How Much Do Horses Cost?

The way to make a horse worth more money is to ensure it is well trained, healthy, sound, and well behaved. Bloodlines and conformation are important too, but it's easy to forgive a horse's obscure bloodlines and less than perfect conformation if it is a willing worker that is safe to be around and fun to ride. By buying a horse in the $1,500-and-up range, you are probably buying a horse that has had the time and money put into it that makes it a nice horse to own. It may have a good show record and probably is easy to clip, bathe, load on a trailer, stand for the farrier and veterinarian, and has all the good manners that make a horse fun and easy to handle.

The better the horse's 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 you'll need to buy a horse, make sure you include sales taxes, transportation costs, and a pre-purchase veterinary exam. Make sure you have money to look after your horse and consider how you'll deal with veterinary emergencies if they arise. The initial cost of a horse may seem like a large expense but the day-to-day care really is the greater expense of horse ownership.