Expenses of horse ownership

 

When first making the decision to own a horse or ride a horse, you need to understand the work, effort, and expenses that result from working with horses.  For some, the cost of the horse purchase may be something easy to handle, but all the other expenses that come from horse ownership can be overwhelming.  Owning a horse is not a decision to be made lightly.  You must understand that horses are much like people with all of the required care that goes into horse ownership.  First there needs to be adequate pasture and shelter for the horse.  The next monthly expense is feed.  Depending on the pasture and growth of the grass, it may be necessary to supplement hay all year round to allow the horse adequate roughage.  Horses are grazing animals, so they eat grass and/or hay all day long.  This can get expensive if there is not enough grass to support the horse. Supplements may be necessary for your horse as well.  Just as we take vitamins and minerals, horses may need supplements to provide additional nourishment. In addition to the feed expense, there is a farrier expense.  Horse’s hoofs grow like our fingernails and it is necessary to keep them trimmed so that they are able to walk without pain.  While horses can learn to walk with long hooves. It is not good for their feet and legs because they adjust the way they walk to reduce the pain they are experiencing.  Another thing that is necessary is establishing a relationship with a vet so that the horse can be vaccinated and can have a doctor in the event something happens.  Vets make farm calls for an additional expense, but you can haul your horse to the vet if possible, to save on some of the expense.  Horses need to have their teeth floated periodically.  When their teeth grow, they can get hooks on them and this causes them pain when eat.  If you notice your horse dropping feed, holding their head differently when eating, or not eating, it may be a problem with their teeth.  While not a necessity, some horse owners have a chiropractor come and adjust their horses.  This helps them to stay aligned, reduces pain, and reduces joint issues.  Maintaining a healthy horse can be expensive but the rewards can outweigh the expense.  Spending time with my horse is the best part of every day!