The reason why horses are so expensive is that horses require daily care, which may be pricey and varies according to a variety of unpredictable circ*mstances.
The average cost of owning a horse is $3,876 per year. The majority of this cost is for feeding the horse, followed by any essential treatment. A horse requires housing and bedding as well. Other expenses that contribute to this cost include hoof care, shoeing, and grooming.
How Much Do Horses Cost?
Anyone who owns a horse will tell you that the initial expense of a typical riding horse is just the tip of the iceberg. Many people consider owning a horse to be a luxury. But how much does a ‘typical’ horse cost? What’s the difference between a free horse, a $500 horse, a $5,000 horse, and a horse that costs far over $10,000 or $20,000?
There are a lot of elements that influence horse prices, although these don’t have much of an impact on horses costing $10,000 or more. Top-tier stud farms buy and sell such horses for use in high-level competition. They are frequently imported from Europe or abroad, with exceptional genetics and ancestors who have achieved worldwide competitive success. They are unlikely to be acquired by the ordinary first-time horse owner, and their prices are not as influenced by market factors as backyard riding horse prices are.
The majority of inexperienced riders will purchase horses for less than $10,000. A variety of factors influence horse prices, and numerous elements have emerged in recent years that have reduced the initial cost of a horse while increasing the expense of sustaining a horse.
When the economy is in a downturn, fewer individuals can afford to acquire or keep horses. This means that there are more horses for sale and fewer buyers. Many individuals are compelled to throw their horses away or sell them cheaply during economic downturns because they cannot afford to care for them.
How Maintenance Costs Affect the Price?
Poor hay yields and increased feed and fuel expenses might reduce the number of horses for sale as well as their asking prices in any given year. The prohibition on slaughtering horses for meat has the unintended consequence of lowering the price of certain types of horses. This mostly affects horses that are aged, unsound, young, and/or untrained, but also has an impact on the whole horse market.
Those seeking their first horse will most likely need to invest between $1,500 and $3,000 for the purchase. You might be able to find a gem for less than this, but having that money gives you the most options.
What Does it Cost to Care For a Horse?
Horses are expensive to maintain. Your horse, pony, donkey, or mule’s initial purchase price is only a small portion of its ultimate cost, and there is no such thing as a free horse. Basic horse care may be the same whether the horse is $100 or $10,000. Your horse needs daily care, which may be pricey and fluctuate owing to a variety of unpredictable variables.
Basic Minimum Costs
The following is a summary of the basic minimal expenditures presuming you maintain your horse or pony on your own land. These expenditures do not include the property’s valuation, land taxes, insurance, or property upkeep, such as barns and fences. These prices vary based on where you live. The closer you are to a horse paradise, such as New York, Toronto, or areas like Kentucky or Florida, the more costly horse ownership may become.
You may be able to save money by looking for the cheapest good-quality hay and picking it up yourself, learning to clip your horse’s hooves yourself, and purchasing your own vaccines (not recommended).
- A half-bale of hay is $3.00 per day – this may easily be increased because hay can cost more than $10 per bale in some areas. Alternatively, your horse may require more than one-half bale.
- Mineral supplement with a six-month supply $30.00 per day, or $0.17
- $14.00 for a salt block, or $0.04 per day
- Every day, two two-cup portions of a low-cost concentrate. $1.00 Farrier every six weeks at a cost of $35 each trim, or $0.83 per day
- Every three months, a dewormer is administered. The daily rate of $0.20
- Dentistry once a year at a cost of $125 (or $0.35 per day).
- Annual rabies, tetanus, equine influenza, and other regular vaccinations are $95.00 or $0.27 each day.
The daily cost of keeping one horse is $5.01, or $1828.65 per year.
Potential Cost Increases
- Feeding higher-priced concentrates or supplements.
- You have unanticipated veterinary costs.
- Immunization against additional illnesses such as West Nile Virus and Potomac Horse Fever.
- A horse that needs the use of shoes or specific trimming
- Competing against your horse.
- An ailing or wounded horse.
- Breeding your horse in order to have a foal
- Fuel prices are rapidly rising.
- Your typically excellent pasture suffers from drought, or the price of feed rises due to bad weather or other factors.
Boarding
Boarding a horse may range from $100 per month for pasture board with no indoor stabling to more than $1000 per month in barns with stalls, individual turn-out, arenas, and other facilities near to cities.
Extras such as farrier and veterinarian treatment, special meals, and a care such as removing and putting on blankets and fly masks will also be charged. Monthly boarding is less expensive at self-care facilities, but you must supply your own feed and bedding and travel to care for your horse on a regular basis.
