How Much Does a Horse Cost?

change over time
Hay 90 to 300 per month 1080 to 3600 per year
Feed 42 to 84 per month 504 to 1008 per year1
Boarding 100 per month or 1200 per year for pasture board 1000 per month or 12000 per year for barns with stalls
Routine Health Care 50 per month 600 per year2
The Cost of Ponies
Ponies might be smaller in stature than horses but that doesnt mean their purchase or upkeep costs are proportionally smaller.
The cost of a good pony can be the same or higher than a horse. Expect prices for suitable first ponies to be about 1000 and upwards.
The Real Cost of a Free Horse
A free horse will probably live up to the old adage Never look a gift horse in the mouth. Usually the horse will be a senior citizen a youngster with poor prospects or little training or a horse with behavioral issues.
Yes its possible to get a really great free horselike a senior citizen who is levelheaded and serviceably sound whose owner just wants a nice retirement home for them. However these horses are rare and theres a possibility youre taking on someones problem. You might also take on a horse with a health or soundness problem which can cost you lots of money even though the initial purchase price was low.
Training and Types of Horses
With a 500 to 1000 horse these are often youngsters with little training or handling or horses with soundness conformation or behavioral issues. Of course theres the exception to every rulethere are gems among lowerpriced or giveaway horses but it may take a keen eye and willingness to deal with difficult issues. There are many stories of people taking these sows ears and making them into silk purses. They might not be the right horses for firsttime horse owners however. A cheap horse may be more expensive in the long run if you have to contend with vet bills specialized shoeing and paying trainers.
The way to make a horse worth more money is to ensure they are welltrained healthy sound and wellbehaved. Bloodlines and conformation are important too but its easy to forgive a horses obscure bloodlines and less than perfect conformation if they are a willing worker that is safe to be around and fun to ride.
By buying a horse in the 1500andup range you are probably buying a horse that has had the time and money put into them that makes them
a nice horse to own. They may have a good show record and are probably easy to clip bathe load on a trailer and stand for the farrier and veterinarian. And they may have all the good manners that make a horse fun and easy to handle.
The better the horses pedigree and performance record the more the asking price will be. Again there is an exception to every rule. However having a bigger budget means that you have more choices and are able to pass up the unsuitable horses without too much regret.
As you calculate how much you think youll need to buy a horse make sure you include taxes transportation costs and a prepurchase veterinary exam. Make sure you have money to look after your horse and consider how youll deal with veterinary emergencies if they arise. The initial cost of a horse may seem like a large expense but the daytoday care really is the greater expense of horse ownership.