How much does it really cost to own a horse?

I have 2 bottles of vitamin b complex fortified I would like to see if anyone needs. 100ml bottle expires Nov 2012. $10 each.

Here a round bail of hay is $140.. I myself pay up to $300-$400 a month for my 2 horses. My mom pays up to $100-$200 a month for her one horse

welsummerchicks said:

With mine I've been able to find homes for them as they got tons and tons of training. But even at that, it was at a great financial loss - I basically 'gave them away', and my riding went on 'hold' for the 18 months to 2 years it took to find them a perfect home.

One, who I just was really sure people would 'take advantage of' if I placed him in any home. He had a lot of really advanced training and a ligament injury that he could NOT do his advanced work on any more - but ironically, it did not cause an obvious lameness. In fact it is a lameness I think most people wouldn't be able to see. But if he's made to do the advanced work, his leg will start to deteriorate. I want him to stay comfortable.

I knew if he got out of my sight, some money grubber would find him and try to make money off him - teach a jillian lessons off him or lease him, he just was not ever the type to complain or show pain.

So he has to stay with us for his own protection, and he will til the day he dies. We bought this farm for him to live out his days at, in peace and quiet. We take him for a walk every day, and he just eats and sleeps and enjoys himself - a horse's idea of paradise. But after all he did for me, he doesn't owe me nothin'. I owe him.

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Aw, we board a horse that sounds just like this. He was the owners jumper till he had an injury and so he's retired. Yes, she pays us a little board, but it's nice to see someone caring about their horse. My daughter is allowed to ride him, but she's light and doesn't do anything to strain his invisible injury- and she's not at a level where she could anyway. I figure every horse needs a little girl to love them! We have his companion mini and another trail horse here and 3 acres of all the grass he can eat.

Anyway, to the OP, you might see if you can find 2 or so horses to board for a while- preferably through a friend or something since liability is always tricky. It's given us a very realistic picture of what it's like to own horses- especially since we do just about everything for 2 of the 3 horses because of the owner's traveling. It's also a good introduction to the responsibility of feeding, etc. Another option might be fostering for a legitimate rescue. A lot of times they have more horses than room and someone with facilities and pasture could save them a lot of money- plus you would probably learn a lot from them.

I really want a horse too! If I got one, without the break up, how much would it cost? Because I'd have to buy tack, water and feed buckets and basically all the main stuff! I would probably board at a place that costs $300 a month.

In my area of Ga. I have land(but not enough pasture), we built a 2 stall barn we leave the doors open (they use in rain), at the cost of 650 $ a stall. I fence property, combo of field fence/ and or electric rope , ran me about 1$ a foot. (poles, parts ,etc.). i get roundbales delievered at 30. $ each (average grass hay) (square bales are around 4-6$ locally) I only have to feed some pellets (alfalpha oat) in winter. 11$ for 50 lb. I use about 2-3 bags a month . I have 2 arabians, pretty easy keepers. I learned to Natural trim, but my horses are barefoot and are turned out moving all day so I only have to do it occasionally. I give my own shots, just the basics EEWWTET. West Nile. 23$ x2 a yr. I worm a couple times a year at about 6 $ each. ( I have a treeless saddle, a western syntehtic , an aussie and a synthetic english.(I probably have 1800$ in tack (we did have 5 horses at one time)... But you only need one saddle ...couple hundred unless you show.) Special clothing ,boots , helmet.500$ plus over several years. Vet and Farrier if you use/need them ... can add hundreds a year. Same if you need lessons and a trainer.... Cost us 150$ for a dozer to bury a horse on our property.(we are Ag. zoned in a rural county)
My daughter works at a Hunter Jumper barn that shows on A circut. There it may cost hundreds a month for board, then training fees, etc. Their clients spend thousands a year.....
So it depends on where you keep your horses, and what you intend to do with them. You can purchase their tack used... but wrong fitting for your horse or poor quality 'costs more'.