Horse Owners - Help Please!

[IfOnlyOurEyesSawSouls]

Ok so this is a very broad question... but could any of you help me please to understand the costs of owning a horse .

I know that there is a lot to consider and I genuinely don't want one if we cant provide a really good quality of life.

Our DD is 14 and rides . She has M.E and riding is massively therapeutic for her . She is animal mad and wants to be a vet .

I just have no clue about how much to budget for one on a monthly basis .

This is a question that is as long as a piece of string.
Depends on geography, level of care, breed of horse, and many other factors.

For eg, my two cost me £1100 per month all in (shoes, feed, Livery, bedding, training, so about £650 for horse in work, £350 for semi retired mare) but I need part livery due to my job and I live in the south and I train once a fortnight because I compete.

If you had bob the cob on grass livery, you could feasibly do it for £50 p/wk all in.

For example, it costs £70 for a set of shoes every six weeks (no studs, more for studs), but this will be cheaper in other areas. £60 per month in hard feed, £50 for hay and bedding, and then grass livery / diy is anything from £40-100 per week - depending on facilities (ie top end diy with schools / Xc etc will be a lot more than a field and stable with hacking).

I don’t recommend diy for parents who are inexperienced and with an ill daughter. You need to go twice a day and do heavy lifting (poo picking fields etc) and you cannot miss a go because you are unwell or held up at work/school. This doesn’t sound like it would suit you. I used to do diy and it became too difficult to maintain in the end.

Best thing to do is enquire at local stables about their costs for part livery or assisted diy and see if it is in your budget. As I say, geography and level of care will play hugely into costs. Breed of horse too, as a good doer that is hardy and rarely needs the vet will be much cheaper than something that needs a lot of feeding or has crap feet or is a self harmer.

Then factor in feed, shoes and lessons - again ring round locally to gauge prices, or ask at your local livery yard.

Plus £600-1000 per year horse insurance, or make sure you have the capacity to spend £100-5000 per veterinary incident (£100 for basic lameness assessment and treatment, going up to £5k for kissing spine surgery or some colic surgeries).

My horses are my world but good grief I live pay cheque to pay cheque every month, live in a crap part of town, never buy new clothes, and cut my hair twice a year even though I earn £34k a year. Oh and no kids as I can’t afford them when I have four-legged ones 😂
But then I event in the south and I have two horses so I really have given myself the most expensive way of doing horses.

I have mine at home, hay about £50/month, bedding about the same and shoes £40/month, so £140 all in a month.
Vaccinations £55/year.

A massive commitment but I have had horses all my adult life and have gone without things to afford them in the past.

I come from a long line of very poor horsey women, we all do it because we inherited the love from the one before us! It's a fantastic way of life but it is a continuous and never ending list of things to do - unless you have more money to spend monthly to have help. This can range from ad hoc, £5 per AM/PM or per chore or whatever the going rate - to £1000's per month to have a team of people look after them for you and you just have to turn up to ride!
Whatever you can afford, you can buy - but a horse lives 30 years or more, if you own them into their 20's they have no real resale value and lose value very quickly past the age of 14/15. There is a huge amount to learn, if you aren't experienced then you need to be in a yard environment - it can be quite bitchy and you might find costs for things you never even dreamed of!
This might sound awful and ungrateful, I can't stress enough how much I adore my horse and know how lucky I am to have a knowledgable family and be in the position to have a horse - however...
I was 11 when my DM asked me if I wanted my own horse like her - I had been riding a pony at the same stable yard and had proven my commitment after 2 years or so - and of course I happily said 'yes please!'
I am now 27 and I have the same precious horse who I enjoy every day - but it has been every. single. day. Since I was 11. No family holidays together, someone had to be home to look after the 2 horses AM and PM every day (we couldn't afford to keep ours at a yard that had assistance available - obviously you need to ask the question in your area and find out prices) we are in the South East and it costs upwards of £50+ a week for any sort of yard with assistance.
At 11pm on my 18th birthday, as I am being dropped to my first ever club I had a call from the yard to say she wasn't well, (colic), and I needed to come immediately with the emergency vet on route. I stood in my heels in Feb for 5 hours, paid £3000 in vets bills and she's still here - however they will always need to come first and usually when least appreciated!

My advice, after getting prices of yards in the area (as this will vary costs greatly - wales is a third of the cost of London) however, insurance, farrier, physio, saddler, feed, bedding, equipment, showing, transport, vets bills and livery will add up to become an immeasurable amount - it can cost as much as you can afford or it can cost more. I wouldn't do it now, if I had the choice as an adult.

You can share horses, so an owner who is time-poor will look for someone to ride their horse for a fee (usually around £20 a week for a few days sole use) and I think this is a much less risky route - you can cancel/stop the share at any time and you don't have the huge unexpected bills horses can throw you. You may have to still contribute to bills, but I can't express how much money and time they take.