Vet Bills
Unexpected veterinarian costs might definitely throw a wrench in your finances. Off-hour calls may be highly expensive, and colic surgery might cost thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the techniques you choose. It’s a good idea to plan ahead of time for how you’ll handle a hefty vet cost.
How Much Does a Horse’s Medical Care Cost?
Annual veterinary costs are significant, with an average of $485 for general care. Checkups, dental, vaccines, and deworming are all part of general care.
Obviously, this expense might rise in the event of an emergency injury or sickness. Horse owners should have a financial reserve to cover additional medical expenses because horses are prone to injuries, particularly with their legs.
How Much Do Riding Lessons Cost?
Riding lessons cost between $30 and $100 each session. This price level covers courses when the rider is present, as well as one-on-one sessions for the horse and trainer. A skilled trainer can help evaluate whether or not a horse needs individual training sessions.
What to wear to riding lessons is a question of personal preference and financial constraints. If you like, you may dress up with chaps, boots, and gloves. However, special attire is not necessary; any pair of long pants would suffice. Closed-toed shoes are strongly advised.
A helmet is required for classes, and it may be given by the training facility. If not, they may be purchased online for as little as $45 and go up from there. While not ideal, if permitted by the training facility, a bicycle helmet might be used as an alternative.
What is the most Affordable Horse to Purchase?
It may come as a surprise to see Thoroughbreds mentioned as a cheap horse option, but this is due to the horse racing business breeding them so frequently that there is an excess.
Horses who do not have racing potential may end up at a Thoroughbred rescue, where you may discover low-priced horses while also giving a horse a new lease on life.
It is worth mentioning, however, that buying a cheap horse breed may increase your costs in the long term. Quarter horses, for example, are notorious for having health issues. You may save money upfront, but you will end up paying more for veterinarian care in the long term.
The age of the horse you select to buy might also affect the price. A horse that is old or extremely young would be less expensive than a horse that is in its prime. However, the disadvantage with older horses is that you may incur higher healthcare expenditures.
A young horse, on the other hand, will take more of your attention to train.
Conclusion
To summarize, horses are expensive, but there are ways to make them more inexpensive. Before acquiring a horse, like with any other animal, it’s a good idea to factor in the costs of adequate care. Creating an upfront budget based on a horse’s demands might help you evaluate if horse ownership is within your family’s financial means.
Horseback riding is a gratifying experience whether it is a dream of yours or your child’s. Riding horses provides both physical and emotional health advantages. The advantages may outweigh the costs and effort required to include horseback riding in your life.
FAQs
The lineage of a horse is one of the biggest factors that determine their price. The better the lineage, the higher the price it will fetch. If the stud is an extraordinary racehorse while the mare has produced winners as well, then you can expect the price of their foals to match that of their parents.
Why are horses so expensive right now? ›
There is a huge imbalance with supply and demand in the world right now. This has a big factor in why horse prices have went up. There is a high demand for horses, but there are only so many horses out there. People are buying horses left and right, even those who have never owned them before.
What is the most expensive part of owning a horse? ›
Horse board or housing costs are typically the biggest expense associated with horse ownership. Hay and feed bills are also among the highest costs and can fluctuate based on weather and other factors.
Why is riding horses so expensive? ›
The short answer is, horseback riding lessons are expensive because horses cost a lot to maintain and the overhead costs of running a farm are very high. The costs of keeping and caring for horses include feed, bedding, farm supplies, insurance, hoof care, veterinary care and more.
What horse cost $100 dollars? ›
However, the most affordable breed is the wild Mustang. You can typically purchase a wild Mustang for around $100-$200, depending on where you live.
Are horses a good investment? ›
Investing in and owning racehorses is an extremely risky endeavor, but one that can hold riches for the few that are successful. Major races pay out significant sums in prize money and successful horses can have breeding value long after they're done racing.
Are horses happy to be ridden? ›
Most horses seem to enjoy companionship and attention from their riders, but some may find being ridden uncomfortable and even scary. It is up to the individual horse to decide whether they like it. There are things you can do as a rider to help your horse feel more comfortable while being ridden.
Is owning a horse a luxury? ›
Compared to other pets and livestock, it is true that owning a horse is costly. Boarding fees, grain and feed prices, and routine farrier and vet visits are some of the regular expenses that come with owning a horse.
Do horses like you riding them? ›
The good news is that horses, for the most part, enjoy being ridden and take pleasure in their partnership with their rider. This enjoyment appears to be derived from a number of things including the trusted relationship built between a horse and rider to the comfort of being cared for and fed.
