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. :)

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 - 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.

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!

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?

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!

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!

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....