I hope this hasn't offended, obviously you do you! but they are a huge commitment, financial and time. Your DD is nearly old enough to be off on her life travels, I would let her choose to buy her own one day in the future and provide means of a share or loan pony (a loan pony you must pay 100% for and look after 100% but you do not own the horse and can return it to the owner at any time).

Good luck, it is great fun to be around the ponies as a teen!

Oh god.
Don't do it.
I have two, they are my world but even keeping them cheaply they cost everything I have, and my soul too.

And you have to get to them twice a day and it's horrible at 5am at the moment in the pouring rain. I have had horses for over 40 years but I still think its quite the maddest thing to do.

Last month one of mine was poorly with something her vet fees insurance would not cover and cost me just over £900 in one month. Usually its around £400 Inc shoes for my two but that's not taking into account diesel getting to the stables twice a day etc.

It's also physically really hard especially in winter. Is your daughter well enough for a horse?

I had ponies and horses growing up. Aside from the financial commitment, taking care if them was a real labour of love involving the whole family. Also, it's blooming hard work physically. I'm sorry to ask, but is your daughter's health up to doing physical work on a daily basis? Riding is one thing, and I totally understand the therapeutic benefits it brings but the hard graft needed to take proper care if a horse is quite another.

If your daughter has CFS will she be physically capable of looking after one or do you have the experience to do so on her behalf ( I’m horsy and have a daughter with CFS ) . We have been horse owners for 39 years and currently only have one small pony who was my sons when he was small ( and gave up horses) and she costs us just over £500 per month on a full livery basis ( we do nothing) + vets bills . Before our horses died we were easily spending £1500 per month + vets bills .

£400 a month full livery
£50 extra bedding
£100 feed
£56 insurance
Plus all the bits and bobs you end up needing when they shred a rug, or need the vet. Unexpected vet visit this month was £200 ie below the insurance excess so can't claim, dentist, physio etc.

Although I had a pony as a kid, as an adult I waited 18 years until I could easy afford it as there's nothing worse than wanting to care for your horse but not being able to afford what they need.

Another thing to add to the excellent advice upthread is that your daughter will have to spend a lot of time studying over the next few years to get the grades for vet med. Coupled with her ME, she'd be unlikely to spend a lot of time looking after her horse. I'd look for a part-loan instead.

I have 2. They live on grass livery. Welshies so very hardy. In fact they hate going in the stable.

Rent is £150 per month. Food is £20 per month.

Farrier is £50 for both every 6 weeks. They are trimmed not shod. I'm very lucky they both have black hooves and don't work loads. They are more often on grass/ in the ménage .

Insurance is £50 per month for both. £100 for annual boosters.

Field licks £10 per month.

Owning them- priceless!
We have had the little grey for 17 years. All 4 of my children learnt to ride on her.

The bay found me. I knew her as a foal. I was buying a different cob and she charged across the field whinnying. She came home with us 10 years ago.

They'll both be with me till the end. They are are very loved.

I have one hardy pony but question my sanity sometimes.

Livery is £180/month
Feed probably £20
Feet around £35 every 8 weeks.
Insurance £30
I also pay an extra £30 month for someone to bring her in on a night as I’m at work late and she has a strop if she’s left out alone.

I also pay for lessons which are around £50 month and one days competing is probably £100.

I won’t go into the world of horseboxes

My husband moans, I’m always soaking and covered in mud, I can’t go on holiday, my car is disgusting, I’m always injured in one way or another but I LOVE it.

It’s a way of life, not a hobby.

Here on Mn you simply get your family to assisist in the costs!!
Apparently!!

The answer to how much does having a horse cost is “all your pounds, all your minutes!” If it is genuinely what you want then you won’t begrudge any of it. Having said that I’m finding it quite trying atm - my horse has acquired an injury that has cost £2000 in the space of a month and needs keeping clean. The injury is on his foot and we are eyeball deep in mud.

I rely heavily on my little army of helpers - keeping a horse and 2 ponies involves me, my kids and husband, and several other women and kids to do it so we are not all run ragged. My pay rise at work next year is going towards a groom. However much you earn, a horse will somehow eat it.

Haha @Winterdaysarehere i saw that thread

These are really helpful posts - thankyou so much all.

I am going to sit and read through them all so i can properly take on board your replies .

I have 4 but they live on our land. They’re still expensive though.

Shavings for 4 stables approx £20 a week as I bulk buy them
Hay/Haylage £20 - £30 a week as I have thoroughbreds who lose weight if I look at them the wrong way in winter.
Hard feed £15ish weekly
Carrots/turnips £5 weekly
Farrier £65 every 6-8 weeks
Yearly dentist visit £25 per horse
Replacing rugs/tack - too much!

They’re a lot of work and please think every carefully before you buy. They take up a LOT of time.

One option could be part loan at a riding school or working livery. Now some of these set ups are a total rip off, money making scam. But, a good one will allow a novice owner to learn the ropes under the watchful eye of a good stables and not be overwhelmed. They can be a good "dip your toe in" option. Usually you'd only have care of horse a few days a week and even then once a day visit is enough.

