How much would it cost me to keep a horse?

	How much would it cost me to keep a horse? Lately I've been looking at a really nice Pony of the Americas gelding (could possibly be registered as a quarter pony), and I've been wondering about how much it would cost me for upkeep should I decide to buy him. He's about 13.5 hands tall, if not less, and a really nice pony, stocky but not chubby. My plan is to board him at a nearby stable, which would be about $155 (american) per month. At the moment he is $2500, broke to ride, but still pretty green. Is there anything I should know? If I board him, it does come with feed, but would there be any other costs I should know about? and how much would regular vet services be (approximately), excluding accidents, etc.? - actually, I am pretty experienced with horses, and it's not like I can't afford it, it's more along the lines of: I live in the city and haven't been able to own my own horse before. So obviously I want to make sure that I'm not going to be spending my college money on it in the end...if that makes sense o.O edit Eeep. Yes, when I said 13.5 hands I meant 13 and a half. Not thinking straight, sorry. More details should help out...:P I'm 4 ft. 11 inches tall, no, I do not expect to grow much taller. I'm asking how much this is going to cost me because I want to make sure it's not going to go over my head. Fortunately I have a pretty high income, so I'm sure I can cover it. The question is more out of curiosity than worry. Secondly, I do have quite a bit of experience with horses, and if I were to board my pony at the farm he's at right now, I can also get help from the head trainer there (a friend). He's only a little green; mainly the tack, vet, food, and farrier is what I need to think about right now, not the training. Tack, I'm sure, I have covered, but I do need to know the usual prices for checkups, West Nile vacc., etc. etc. Hope that helps y'all... Asked By: - 7/17/2006

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First feed...we have 3 horses plus 4 on pasture. The 3 we have up close eat 6 120 pound bales of hay a week @ $10.00 a bale, plus grain @ $8.50 a 50# sack every 2 weeks, unless they are being ridden really hard, then it goes up to a 50# sack a week, and during the winter they get fed more to help them stay warm...then the farrier trims and resets shoes once every 6 weeks @ $50.00 for a new shoeing job, and $45.00 to reset. The horses on pasture get their feet trimmed every 6 weeks @ $40.00. Shots, distemper costs $15.00 a shot per horse (I give shots myself, minor sutures, float teeth myself, cutting the vet bill way back) one per horse per year, West Nile Shot, one per horse per year, @ $25.00 a piece. I buy those fro mthe vet and give them, or it would be $50.00 a shot, due to the vet coming out. Then 4 emergencies, ie cuts scrapes etc, there are tetanus, antibiotics dressings etc. We have a well stocked vet box complete with sutures, vet wrap, betadine, ointment basically everything one needs, including ACE, and other necessities. It cost us over $175.00 to set the box up and about $15 to $25 a month to keep it upgraded. Wormers cost about $14.00 to $25.00 each depending on the type, we use Quest gel and that is $22.00 a tube and our horses get wormed twice a year. As far as a Coggins Test, we don't have ours tested unless we are hauling out of state. All our horses get supplements every day, which are different for the older horses, pregnant mares and horses being worked hard . Breeding stallions and weanling colts are different as well too. (we have 3 right now who won't foal until next April) they get shots, extra vitamins etc. Tack is expensive...a western type saddle can run into the $1000's plus bits, bridles, cinches, girths, saddle pads etc. At least $500.00 at first. At a minimum. Try eBay for some nice used tack. How tall are you, by the way? A hand is 4 inches, and you said 13.5? Do you mean 13 and a half hands tall?(13.2) There is no 13.5 hands. Or could he be 14.1? That is a small horse. Ours average 16 hands, with the exception of my husband's rope horse...he is 15.2 and weighs over 1600 lbs. Do your boarding fees include excercising as well? How old is this pony? Are you experienced enough a rider to give him the training he needs to finish him? Most trainers charge $600.00 to finish a green broke horse. Well, I dont want to discourage you, cause horses are a ball and lots of fun, but are expensive. Good luck and have fun. Answered By: skye - 7/17/2006

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Depends. Ask the boarding barn what is included in the board, what they charge extra for, and what you are responsible for. And most cost depend on your area, so it would be best to talk people in your area. For instance, the cheapest barn in my area is a poorly managed barn that feeds and hays, and doesn't have stalls and has paddocks that are way to small, and charges $350 (american) but thats because hay prices here are up around $9 a bale..... if your experianced, then you know other horse owners or have an instructor, so ask them. Answered By: Becky D - 7/18/2006

