How Much Do Horses Cost?

Horses can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000 depending on their pedigree, performance record, and good manners. The bigger the budget, the more options you have as a horse owner to choose from. Besides the initial purchase of the horse itself, there are costs towards hay, feed, veterinary exams, training, and grooming.

Horses that are $10,000 and up are horses are being bought and sold by top-name stud farms for use in high-level competition. They are often imported from Europe or elsewhere, with impressive bloodlines, and have antecedents with international competition success. They're not likely to be purchased by the average first-time horse owner, and the prices aren't as impacted by market forces as the backyard riding horse prices are.

It's important to calculate costs before committing to buying a horse especially if it's your first time. Besides upkeeping costs, there are also transportation costs and sales tax to consider. While these won't be part of the asking price, they are things you need to think about as you make a final decision.

How Upkeep Costs Affect Price

Poor hay crops and rising feed and fuel costs can affect the number of horses for sale and can affect the asking prices of those horses in any given year. The side effect of the banning of horses for meat slaughter is a lower price for some types of horses. This mainly affects horses that are elderly, unsound, young and/or untrained, but it does have a ripple effect on the general horse market.