How much do you pay?

[Flojobunny]

How much does it really cost to keep a horse?
Would probably have to go full livery, would this be totally ridiculously expensive?

Eeek that's decided that then!

I think its very dependent on where in the country you are and what you mean by full livery ie do you want the horse ridden as well or just looked after .

Looked after.
I'm oooop north.

I pay £115 pcm per horse & think full livery (not working) works out approx £7 per day. That includes hay & straw but not feed/shoes/insurance/ vet bills random crap I'm always buying

Ps I always go on the rule of £250 per month per horse if this helps, mine are on diy so not sure about full livery... some months I spend more (vet visits) and some less. But avarages out about that.

i just got quoted again for part livery today - part is £65 here per week. a few weeks ago i was quoted £50 per week....seems to have gone up £15 a week in the last few months, but part would work out at £260 a month which i still reckon is fairly cheap - food/hay/straw included in that.

Not sure about full livery costs as I've never done that, but if you can do weekends, I've always had DIY with services, which works well. I have part during the week. The yard changes rugs, turns out with hay, brings in, mucks out and does water. I finish off groom, hay, feed in the evening. At the weekend I do everything. That costs me £25 per week for stable and paddock, £10 pw for hay. I usually end up paying approx £200 pcm for services. Less in summer. I supply all my own feed and bedding.

If you get something that can live out all year round it's a lot cheaper. Our hardy horses who are out all year cost us £18 per week each, plus shoes (mine all round, DH's fronts only), plus about £10 a month haylage in winter. The £18 covers their field and use of a stable, and the yard owners poo pick, fill water troughs and deliver haylage. They'll do more if we need it but our two are pretty low maintenance.

Little high maintenance pony who likes his luxuries, is nearer £300 a month by the time he's had all his needs met!

We do liability insurance via the BHS and vet etc insurance for mine with NFU.(have recently had a hugely expensive uninsured illness with DH's so not getting burnt like that again)

If you get a nice hardy native type then you can do it (relatively) cheaply, if you want something fine boned and fancy then they eat all your cash

It is not possible to have horses and scrimp. They need feet, teeth, tack, feed, hay, shelter, vet bills.

I charge £25 per week DIY livery . Haylage is £8 a bale, bedding £5.50.
I have five horses and I don't pay any livery fees as it's my own yard BUT it still costs hundreds a month. Shows, lessons, supplements, riding wear, equipment for mucking out etc ....

The question, " How do you make a small fortune out of horses? Start with a large one ! " is so, so true!

Go for grass livery. My grass livery is £28 a week, hay included, use of schools free. Stables available at extra cost if you need one. You might find cheaper near you (not here though, unless you want just a field with no facilities).

I've just sat down today and worked out how much it all costs. It came out at £250 a month, averaged over the year, (cheaper in the summer when they are out all the time, but more in the winter) That includes £90 a month for DIY livery, but doesn't include extra's like buying rugs, or other bits and bobs, or having lessons/going to shows. That was for a TB who eats quite a lot. It also didn't include the unexpected extra's like vets bills.

When I add up everything, I mean everything, including petrol to get to the yard, insurance, vet's bills, replacement hats, carrots it usually comes to between 350-400 a month for my grass-kept pony, depending on how many lessons we have.