How much does a horse cost to keep?

[LeMarron]

Hello MN gurus! (long time lurker... just registered today newbie here)

I last owned a horse 25 years ago, and have recently gotten back into things, but the riding schools around here are a little lacking and I am just aching for my own again.

I want to ride in a school for at least a year.... to get back up to speed and to see if this is just a flash in the pan wish, and then will look to buy this time next year.

I am so terribly ignorant... what kind of money should I be looking at to keep a horse? Local, standard livery around here is about 90 a month.....very standard, out during the day, in a stable at night, doing everything yourself.

I'd be looking for a nice hack, that can do a bit of everything, nothing spectacular. Perhaps clipping in winter and hunting.

I'd be so grateful for advice. I miss having horses, but am worried about costs. :)

[Merlotmonster]

Livery £485 (all in but not inc riding)
Insurance £45
Shows- around £75-£100
Diesel - £50
Shoes- £75 every 5 -6 weeks

Plus wormers, affiliation fees, lorry costs, wugs etc (mines a rug wrecker),headcollars..ditto headcollar wrecker, Basically Im broke and own about 2 pairs of shoes!!

...but wouldnt be without a horse (despite me breaking both legs in the last two years!!) must be CRAZY he he x Good luck with finding a place and getting back into horses....

[Butkin]

We'd definitely consider going to Katie if she was nearer to us. DD rode Chagford Lewis - her lovely old Pony of the year - at BSPS in the Blue Riband in August and she is so successful.

DD also rode her B against Poppy in the Tiny Tots FR at BSPS and DD has subsequently perfected her "Poppy Carter" individual show!

Out intention is to start our B at the BSPS WWinter Champs and go from there - possibly going after some local RIHS tickets in M&M FR.

Good luck with your contemplation!

[marialuisa]

Katie Carter is our nearest "name"-we're Midlands based- but have reservations (and not just based on price!). We both work f/t and DD does a major commute to school and despite having cut a lot of other activities still has significant other commitments which we'd like her to keep up so anything over 30 miles is a non-starter.

I think we're going to have to keep eyes and ears open through the summer and maybe see what the old owners recommend (although they home produced their HOYS pony). Thanks for the info, will return to contemplating things!

[Butkin]

Choosing the right producer - both in terms of price, location and suitability - is a never ending problem as you often have to move as your ponies/horses grow bigger and your aspirations change.

We live in an area where there aren't many producers of little ponies - if we were further North there would be more choice. At one stage we were taking DD two hours each way every time she wanted/needed to ride and this wasn't ideal so hence choosing somebody within 45 mins of us.

The best thing to do is to find out who does well at your type of showing in your area. Track them down and go for a site visit where you can discuss prices and check for suitability.

Whereabouts are you?

[marialuisa]

Thanks Butkin. Although I'm too big to ride DD's pony regularly (height as much as weight), yard owner's DD is small and light enough. They know lots about section Bs but don't really jump at all (and girl has admitted she's scared of jumping) which doesn't inspire confidence as pony's jump is too good to waste. Other problem is that yard owner's DD can behave in a way that borders on bullying towards DD so reluctant to get too involved with them. But really don't have the skills/showing knowledge to bring on a 5 year old completely unsupported and have a "frying pan-fire" complex about changing yards.....Sure my scruffy ponies didn't inspire this much angst!

[Butkin]

Marialuisa - I think it is probably quite reasonable. The most important thing is finding a producer who can ride your DD's pony and has a decent school to do this in. if DW could ride the pony we'd probably do it outselves but you need somebody light enough. We've also found that you need somebody who specialises in your sort of pony. Our girl only has LRs and FRs plus a few coloureds. She doesn't jump so wouldn't suit somebody wanting a WHP produced.

We sent our Connemara off to a producer who charges 100 pounds a week for full show livery but lessons are extra. She has excellent facilities including jumping and clinics and will ride at shows if necessary.

[JosieSmith1]

I pay £80 a month for DIY livery in summer, about £103 in winter (including shavings), then hay used to be £20 a big bale but it's going up to £45 now, £10 for insurance (she's a veteran), £60 every 5-6 weeks for shoes, feed costs £25+ per month, worming is about every 6 weeks at about a tenner. I also put away every month for unexpected vet fees! Also budget for one off expenses such as new rugs, cleaning rugs, saddle checks, teeth checks, injections etc. There seems to be a lot but I have a very small budget and I manage.

