Owning a horse

53 replies

chanel925 · 07/06/2026 19:35

asking on behalf of a friend

Please tell me what horse ownership involves with rough costs. Thank you

OP posts:

Portmore · 04/07/2026 19:34

Balloonhearts · 04/07/2026 09:57

He's wastes some. Not loads. Most of it is eaten. There's usually about a flakes worth left when we refill it. Weighs about 1600lbs and is healthy. Not overweight but he's in quite heavy work. He is prone to ulcers so we never let him run out.

Edited

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That's still over 10% of his body weight per day! That's nearly 10 times what a normal horse eats.

Are we talking about standard square bales with 2 strings (appx £7 a bale depending on area) which weigh about 25kg each? Or are you getting some sort of mini bale or wrapped hay.

ProfessionalPirate · 12/07/2026 21:44

renovationqueen · 16/06/2026 08:07

I keep my horse as econimically as possible but I am experienced, having been a head girl on a 5* event yard for 7 years before changing careers. I think what you need to pay depends on your experience. For example if you need extra help to manage your horse, pay for clipping, lessons etc this will all cost. If you're not confident to diagnose and treat minor injuries you will spend more on the vet etc.
Also very much depends on the kind of horse you have - I know my horse is a low maintenance girl that doesn't need shoes or lots of hard feed but if you buy an ex racer you're looking at potentially remedial shoes every 5 weeks which will cost an awful lot!

Monthly costs of what my horse cost me last year in the South West:
£195 a month for DIY inc. hay and straw
£15 a month for barefoot trim (every 8 weeks)
£14 a month for Harry Hill PL insurance and external injury cover
£20 a month on pony nuts and a balancer
£50 on extras (hoof balm, fly spray, treats, rugs, boots etc etc)
£10 a month Dentist (done annually)
£10 a month vet care (vaccinations, worm counts etc)

Total £314 a month
I also had a £220 vet bill for a nasty scrape.

I think it’s far more to do with how much time you have, type of horse, and whether you have your own land. I’m an equine vet so I don’t spend much on health care but I don’t have time in the winter so they go on full livery which costs a fortune. They live out at mine during the summer months which is cheap, but I still have to pay for holiday cover and someone to come and poo pick for me. The TB costs a lot in additional feed and shoes, but my kids’ native pony costs next to nothing. I find all the little extras really add up - bits of tack and other kit, competition fees, lessons, PC membership etc etc Plus running the horsebox. For some people these things are very optional but personally I wouldn’t consider horse ownership without them - for children particularly it can be a rather lonely and meandering hobby if you don’t get out and about regularly I think.

MyHorseAndMe · 12/07/2026 23:08

DIY livery £220 a month (includes hay)
Bedding £40 a month from Oct to April
Food £50 a month
Supplements £40 a month
Shoes £100 every 7 weeks
Physio £50 every 3 months
Dentist £50 a year
Insurance £120 a month
Lessons £155 a month

then you’ve got

tack
rugs
fly rugs
buckets
shampoo
hoof oil
fly mask
Riding gear, helmets, body protectors, boots, gloves , high vis stuff
brushes
head collars
lunge lines
whips
saddle pads
will to live

God know wonder I’m skint!

Tbh make a spreadsheet then times everything by 2 and you’ll be about right.

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