How should i know srry bout that Answered By: kira - 7/17/2006

$100 Answered By: ellencalvo - 7/17/2006

ALOT of $chaching Answered By: syd - 7/17/2006

Well all all horses cost a lot they cost abt13-1009 dallars trust me i no Source(s): look on ebay Answered By: maggiequa85 - 7/17/2006

Maybe a 100 a week Answered By: pirates&puppies&sports-oh my! - 7/17/2006

If you have to ask how much it would cost to keep a horse, hon, i doubt you can truly afford it..........horses and most livestock have high feed and vet bills.......maybe something a bit smaller, like a shetland pony? sharon from oHIo Answered By: Sharon T - 7/17/2006

Coggons test is required once a year, that is about $100 If you aren't experienced you shouldn't try training a green animal Shoing is another cost Horse treats :) Answered By: Rachel V - 7/17/2006

You will have to have shoes put on him every 6 to 8 weeks, that can run about $75 (what I pay) every trip, your vet bills can run from around $25 plus what ever the ranch call is to way up into the hundreds of dollars depending on what is done. You will need wormings, teeth floatings, shots. You might check to see if they have to have any special type of feed for him, if that will cost any extra. You will have to buy all of your tack. You need to find out if it is a full care boarding facility, or if you have to do your own stalls and feeding or not. It is alot of fun to own a horse, but also alot of work. Good luck and I hope this helps some. Answered By: Just Me - 7/17/2006

Well, ok, there are very much costs, that will come to you. all right, you said $155 for the stable (incl. fodder?) if not, take another $100... then the vet has to come regular (i don´t know, what a vet would cost in USA, but here in Germany, it is the most expensive), then your horse needs horseshoes, so there are costs for the blacksmith. Then you need a insurance for the horse and one for you. then you need all the other things:saddle, halter, curry-comb and all these things, all in all at leat $1500. So altogether, only this year you´ll have to pay (the horse included) $6000. you know, there are alternatives than owning a horse, but i know, owning one is a very great feeling. you should really think about it. Answered By: eveline - 7/17/2006

It is very expensive to keep a horse. You have to consider a lot of things, everyday care. Your boarding is cheap enough, but 2500. for a green broke pony is ridiculous! Don't forget tack, Vets, required yearly permits and shots, worming, winter feed , summer feed, if no pasture, The daily care is about like raising a child so think about it! To get my vet to come here once a year requires an appointment in advance and 105. just for thier yearly required coggins. Horses very pleasurable, but they come with a lot of time, expense ,and responsiblity. Answered By: sue m - 7/17/2006

I would have to say as the old cliche goes "if you ask you can't afford it". Horses can be a very expensive proposition. You have the feed, boarding,vet, groomer, ect. The best advice I can give is search out riding stables in your area. There are places I've heard of where you can "sublet" a horse in return for paying some of its upkeep. Answered By: carla22258 - 7/17/2006

As far as vet expenses go it depends on your vet. i had to give a horse that i bought the 4way vaccine, west nile booster, and a sedative plus the vets fee and it came to a littl under $200. a tube of worming paste is about $13. if he has to have any work done on him it will depends on the vet work. Shoes for one horse run about $50, with a trim. Trimming runs me about $10. if he needs any feed supplements those can get expensive. none of my horses now have any. training for you and the horse depends on what level of experience you both have. then there is trailering costs. depends on who you know or the company that you choose. tack can get kind of expensive. In my experience I have spent as little as $20 for a new bridle, $15 for a kimberwicke bit, $200 for my saddle, $10 for a blanket, and $20 for a girth. This was a beginners package that I boguht when I first started riding English. I got my bridle from State Line Tack which runs a lot of sales and you can get an incredible bridle for a low price. I replaced my bridle with a very pretty braided browband and nosebacnd bridle for $40, a new blanket cost me $25, a new girth cost me $30, i kept my bit, a dressage pad cost me $30 and had free mopnogramming on it, and my new saddle cost $400 after I paid for the saddle the stirrups the leathers and stirrup pads. The most I have ever paid for a saddle was $800. Check Ebay, State Line Tack and local newspapers. You can often find great deals on tack in either of those places. You can buy new and used saddles on ebay for less than what you would pay for them in a store. Also check your local tack shops as they will have ads and saddles on consignment. Answered By: daniellagiovanni - 7/17/2006

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