim (I use Old Mac boot on the fronts to ride), $150/horse for the Old Mac boots, dental care is $80/horse but they don't all need care at the same time and some only need floats every other year. $100 totoal for pesticides and sprays, maybe $100 for new halters if needed. Worming is an "overestimate" at $200 total for all 4/yr. (You just buy generic and on sale). So that's $1250 total if I include everythin (dental also) per year for one horse. But that doesn't include my arthritis meds for all that shoveling! And the actual tools that while every home needs them, they seem to never be found in the barn! Have fun with your new horse.

Well it depends were you live.....here in Arkansas monthly is

Board- $250

vet/farrier-$100

lessons-$125

feed-$90-100

tack and grooming supplies-$65

as for saddles it depends on what brand you get

cheap is 600-1,000

so all toget a month would be around

$500-$600

in Arkansas

but you should tell us what state so we can be more exact.

WHAT??!! Did someone say 20,000 a year. ahahaha ....I have 2 horses and am definitely NOT paying that much. omg....I couldn't make like a tenth of that in a year. I cannont believe you said that. Ok...yes it's expensive...but with economical thinking...you can definitely save alot more than the average. (NOT 20,000) but like when I got my shots...the vet did rabies and coggins...but I ordered the rest. (so much cheaper) With tack...I get only what I need. Overall...I paid embetween $3000 and 3500 since last summer...and that involved the purchase of my 2 horses and tack :) and they are VERy healthy horses.Good luck!!