What's the cheapest horse ever? ›
What is this? The cheapest horse breeds tend to be Quarter Horses, Arabians, Thoroughbreds and wild Mustangs. Although you can usually find cheaper horses within each of these breeds, you will need to keep a few things in mind.
Auction in Ankum, Germany, yesterday, as the 6-year-old Casallco-daughter Chyazint went to the Auer-family for a top price of 4 million Euros. This was the highest price ever attained by a horse in P.S.I. history. "This is an unbelievable result," Paul Schockemöhle said after the new record sale.
What is the monthly cost of owning a horse? ›
How much does owning a horse cost per month? The average monthly cost of caring for a horse in the United States is $600. This amount includes the average monthly cost of boarding fees, feed costs, and farrier visits.
How many acres does a horse need? ›
In general, you need 2 to 4 acres per horse if you want them to be out all the time and not overgraze a pasture. Most farm owners don't have this much space, but with more intensive grazing management, you can maintain horses on fewer acres and still have great pastures.
How much does it cost to maintain a horse per month? ›
How Much Does a Horse Cost? Caring for a horse can cost anywhere between $200 to $325 per month – an annual average of $3,876, according to finance consulting site Money Crashers. Some of these costs include: Grain/feed.
How do ranchers make money off horses? ›
Horse breeding farms
Breeding farms make money by creating more horses and selling them. major expenses: a horse breeding business is responsible for the care and feeding of their breeding stock, as well as significant veterinary costs associated with breeding.
Is horse ownership declining? ›
Overall, of total horses in the United States, there has been a decrease of horse ownership of 21% since 2005.
Are horses a symbol of wealth? ›
Horses are considered symbols of the attainment of wealth and high rank. Historically, they've been seen as steady, trusted companions that have allowed humans to succeed in both agriculture and battle. In many ancient cultures, horses were gifted to emperors and kings because they are symbols of triumph and success.
What is the average price of a good horse? ›
Horses can cost anywhere from $500 to $3,000 depending on their pedigree, performance record, and good manners. The bigger the budget, the more options you have as a horse owner to choose from. Besides the initial purchase of the horse itself, there are costs towards hay, feed, veterinary exams, training, and grooming.
Do you have to be wealthy to own a horse? ›
Becoming a horse owner is not a step to be taken lightly. You don't have to be rich to be a good horse owner, but you'll enjoy your horse more if you know you can afford to give him the best care possible.
What to do when you can't afford your horse anymore? ›
I Can't Afford My Horse!
- Work off board. ...
- Barter. ...
- Let your horse be used in a lesson program. ...
- Half-lease out your horse. ...
- Step down in boarding options. ...
- Locate another boarding barn.
Answer (1 of 3): I wouldn't say they like hugs as we do but they will tolerate them. Horses show affection with other horses by close contact, exchanging breath, and mutual grooming. You'll often see one horse biting at the others withers or neck, sometime putting their neck on top of the other....
Is PETA against riding horses? ›
They have needs, wants, and interests that are entirely independent from what humans ask and expect from them. If we look honestly at our relationship with horses, we must acknowledge that the decision to take part in horseback riding is made solely by one individual with little benefit to and no input from the other.
Do horses like being kissed? ›
Affection in Horse Terms Kissing and hugging are human ideas of affection. Horses do "spar" (play fight) and bite at the lips, but that's even more of a reason not to kiss them there. Keep your horse's lips away from your lips. You don't want him to think you're playing and be bitten.
Is it cheaper to keep a horse or a car? ›
And lastly, on average, it will cost more than $1,800 to actually feed the horse. So on average, we're talking about more than $7,000, or thereabouts, for a car over a year. And for a horse, it'll cost more than $10,000 a year.
Do horses choose their owners? ›
Horses exhibit higher heart rates when separated from a human, but don't show any preference for their owners over complete strangers, the team discovered. Swedish researchers started their work with the theory that positive reinforcement training on a horse was more likely to lead to them forming a strong attachment.
What are the disadvantages of horse riding? ›
It can be tiring
A lot of physical and emotional strength is required to ride a horse and it will wear you out, especially if you are dedicating a lot of your time to the sport. If you lead a busy lifestyle, then you will need to take this into consideration before taking up horse riding properly.
Can horses sense fear in a rider? ›
Researchers confirmed that horses can smell specific odors in human sweat that reflect emotions like fear and happiness, which could open doors to a whole new way of understanding emotion transfer from human to horse, they say.
Can horses remember you? ›
Horses not only remember people who have treated them well, they also understand words better than expected, research shows. Human friends may come and go, but a horse could be one of your most loyal, long-term buddies if you treat it right, suggests a new study.
