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What Did You Spend On Your 1st Horse?

3K views 19 replies 18 participants last post by  IslandWave 
#1 ·
I'm a first time horse buyer I know what i'm aiming for and what i'm in for but i want to know what other people spent on their first horse! So if you could help me that would be great please state what province or state you spent the money in!

How much did you spend on:

-Mini Vet kit
-the actual horse
-tack
-shoeing
-hoof trimming
-worming
-pre- vet check
-tack box
-grooming supplies
-trianing equiptment
-feed (including a bucket)
-board fee

If i missed any main expences please share them and if you don't know exactly what you spent a epproximate amount would be apprciated!

Thank You :D
 
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#2 ·
I am in Florida and have a horse on trial-here is what it has looked like so far:

-Mini Vet kit
-the actual horse-have not purchased yet-but $1500-$3000
-tack-so far only a dressage bridle at $40-which actually turned out to be a nice bridle! Looking to spend $700-$900 on a used Dressage saddle.
-shoeing
-hoof trimming
-worming
-pre- vet check-$235
-tack box
-grooming supplies
-trianing equiptment
-feed (including a bucket)
-board fee-$650 a month at a very upscale barn

I will keep you updated as I spend more money!
 
#4 ·
I'm a first time horse buyer I know what i'm aiming for and what i'm in for but i want to know what other people spent on their first horse! So if you could help me that would be great please state what province or state you spent the money in!

How much did you spend on:

-Mini Vet kit - free from my husband's work
-the actual horse - $800
-tack - Bridle cost $200, new Wintec AP was $500, access for saddle (stirrup leathers, irons, girth etc..) $100, halter $20
-shoeing - we are barefoot
-hoof trimming -$35
-worming - free from my husband's work
-pre- vet check - didn't get one
-tack box - probably around $60 with the actual bag and all the brushes etc.
-grooming supplies - see above
-trianing equiptment - I took my mare to a professional trainer's barn for 3 months when I got her. It was $650/month for training and board which included all equipment and she was worked with 5 days a week with some days a lesson for me.
-feed (including a bucket) - we buy Purina Startegy. I think we spend roughly $120 for 8 bags which lasts 2 horses 2 months. So thats $30 a horse a month.
-board fee - now we pay $300 a month for full care stall board with an indoor arena, an outdoor hunter ring, an outdoor dressage arena, trail access from the farm, an 11 jump xcountry course.

We are in Wisconsin, USA.

Hope that helps!

If i missed any main expences please share them and if you don't know exactly what you spent a epproximate amount would be apprciated!

Thank You :D
See my notes above!
 
#5 ·
Oops went back to edit and it was too late. Apparently I'm tired.


-Mini Vet kit--didn't have one
-the actual horse---$600
-tack
-shoeing---didn't have any
-hoof trimming----$20
-worming-----$3 a tube
-pre- vet check---didn't get one
-tack box----gifted to me
-grooming supplies---gifted to me
-trianing equiptment-----most stuff was gifted to me. I didn't have a saddle for months though. Traded leading horses around for a kid saddle.
-feed (including a bucket)---Pasture bought treats it was a long time ago
-board fee----$80 monthly


 
#6 ·
LOL, I may not be the best person to answer this question. My first horse was free. He had been labeled an "outlaw" and "killer" and my Dad picked him off the killer truck. But, several years later, Dad turned down an offer for $10,000 for him (but along with being completely beginner safe, he was also a champion show horse). Most of the horses I grew up on were either very cheap or free because the had some issue or another. My 2nd was given to us because he was completely lame from Navicular, the next one was $800 because she would crow hop and her owner was afraid of her.

All that aside, if I was looking for a beginner safe horse at this point in the market in my area (Texas panhandle), I think I would likely be willing to go up to $5000 or $6000 tops, depending on what my goals were and what the horse was like. If I wanted a horse to go plod around trails on, then I would say no more than $2000 but if I wanted a horse that I could take to some lower level shows/rodeos and be somewhat competitive, then more towards my top price. Maybe even more if the horse was absolutely perfect in every way.

As for the rest of it, those things can vary greatly by area, all I can suggest is get everything from the internet that you can. You'll get better deals there than you will at some tack stores. www.valleyvet.com is one that I trust completely and I get a lot of my stuff from there.
 
