okay... how expensive is a horse really?? Monthly food.. farrier vet??

[cariboujaguar]

Please do not take this the wrong way but it you have to ask these question you have no place having a horse. DO YOUR homework first.

YEAH! You should always do your homework first! Oh... wait... that IS what you're doing! I guess I won't jump down your throat then... LOL

I think the moral here is that it varies greatly, but you should be prepared... that being said I know tons of people who can not afford a horse, who should not have a horse, but the horse is taken very good care of... So IMO it's all about your priorities and dedication to keeping a horse healthy and happy

goodluck and keep us updated on the search to buy one if/when the time comes!

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Do you have a shelter/fence/horse tank/etc? All those can be quite costly to start your horse ownership with, unless your boarding the horse. I don't want to discourage you, owning a horse is wondeful, we've enjoyed it very much!! I just try not to remember how much things cost let alone add them up to see exactly how much horse ownership is costing us!!

 

[katrinag]

Quote:
If you have to ask these VERY simple questons then you need to hit the books not a forum. Read read and read some more then if you have some questions feel free to ask.

 

[twixerella]

HAy in our area was around $3-3.50

 

[cariboujaguar]

Quote:
If you have to ask these VERY simple questons then you need to hit the books not a forum. Read read and read some more then if you have some questions feel free to ask.

why hit the books? A book is writted by an authors studies in some area of the world or US and does not apply to everyone. I've read many books and some of them are idealistic and rediculous, like some people are acting here... Her coming here is NO different then going to a 4-H or Pony club group. Here they get a smattering of opinions, experiences etc from all over the US. I think coming to a forum like this is a great idea, books can be outdated, silly and are often written just to be written. You don't have to have all "Horse" things to have a horse. I traded 4 goats for all my tack, saddles, halters, blankets, grooming supplies etc I use those big blue water barrels cut in half for troughs for my mares, a shelter can be easily constructed out of plywood, scraps from construction sites or just tarps, posts and cattle pannels... don't get me wrong, they are a HUGE responsibility and can be pricey if you arn't creative and don't have the outlets some people do like cutting their own hay etc BUT I think it's rediculous to discourage or judge them for coming here to ask those questions. How many people go out and buy a horse for fear asking much needed questions would lead to nasty replies? It's better they ask and learn and show a desire to be informed then just go get one, Lord knows in this economy anyone can go out and get a horse...

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

It varies alot by the size of the horse...

I had a Belgian who ate an entire bale of hay every 36 hours at $5.00 a bale and a 50 pound special bag of $20 grain every two weeks. That's $180 on food alone for only 28 days.
Every time he needed to be wormed he needed two full tubes because he was a draft.
He needed to be trimmed every 4 weeks at $40. Luckily he was barefoot.

In 2008 I rescued a paint mare from a collector in Oregon who had never had anything done to her. My vet bill breaks down as follows just to get her on the road and away from the old owner:

Vet Mileage to farm horse was at $84.15

1 Pinnacle/Strep Horse Vaccine $18.90

3 Administer Equine Vaccine $20.70

1 Deworm, Eqvalan Oral $15.90

1 CVI/Passport/W/Coggins $23.40

1 Coggins Test $29.00

1 Tranquilizer w/Xylazine/Tor $30.75

Postage and Handling for Coggins and Paperwork sent to me $9.50

1 Quest Plus Gel $15.35

1 Horse Vacc. 5/Way $24.90

1 West Nile Horse Vacc. $18.05

1 Rabvac Horse Vacc. $18.72

Total $309.32

For a horse I gave away for free to a family in Texas.

Horses are expensive.

 

[Eliza]

wade through the basics in a book such as owning a backyard horse, get the gist, make a list of the basics you'll need, evaluate your land, check with your zoning board at the town hall FIRST, get price checks from the local farrier, the vet, and the feed store. There are SO many hidden expenses that pop up all the time, that you should multiply your final cost by 10% just to be safe. Hay is one of the biggest headaches. prices for good hay (love the reference to "crap hay" cause it's true! is practically on par with the spirling costs of gasoline! Finding an adequate supply source can be a miracle. Horses are a major committment. I'd suggest lease first at a boarding facility and learn all you can before you invest. being a green owner is nothing to be ashamed about - but you must realize that you can get seriously hurt if you don't know what you doing yet, and more expensively, so can the horse and despite their size, they are fairly delicate and can become very ill and that's very expensive!

 

[katrinag]

To the OP, I am not sure where in IL you are but a good thing you can do it talk to the locals that have horses and read. Find out what shots they get, what vets they use and if they can recommand a farrier, and a supplier for hay. Then a back up supplier.
Books are wonderful. Go to the libary check out a couple books read. They are great tools to refer back too. Yes everyone will say something a little different, but you will get the gist of it all.

Even thought I have been around and have had horses for the last 20 years things change.

Try to get all your ducks in a row first. It will make things better for you and the future horse.

 

[austin12895]

Quote:
Wouldn't the more helpful thing to do be to suggest adopting one of those unwanted horses rather than tell someone not to own a horse?

Not really because an unwanted horse will cost the same or more. A lot of unwanted horses have issues, health and temperament. If you cannot pay the amount needed for a purchased horse why adopt one you cannot care for? I think that is the point that was being made.

Thank you....thats exactly wut i was trying to say!!!

 

[chicks4fun]

I will add to what has already been said---it is expensive. I had a horse step on a nail while at a boarding facility and it cost over a $1,000 in vet bills to save him (it was infected). That isn't my only large vet bill since I've been a horse owner---like I was once told, "they can get hurt in a padded stall".
As for learning about horse keeping---I am glad I boarding for the first five years because I learned from experienced people at the barns.
Another option is to lease a horse. Some barns have horses for lease, that way you can ride and learn more along the way before you make the commitment.
But with all it's ups and downs I have to say I am very happy to have horses in my life.
Best of luck to you!