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What are the costs?

3K views 16 replies 13 participants last post by  MyBoyPuck 
#1 ·
Hi i am thinking about buying my first horse and i have a few questions about costs....

1-pretending that the horse will have no medical issues (i know they probs will but i just want an estimate) how much would a horse that has has all vaccines cost a year for the vet?
2- about how much is hoof maitenence for an unshod jumper a year?(again just looking for an estimate)


thank you so much please answer
:)
 
#2 ·
Unfortunately, the costs can vary widely from one area to the next and also from one practitioner to the next. The best way to get solid information on what things will cost for you would be to contact local practitioners and inquire as to their rates.
Do you have transportation available for your horse or will you have to have the vet make farm calls? Are you comfortable with the idea of self-vaccination?
Would you be boarding at a facility or keeping your horse at home? I ask because many times you can get a better rate on things when you combine visits with others -- in many boarding barns you will have days when the farrier is out to do mass trims/shoes, the vet can be scheduled to be out for multiple routine appointments on the same day, etc.
 
#3 ·
So I'm gonna go ahead and burst your bubble. You're probably not going to find an unshod jumper. Shoes help disperse the impact and help support the horse when jumping. So your horse will probably at least have front shoes. Now I didn't initially have back shoes on my horse but she wore her hooves down so much that I had to put them on, which might not be the case for you if your lucky but over 3' or if your eventing hind shoes are necessary.

Now here's a little run down of what I spend:
Board: $250 x 12 = $3000
Farrier: $120 x 10 = $1200
Shots/Coggins: $234
Dentistry: $180 aprox.
Wormer: $60
Supplements: $500
Coat, Mane, & Tail Care: $350
Misc. Medical: $150
Total: $5674 per year

Now my board is considerably cheap for my area, and I do spend a lot on supplements, and coat care for my pony. For my farrier, if your horse has no shoes it's a $50 shoeing and for front shoes it's a $75 shoeing and for all for plain shoes it's $100 and I do 10 time because my pony gets shoes every 5 weeks, although most horses get them every 6 weeks. This does not include any lessons or training which I would seriously advise as this will be your first horse and you will need some guidance in purchasing and learning how to ride your horse, so I'd add in at least 1 lesson a week to that current total with wherever you are riding now or looking to board.

I would not suggest buying your first horse without an experienced trainer or friend who knows what their doing to guide you throu the experience and to keep you from getting screwed or from buying a horse that is too much for you. (or to keep you from buying the first horse you see lol)
 
#14 ·
So I'm gonna go ahead and burst your bubble. You're probably not going to find an unshod jumper. Shoes help disperse the impact and help support the horse when jumping. So your horse will probably at least have front shoes. Now I didn't initially have back shoes on my horse but she wore her hooves down so much that I had to put them on, which might not be the case for you if your lucky but over 3' or if your eventing hind shoes are necessary.

Now here's a little run down of what I spend:
Board: $250 x 12 = $3000
Farrier: $120 x 10 = $1200
Shots/Coggins: $234
Dentistry: $180 aprox.
Wormer: $60
Supplements: $500
Coat, Mane, & Tail Care: $350
Misc. Medical: $150
Total: $5674 per year

lol)
Wow. It is expensive in your region.

I was $35 for floating. $30 coggins. Farrier is $55 ( all 4 hooves) per visit. my board is pasture at $80 / month with hay.

OP. you can see, the price Varies. Visit barns and call vets and farriers to get an accurate guesstimate.
 
#4 ·
Well since you are in Minnesota I will help a little on this one. I am in the far east metro and for a barefoot trim it costs me $40. Right now my horse needs her feet done about every 3 months. I have only had my first horse for about 2 months so I haven't added up costs yet. As far as vaccines, my barn does the 7-way($30) themselves and the vet comes out for any additional shots like rabies($18) in the spring, and also the coggins ($28). Don't forget about teeth. I do not know what that costs yet as my horse just had hers done in fall so later this year I will find out. Also if your horse will need extra feed in winter and any supplements don't forget those. I have spent several hundred dollars already on extra feed and blankets for her in 2 months (she's a rescue that still needs a little weight so blankets were necessary). Wormer is cheap even at every two months so I don't even figure that cost in as it's pennies compared to everything else. And board for me is only $175 a month for pasture. Not sure where you plan on being but around the metro here it can get downright ridiculous and some people will actually pay more for board than I pay for my apartment.
 
#5 ·
Depending on where you live and where you board, the costs will vary. There are several local stables near my house and the board differs from one to the next. My board is very reasonable at $250/mo. Spring shots run about $100-$140, fall shots are about $60, teeth floating is about $40-$50, farrier is $25 every six weeks no shoes, worming is $10 each time, plus anything additional, any extra special care, and tack, grooming, cleaning, supplements, etc...
 
#6 ·
I'm in Texas, but just to give you more information:

I keep my horses at home. Per horse this is the expense:

Monthly feed & hay cost: $100
6 week Farrier visit: $35 (no shoes, shoes are $65 and up)
Wormer: $45
Annual Vet Cost: $150 (split farm call)
Equine Denistry: $100 and up as needed if done by a specialist; by the vet it's cheaper
Equine Chiropractic: $100 and up as needed

Supplements vary per horse. Some don't get any. The initial cost of just brushes, shampoo, halters, and tack will add up fast.

We also provide boarding services for others at $350 a month which includes the feed, hay and wormer. Everything else the boarders pay out of pocket. Ours is all inclusive so we'll meet with the vet and farrier, and we blanket and unblanket horses, feed supplements, etc. Some facilities around us charge additional fees for these services, so if you're boarding, the extra fees are something that should be looked at closely as they can blow your budget.