Best of luck if you do go for it

[marialuisa]

Thanks Butkin, compared to our costs at the moment that sounds like excellent value for money. Do you know if your producer is particularly "good value" or if that is near the "market rate"? Sorry-new to the showing thing, having grown up with "Heinz 57" horses and ponies!

[Butkin]

Allgone - well it works out at 283 pounds a month for stables/paddocks for the 4 horses. We did squeeze a 5th pony out at grass over the summer, until we sold him, as well. To be honest i've not totted up all the other costs - really depends on what bedding you are on, how much you pay for your hay/haylage, vets, farriers (probably about 180 pounds every 6 weeks for the 4) etc. We also pay a farmer top our fields although fertilising them once a year comes within our rental agreement. Feed is entirely dependent on what sort of horses you have and how much work they do so hard for me to give you a guide.

Marialuisa - I meant to say it is DD's Section B that goes to show livery (not her sec A). Their usual charge is 80 pounds a week which includes stabling, bedding, feed, riding daily, lessons for DD (about once or twice a week) turnout etc. However we pay 90 pounds a week which includes all the above plus show production. This is because for showing he has to be bathed regularly, extra "products" applied, riding him in at shows etc. Of course we also pay towards the fuel when he goes to shows and we handle most of the entries although our producer books block stabling etc.

[marialuisa]

Butkin-do you mind me asking what amount of schooling and lessons are included in your show livery? We accidentally bought DD a rather lovely Section B which deserves to be shown (he was successful with previous owners) but as he's only little we need some help bringing him on. The owners of the yard we keep him at do a lot of showing but not WHP and I also suspect that despite the teenage daughter's ambitions to be a producer their charges are not particularly good value!

[allgonebellyup]

Butkin - so how much does that work out at per month???

[Butkin]

For our horses we do things slightly differently as we rent a stable yard (4 stables, tack room and storage) and 7 1/2 acres of paddocks. They all cost us 850 pounds a quarter.

We then pay everything else ourselves other than water/electricity. Therefore feed, hay, vets, insurance (including compulsory liability for the yard), shavings, farrier every 6 weeks (2 shod, 2 trimmed)etc.

DD's Section A is, like Mummydoc, on show livery and we pay 90 pounds a week which includes everything (riding, lessons etc) - just show expenses on top.

[LovePinkBitsOfMyHorse]

This is the most expensive time of year isn't it? I'm thinking of putting money away during spring and summer, the money that is going on all these enormous feeds and that was going on their insurance and creating an emergency fund for vet fees. Need to renew bhs membership and just have public liability I think.

Don't know where and how I went wrong with my calculations but diy is, as it should be, less than half what they were costing before. (Not including extra schooling for pony but this is worthwhile investment.)

[allgonebellyup]

Yes, when i got my mare last April (and another mare at the same time- but she had to go back), i spent £800 on cost of horse, £200 livery up front (DIY), £250 on tack (saddle and bit) £100 on wheelbarrow/fork/poopscoop, £100 on vaccinations, £50 on 2 wormers....£220 on emergency vets fees when my horse got kicked........!!!

then autumn came so quickly and i had to fork out on £300 for hay for winter and £150 for straw..and now £10 a fortnight for feed...plus all the extra petrol....
shit, thats a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!

[redredruby]

I just bought my first horse about four months ago and thought I had really done my homework - I spoke to the livery yard where I would keep him (and where I bought him from), spoke to horsey friends and did my own research, created some lovely spreadsheets and went ahead and bought him.....

Well - four months in and my spreadsheet has had a meltdown and I have had to drastically alter my spending habits. The costs break down to this:

£400 a month livery (which includes hay, straw and 2 days a week full livery plus use of all facilities)
£90 lessons (45 per lesson - necessary for me, but obviously depends upon your experience).
£40 farrier (a full set £60 every 6 weeks)
£20 back and saddle check (to budget for twice yearly back and saddle checks)
£15 vet (to budget for vaccines and teeth rasping)
£60 insurance
£50 supplies (rugs, halters, saddle soap, supplements etc)

Don't forget to factor in petrol increase for travelling to and from the yard as well.

So yes, quite a lot, but I know it can be done for a lot cheaper but I would recommend working out your budget and then adding a 25% contingency.....and only then can you afford it!

Hope this helps and good luck!

(By the way, I don't regret it!)

[RectalNourishment]

I have the incredible ability of turning it into a full time job, without any mucking out! But it sort of thawed a bit today so HAD to hack while I could? Actually taking five rugs off and putting back on again takes forever, and I nearly added a sixth but it is definitely warmer tonight.