What do horses do when annoyed? ›
The ears laid flat against the neck, head raised and the horse may lunge at you, whites of the eyes showing, and their mouth open showing their teeth. You should avoid approaching a horse from behind. If you do, they may warn you if they're angry and want you to stay away or go away.
How long do horses live? ›
After several achievements, Fushaichi Pegasus sold for $70 million to the breeding operation Coolmore Stud. Coolmore Stud hoped that his offspring would have the same talents, winning horse races and accumulating massive amounts of prize money.
What horse was bought for $1000? ›
“I knew he wasn't going to bring much because no one was looking at him,” she said. A few minutes later, Medina Spirit would be hers, forever remembered as the GI Kentucky Derby winner who sold for $1,000 as a yearling.
What horse is worth 100k? ›
Friesian
As a rare breed, there is a high demand for this dressage-loving horse with a high-stepping gait. Their elegance and rarity mean that Friesian horses can easily go for $50,000 to $100,000.
Which horse sold for $2 million? ›
Bob Baffert sat in the press box on the phone with Saudi businessman Amr Zedan as Donato Lanni handled the bidding, ultimately securing a colt by Good Magic (hip 546) for $2 million late in Tuesday's second session of the OBS March sale.
What is the highest horse prize money? ›
Dubai World Cup
Held annually since 1996, this prestigious event draws over 60,000 spectators every year. As the world's most lucrative horse race, it offers a staggering $12 million in prize money.
What horse just sold for 9.5 million? ›
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Eclipse Award champion Monomoy Girl continued to write herself into the Thoroughbred industry's record books, selling for $9.5 million to Spendthrift Farm on Sunday night at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale.
When did horses get so expensive? ›
Overall, horses were expensive to keep in the eighteenth century, much as they always have been.
What is a fair price for a horse? ›
Horses can range from many different price points. You typically get different quality horses based on what you pay. If this is you first horse expect to pay between $2500-$5,000 for a decent low-level horse. But if you have the money to pay more you will have more options and more quality horses to choose from.
Were horses expensive back then? ›
In the west US it was possible to buy a horse for as little as $10, but a decent riding equine cost around $150, with a range of $120 (1861) to $185 (1865). A pack horse for the Oregon Trail cost $25 in the US in 1850, but a riding horse would run you $75.
How much should I spend on a horse? ›
The minimum up-front cost to purchase a horse and your tack will likely range from $4,000 to $9,000. You can then expect to pay a minimum of $6,000 to $8,000 a year, depending on where you live and if you have a barn with equipment or need to board your horse.
An older horse often has a lot to offer, despite its age. Even an 18 or 20-year-old horse can have many years of use proper care (and ponies even longer). For those just learning about keeping and riding a horse, an older horse may be the best choice.
How old is a good horse to buy? ›
Horses live to be 25 to 30 years of age, so the purchase of a 6 to 12 year old is wise for amateurs and novice. Older riders or those with more expertise and experience can buy, handle, and train yearlings or two year olds.
What is the most cheapest horse ever? ›
What is this? The cheapest horse breeds tend to be Quarter Horses, Arabians, Thoroughbreds and wild Mustangs. Although you can usually find cheaper horses within each of these breeds, you will need to keep a few things in mind.
Can you negotiate the price of a horse? ›
“A reasonable offer would be 15-20 percent below asking price. I try to meet somewhere in the middle.” “You can always make an offer. However, if the horse is reasonably priced based on the market and performed as expected, it would be unreasonable to offer significantly less than the asking price,” said Cooper.
What is the most expensive horse breed? ›
The most expensive horse in the world was the Fusaichi Pegasus – sold for a record price of 70 million dollars! Fusaichi Pegasus won the highest amount of prize money. This thoroughbred stallion won over 70 races.
How much did a horse cost in 1870? ›
Wheat per bushel $1.02 Horse, average work horse $150 Flour per barrel $3.00 Horse, good saddle horse $200 Corn per bushel 40 cents .
How much did a horse cost in the 1400s? ›
A sumpter was a pack horse and cost anywhere between 5 and 10 shillings to buy. There were 12 pennies in a shilling, so a basic pack horse would cost our labourer 15 days' wages. A top of the range one would cost 30 days.
How many hours a day should you spend with your horse? ›
The bare minimum of time you can expect to devote to a horse is about 8 to 10 hours a week. If you're doing more of the work, plan on blocking out 14 to 15 hours a week. It all depends on your level of involvement.
How much are horse vet bills a year? ›
The answer is that the cost of vet bills varies depending on your horse's age, where you live, the care your horse needs, and your health condition. In general, if your horse is healthy and needs only routine care, you can expect to spend about $1,500 per year on vet bills conservatively.