You really need to think about what it will cost for vet services in an emergency. I lost my mare a few months ago due to Torsion Colic. The vet couldn't treat her at our place so I had to bring her in (meaning you need fast access to truck and trailer sometimes), and later had to transport her to an equine surgical facility (at 1am so again, you need access to truck and trailer). We didn't opt for the surgery at the end (min cost was $6,000 max cost was $14,000 with a very poor prognosis) but the cost for the two veterinarian services was over $1200 just for the pain meds, blood work, ultrasound, etc. Sometimes a colic episode can be as little as administering some Banamine, and sometimes it can be as severe as what my mare went through.

Something you can do though, if your horse qualifies, is buy horse insurance. It helps defray the cost for colic surgery and major illnesses and injuries.
 
#7 ·
There are so many variables that make this an almost impossible question to answer. Board vs at home, health issues, level of maintenance (supplements, injections, etc) feed costs will vary (good or bad hay year, etc), vet bills, on and on.

I try not to look at costs but having just done the farm taxes, I will say that with my own place and 11 horses it's always a bit unpleasant seeing it on paper. :shock: I could have bought a new car outright with what I spend a year on horses. Darn things :wink:
 
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#8 ·
Please please please keep thinking. I know you are hurting from your other horse but please don't rush your self. I'm not trying to kill your mojo or excitement. But I had to move away from my Kelo for two months and I must have almost bought 6 different horses. Thank goodness I didn't because I missed my horse so bad I though I should just hurry up and get another horse and that would replace my feelings for him.

I whole heartedly want you to find another horse and for you to be happy. But please take your time in finding your next one.
 
#9 ·
Thanks for the help so far everyone. some more details: i do not plan to buy the first horse i meet and i am getting reccomendations for horses through my trainer. i will take 1 lesson a month and the horses i am looking at have had their shots (wormer, coggins etc.) i live in minnesota and am boarding my horse at a stable down the road. I already have my own saddle, pads, blankets, brushes, bug reppelent, shipping boots, hoof pick, halter, bridle. the cost to board is 200/month (includes feed). I know what his teeth will cost. Thanks for the help, keep commenting!
 
#10 ·
Horses get spring and fall shots every year, and need a new coggins every year so these are things you are going to have to factor in, and they do not come cheap and it doesn't sound like you're experienced enough to be able to give them yourself, so it is going to be a vet bill. Also, a horse should be wormed every 2 months on a rotating schedule (I rotate between strongid and ivermectin) or they can develop worms or other internal parasites. Horses are expensive, and the vet bills really rack up, tomorrow my pony is going to be getting her shots, coggins, and her teeth checked (and possibly done). And she is going to need her shots again in the fall. And then next year, she's going to need them all again. The bills will pile up too, my pony gets her shoes at the beginning of next week. So you really need to be prepared to handle these sorts of situations (and bill pile ups).

When getting a new horse you will need more than one lesson a month to start out. I'd suggest for at least the first month or two getting 1-2 lessons a WEEK until you learn how to ride your horse (as each horse needs to be ridden a little differently and like/dislike certain things). You first horse is an experience you should go through with your trainer and work with closely with your trainer. It's best if you get help from your trainer on a weekly basis incase your new horse does something you don't know how to handled you'll be able to work through it and keep working on it weekly.

Also, just because you have your own saddle and bridle, doesn't mean they will necessarily fit your horse. Saddles are definitely difficult. I had to sell my saddle and I tried probably 20 saddles before we found ones that worked for her. I've also had to buy 2 new bridles for my pony (on top of the 3 I already owned) because her head doesn't fit every one correctly. Sometimes she's a cob and sometimes she's a horse (head wise).

That's also the same thing with the blankets. Just because you have a horse blanket, doesn't mean it's going to fit the horse that you're going to buy. What happens if you get a horse that wears an 80"-81" blanket and you have a bunch of 75"-76" blankets?

Please don't think that the horse that you're going to buy is just going to fit into the "mold" that you already have (blankets, saddle, bridle, etc). You could buy a horse and have to buy new EVERYTHING.

And as I said before, I highly doubt that you'll ever find a barefoot jumper (or at least one that will pass a vet check).
 
#16 ·
ALWAYS assume that your horse will have an accident and will need emergency vet care. Because, odds are, the horse will. That's how they roll. If they can get hurt, they will. It stinks, but it's a fact of life. :/
 
#17 ·
I'm in a pricey area. Besides board, I spend:

$150 every six weeks for shoes or $40 every month for barefoot trim

$200 Spring shots
$150 Fall booster shots

$50/month supplements for weight gain, hoof health and vitamins

I pay an additional $500/year for horse insurance just in case he ever needs major surgery. I'd rather pay $500 than $15,000.

We show a little and do some hunter paces, so there's another $500 or so gone before trailering expenses.

I can't afford lessons, or else I'd be talking about another $120 a month.

A few points of interest:
1. Any time the vet comes out, expect to write a check for roughly $200.
2. You will always need a new blanket, so there's another $150 you should probably save up over the course of the summer.
3. Somebody at your barn will always show up with something cool that you will also want, so either get rich quick or learn to go without stuff.

Basically if you have a horse who doesn't get sick or get into trouble, and only ride on site and never go anywhere, you can get along fairly cheap. As soon as you want to expand your horizons, money will fly out of your pocket!
 
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