Feeds look more like between £8 and £10 each per week, I suppose I won't know for sure until we've done a month or two. Am thrilled with the unlimited hay though, we are certainly getting our money's worth and it does make up for the other slightly expensive things.

[flowerpotwoman]

RectalNourishment, I'm guessing about the hard feed: we use hardly any in summer (good doer Connemara).

Hay is pricey though, plus I (also) forgot to mention annual jabs (£80) and insurance (£300 approx).

Plus, Mummydoc, you're right about the costs involved in DIY livery, not to mention time: at the moment, unless my DD can get a lift with a friend with a 4x4, she has to walk to the yard and back twice a day. Good thing it's the holidays: it takes at least two hours round trip (with mucking out, changing rugs, feeding etc).

Good thing she loves it

[Loshad]

horse at home - own stable and field - TB always skinny and needs lots of grub
£20/week hay
£5/week chopped straw bedding - much reduced as invested in rubber mats off ebay about 3 years ago- fab
hard feed - £30/month
insurance £35/month
jabs annually approx £70
wormers approx £60 annually - hypervet online are really cheap
rug washing annually £45
foot trimming - £15 every 8 weeks - i run the rasp round myself inbetween times
I spend very little/virtually nothing on new stuff, though i have plenty of equipment gathered over the years, reduce hard feed costs by feeding alfalfa which is high protein, adding supermarket veg oil, mixing my own grass nuts/sugar beet and really cutting down on the supplements - i use feedmarks general one which in terms of the content is very good and price wise pretty cheap.
We do some competing - SJ and eventing - I no longer join BE but do 4 events a year (or less) on day ticket but still stratospherically expensive, and a couple of unaffiliated events. SJ we tend to go about once a month, but often she will win enough to cover the entry fees, if not the diesel to get there. I economise by not having a trainer atm - which i really miss but it's a big saving.
tow a single ifor williams (own it so no add on costs) with my diesel 7 seater mpv (which i need anyway for my 4 boys)

[mummydoc]

fell better . just thought people were thinking we were terrily precious about pony and just didn't want to look after him ourselfs. infact i make dd help me with muck out etc whenever we are there even though we do not have too do it. do not want her to grow up thinking you just turn up ride and then hand pony back to staff !!!
i also think people do not always think of all the costs involved with diy livery that we get included in full livery.

[RectalNourishment]

Don't feel bad mummydoc! Your livery would be £380 a month before exercise at our yard, plus £extra for someone to hold for vet or clip or whatever.

I am open mouthed in envy at £5 per month hard feed, spent over £50 this week and think it will last about a week and a half but this is without my beloved blue chip. What am I doing wrong?

[flowerpotwoman]

Whoops, plus there are obviously extras such as rugs, bits of tack that break, DD's ever-growing legs needing new jodhs etc, but we get lots of these second-hand so not too pricey.

[flowerpotwoman]

Forgot to say, that's DIY livery (eg, we turn out every morning, muck out daily and bring in at night).

[flowerpotwoman]

This is (roughly) what my DD's Connemara costs:

Grazing and stable £130 a month (in or out as we wish; currently out during the day and in at night)
Hay ££ at the moment because of snowy fields, but normally about £1/day during the winter and almost nothing in the summer
Straw £6 approx per week
Shoeing £65 every eight weeks
Worming £18 every six months
Hard feed not sure; probably averages at £5 a month over the year (or less)
Travel to shows £10 each time towards friend's box (perhaps x 10 a year)

Seems £££ in the winter but not too bad in summer. Lovely small yard, friendly people, DD happy

[mummydoc]

not a shetland - a welsh sec A . I know it is lot but it is the trailer cost that bumps it up, once finished paying for that wont be quite so bad. I work fulltime so really do not want to be getting up to muck out and dd too little to do on own.
and full livery covers all feed, hay, shavings, etc, and though it is pricey pony and yard are looked after beautifully, i never have to sort out farrier or vet or worming - it all gets done . a bit like having a child at boarding school ( actually i have one of them and the pony is infinitely easier). I guess if people added up all the extras particularly with children , who seem to grow out of hats and boots rapidly ,and put a value on time spent being there for farrier etc then it might not look so bad. please do not think badly of us - we love the pony to bits but i need/love having a fulltime job and cannot do it all.

[allgonebellyup]

My horse does no travelling whatsoever, i do no shows etc, just a happy hacker! We dont even have a school !

Thats how we manage to afford a horse! i wouldnt even know how to use a trailer!