Acquisition Of A Horse – Total Costs At A Glance

The horse has been one of the most fascinating farm animals for thousands of years. They impress people above all by their size, strength and wildness. It quickly becomes clear that these characteristics are accompanied by a pronounced urge to move on the part of the steppe-dwelling flight animal. Knowing the basic needs of a horse is essential for a species-appropriate husbandry. You should be aware of this if you are thinking about buying a horse. In the following article you will find out what costs are to be expected.

What does a horse cost?

One-time costs

Among the costs that are incurred only once with regard to keeping a horse is the acquisition of the four-legged friend itself. The purchase price varies greatly. A pony can be bought for a few hundred dollars, while a horse costs at least 1000 dollars. In addition to the breed, age and pedigree, the level of training and experience in competition also have an influence on the price. An appropriately trained animal can therefore cost several thousand dollar. If you have little experience, it is advisable to consult a specialist and a veterinarian in order not to risk acquiring a sick horse.

Once the right horse has been found, the search begins for the riding equipment, which usually only needs to be purchased once. These include the saddle and the saddle blanket. The cost of a saddle starts at about 500 dollars. Regarding the saddle, the right fit is important to avoid pressure points on the horse. Furthermore, the equipment includes snaffle and bit. The former costs about 30 dollars, while the bit costs about 20 dollars. In order to protect the sensitive mouth area of the horse from injuries, one should not save here at the wrong end. Halter and rope together cost about 25 dollars. Equipped with a grooming box, which is available in a filled version from about 20 dollars, a thorough coat and hoof care is guaranteed, which contributes to the maintenance of animal health.

If you lack riding experience, riding lessons represent another cost factor. Depending on the region and riding stable, the price per riding lesson ranges from 15 to 40 dollars per hour. Not to be forgotten is the riding gear, which consists of helmet, boots and trousers, the latter ideally reinforced on the inside with leather or imitation leather. You should plan on spending about 200 dollars for this.

Running costs

One-time expenses are by no means the end of the story. As a horse owner, you will have to pay additional monthly costs, which often make the one-time costs seem small. In order to avoid unpleasant surprises, it is advisable to make an exact cost calculation in advance.

Stable rent

Riders, to whom the possibility does not offer itself to adjust the horse on the own yard, bring their quadruped in a rented stable under. Here, the sociable animal has contact with other horses and is cared for by grooms or stablehands. If you can’t spare the time, the stable staff will take care of cleaning the stall and feeding the horse. If you wish, they can ensure that your horse is regularly on the move, for example, by having riding students ride it in your absence. Depending on the region and stable equipment, the costs associated with boarding range from about 150 to 600 dollars per month.

Balanced diet

To keep the beloved four-legged friend healthy, the right mix of feed is required. Although a horse taps into important minerals, trace elements and vitamins through the grass it eats, additional feeding of hay is essential as it contributes to healthy intestinal flora. If the raw fiber-rich feed is supplemented with concentrates such as oats, as well as salt licks and supplemental feed in the form of apples and carrots, you will ensure optimal nutrition for your horse, which will cost about 100 dollars per month.

Hoof health

A visit to the farrier is recommended every eight weeks. One consequence of not taking care of the hooves is an uneven run of the feet. The cost depends on whether your horse is shod or not. You can expect to pay about 30 dollars per month. If it is a special shoe, this will of course be reflected in the price.

Vaccinations and worming

Vaccination is now compulsory in most stables. This ensures the protection of the other stable inhabitants. Vaccinations against equine influenza, cough, tetanus, rabies and herpes are given twice a year. The treatment costs about 100 dollars per year, which corresponds to eight to ten dollars per month. In addition to vaccination, it is advisable to subject the horse to regular worming. Carried out four times a year, the fight against possible intestinal parasites costs a total of about 20 dollars.

Veterinarian

A sudden illness in the horse can be associated with high costs. In order to be able to pay the bill issued by the vet, it is advisable to have a reserve of at least 1000 dollars.

Insurances

Sometimes it can happen that your horse causes damage to the transport vehicle or stable building, or even personal injury. In these cases it is helpful to have a horse liability insurance that covers the costs incurred. If a deductible of about 100 dollars is agreed, you can already take out insurance for about 10 dollars a month. In addition, it makes sense to consider taking out horse health insurance and surgery insurance. With these you can save high costs, which arise due to an expensive treatment or a hospital stay. The corresponding rates vary greatly depending on the breed and age of the horse.

Summary

It can be stated that the species-appropriate keeping of a horse is not an inexpensive hobby. While the one-time costs including the purchase of a horse amount to about 1500 dollars, between 250 and 500 dollars should be planned for the monthly expenses.