If you're happy to post your location, someone in the tack room might be able to point you in the direction of somewhere reputable.

Tbh I think they cost as much as you let them!!!
Obviously you have your basic costs
Livery
Feed and hay - sometimes hay is included
Feet trimming and shoes if you must
Routine vets costs
Worming

Probably the best thing to do is look for a good Livery yard with good management in place. If your not horsey you will need someone experienced to guide you through it. Horses have a remarkable ability to throw all manner of problems at us.
To start with I'd probably find out if your riding school offer working Livery. This is where you get a reduced rate of Livery in exchange for the horse working in the school. This means the horse will be well exercised even if your daughter is unwell or busy with school ect.
If not look for a yard with a good bit flexible assistance package. So they will turn out, muck out feed ect if your not able to and they usually provide holiday cover.

I'd recommend your daughter having a horse that primarily lives out. It's not good they being stabled as much as they often are in the U.K. (most horses stables are smaller than the old battery chicken cages relative to the size of the horse but yet somehow we seem to think this is ok???)

I would also recommend your daughter (and you) doing as much as possible in the early days in order to learn as much as possible. It's a steep learning curve!!!

Good luck!!!!

I’m going to echo the working livery option. You basically fit round their use in a riding school. Owning is a massive commitment, twice a day unless you pay for livery. I could do without having to go up today, got to do last minute shopping, walk dogs, do housework, cook, wait for the engineer who’s sorting something out. However, I love my boy and he’s worth it, despite costing me over £300 extra this month for colic issues (on top of his £150 for normal medication, £260 for livery fees, plus £100 for bedding)

Having ours on DIY livery (visiting / hard work twice a day) cost us around £300 per month plus lessons and shows (can be expensive) and tbh we were doing things as cheaply as possible. Plus a trailer, then a 4x4, and on it goes...

Really depends where you are but:

We have 2 - 1 is an arthritic retiree

• £25 each a week for livery
• £15 a week for shavings - about a bale a week each, but we started their beds with 4 bales each.
• £30 a fortnight on hay
• £10 a month for chaff - retiree has pain relief everyday so they have a small bowl of chaff each for breakfast and dinner
• £75 every 6 weeks for the farrier - retiree only has front shoes, other one is barefoot but still needs trimming
• £65 a month between them on insurance
• £60 a month for retiree’s pain relief
• £15 a week for someone to give them breakfast and turn them out in the mornings
• BHS membership for the 3rd party liability insurance is about £5 I think

Wormers/worm counts 3 times a year at about £15, entry fees for shows, cost of cleaning, repairing and re-proofing rugs.

Vaccines for both - £100 six monthly

That’s without the riding hats, boots, jodhpurs, matchy-matchy shit, rugs, fly masks, grooming kit - we buy pretty much everything second hand

Something always breaks or goes wrong at the worst time

Too many variables.

Where u live
Type of horse u want to buy
What type of yard u want to keep at, care needed, facilities
What u want to do with it

I'd suggest considering sharing or loaning first.
I 'had' a horse on loan from the age of 14 until I went to uni. He was kept on the owners yard (she owned the small livery yard/sheep farm) so she was always around for advice. This isn't always the case, but there's the potential for more support, depending on the owner. It let me have a horse in a lower pressure way while also studying/sitting all the exams that come with that age. He was priceless both as exercise and mental health support!
Before loaning him, I rode for another lady on the yard who bought, brought on, and sold ponies. She was too tall to ride them but I was a short, light person so did it for her. No money changed hands - I got the pleasure of riding and she got her ponies ridden.
My load horse was a 'bob the cob' and cost me very little. He costs shoes or a hoof trim every 6 weeks or so - can't remember how much but around £50 for shoes. He was on diy livery at £20 per week, hay included in that. No hard feed costs. No tack costs. His vaccines and boosters etc were covered by the owner. But then, I was extremely lucky and this all came about by getting to know folk.

They are worth the time and money but it is a huge time investment, every day, twice a day...even if it's just a flying visit to ensure they're okay. I wouldn't keep one now because I can't face working it around a 40 hr work week, no matter how much I loved them and still do. I get on a bike now for my exercise!

See if you can start with a share. Maybe see if there is a yard in your area that does that with their own school ponies.
Personally hell would freeze over before I'd let a horse I owned go on "working livery". You'd lose control over who was allowed to ride, and horse working in riding schools can have a very tough time. My friend had hers on working livery for a short while, but took him back very quickly because it was obvious they were over-working him. She ended up not riding him herself because it wasn't fair.

Work our a budget then double it! I never have a month where I’ve only spent the essentials such as livery and insurance, there’s always something extra that needs paying for.
If you don’t keep the horse on full livery then you will be spending so much time at the yard. Even on full livery I still spend so much time at the yard.
It’s a complete lifestyle change, but it’s so worth it!

You have been so helpful... there has been some thought put in to these replies and I really appreciate it .