Finger in the air- livery costs + extras

[ThisIsMyTast]

I know this is very much a piece of string question but can anyone give me an idea of the full cost of keeping a Dales or Highland pony at part livery, rural location in East Anglia?

I have a long term dream of returning to riding (had my own horse as a teen) and I've recently started lessons again. I'd love to have my own pony but have absolutely no idea what things cost these days (the cost of ponies seems to have gone through the roof from what I can tell). Even the vaguest idea would be really helpful, thank you!

500/month with hay and bedding

I’d ring round local livery yards and ask them, then you’ll get accurate costs

Costs have gone up so much, hay in particular has been insane recently. I currently pay £750 a month for 5 day livery (do him myself weekends), that includes all food, hay and bedding in a medium sized yard, not fancy but with good facilities and turnout in Home Counties. On top I probably end up paying the yard £50-100 a month for various extras, holiday cover, worming, clipping etc, his shoes are £150 every 6 weeks (but he has remedial shoes now, used to be cheaper, had him only shod in front and trimmed behind for a while which saves a bit). Insurance £50 a month.

I don't really do competing anymore but pay probably £100 a month average to do something extra with him a few times a month, either a lesson with the on-site instructor or a clinic, or share a box to go to off site hacking or a fun ride (this was much more when I was more competitive). I spend way more than I'd like to think about on kit, mainly either washing and repairing his rugs as he trashes them or replacing them but also on bits and pieces of extras, fly spray, supplements, clothes etc - call that another £100 average.

So what does that all add up to, must be more than £1000 pcm 😲

Around £500-600 pcm for livery
with shoes, saving for the vet, tack, replacing things etc at least £250-300

This is all really helpful, thanks so much everyone.

I pay £160 for grass livery. I think my yard charges about £250 for diy with a stable (they’ll turn out and bring in if you need) around £350 for part and £480 for full. It includes hay and straw, this seems to be on the cheaper side. The pony you describe may not need shoes so maybe around £50 for a trim every 6 weeks if that’s the case. I pay a monthly fee at vets - around £13 that covers vax, teeth and worm counts including wormer and annual health check. Feed and supplements maybe 200 is every 6 weeks although pony is in a high work load not a happy hacker. Insurance is about £80 and I’ve never claimed. I won’t even start with transport and entry fees for 2 dc 😭

It varies month to month but I usually pay up to about £500 per month for stable, grazing, haylage, shavings and some livery support, which is usually 1-2 full days a week, and mornings on the other days (feed in, rug change, turn out and bring in). It has only been more than £500 when e.g. like now we're on box rest and we are getting through a LOT of shavings!

I pay separately if I need schooling/exercise etc. or holding for farrier, dentist etc. but usually I try to get those myself.

600 for full livery but it’s a lovely scruffy little yard with no indoor school.