#7 ·
-Mini Vet kit - Don't have one, the barn does.
-the actual horse-Can't remember...Over 5,000
-tack- 2,000 on Dressage Saddle, and 100 on my bridle including the pretty browband.
-shoeing He doesn't need shoes! :D
-hoof trimming 40
-wormin
-pre- vet check- Didn't get one
-tack box $10
-grooming supplies In all probley around 50 not including Cowboy magic,Showsheen, Shampoo ect.
-trianing equiptment- Barn provides it!
-feed (including a bucket)- Barn provides.
-board fee-$350
 
#8 ·
Oh, I guess I should at least make an attempt to list some prices, huh? LOL.

This is a pretty reasonable price range for those other expenses though


-Mini Vet kit--Wal-mart. You can likely get the things separately and it would be cheaper than to buy an already made kit.
-the actual horse-Varies greatly as stated above.
-tack--Again, varies greatly. Good saddles can run from $300-$400 for a decent used one to upwards of $3000 for a nice custom one.
-shoeing--Can vary from $50 to $250, depending on the area and the individual farrier.
-hoof trimming--Can vary from $20 to $75, depending on the area and the farrier.
-worming--$5 to $35+ depending on the type of wormer and where you buy it.
-pre- vet check--$150+ I don't know what everyone else pays but a thorough vet check (not counting x-rays) here runs around that much.
-tack box--No idea
-grooming supplies--under $10 to over $100 depending on brand and quality
-training equipment--Depends on which equipment you are talking about, maybe just a few dollars, maybe a couple hundred
-feed (including a bucket)--Check with your local feed store because it will depend on which brand you get and how much you have to feed per month.
-board fee--Varies greatly by area and I don't know how much it runs around here because I don't board.

It's also a good idea to keep a couple thousand (more if you can manage it) socked away in an emergency account for emergency vet visits and such. Caring for a severe injury or a bout of colic can get expensive quickly.

Another thing that I greatly suggest is learning how to give your own vaccinations and treatments for minor medical issues. That can save you a great deal of money on vet bills. Learn how to give intra-muscular and sub-cutaneous shots at least. I always keep a bottle of penicillin and banamine in the fridge in the house with clean needles and syringes just in case I need it. Bute is also a good thing to keep on hand. Until you are confident in your knowledge of how to administer those drugs though, I would always consult a vet before medicating.
 
#9 ·
-Horse: She was $2,000. I got her for a bargin due to her owner being more concerned she went to the right person than getting a high price. She was bought as a weanling for significantly more and was her owner's re-sell project and possible broodmare prospect. She had basic training: two gaits and required ground skills.

-Tack: My saddle, a used Wintec AP, was $300. With girths and pads, I spend about $450. My horse came with a bridle (a nice trail bridle/halter combo) that was worth about $50-70. All my bells and whistles are as listed: Two extra pads at $120 for both, spare bridle for $30, cantle bag for $70, breast collar for $70.

-Shoeing: I have her shod all around for eight months out of the year. She is on a six week schedule and shoes at $120. For the other four months she is shod in the front only, which is $75.I don't feel like doing the math. :wink:

- Hoof trimming: She was barefoot for the first four months. Trims were $35.

-Worming: Included in board.

-Pre-vet check: I'm a horrible person and didn't get one done. Do as I say, not as I do, and get one.

-Tack box: I have a brush holder thing I got for $15 and a $25 dollar plastic bucket for lunge lines, boots, ect.

-Grooming supplies: That's hard to pin down. I got all my brushes for probably a combined $50. I've spend who knows how much on shampoo, conditioner, hoof polish, and that kind of mess.

-Training: My equipment was all borrowed or given to me. My instructor was where the money was at. Lessons every two weeks at $35 a lesson. No bad.

-Feed: Delightfully included in the board.

-Board fee: $250 a month.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Horse-$2000, 2 blankets were included with him
Tack-$250 for western saddle, bridle, bit, saddlepad. $350 for wintec 500 ap, english bridle, bit, saddlepad, leathers and irons. Strange bitless apparatus was free with the horse.
Prepurchase vet exam+teeth floating+sheath cleaning- $237
Hooves-done the day before I bought him. Should run $50 for me for front shoes and trims.
Tack box if you can call it that-plastic tub from walmart for about $5.
Grooming supplies-combined probably about $50-$100 for everything I got.
Worming-he'd had it done recently but I pay about $5 a tube
Training- he didn't need it, I've taken lessons for awhile before I got him but currently haven't found an instructor I like so zero so far.
Feed-included in board
Board-$175/month

I just got Lucky about 3 weeks ago. He's unregistered(although he is eligible, the fees are prohibitive since he hasn't been and is coming 11). But he is very well broke, does english and western, and will try anything I ask him to. He's really a wonderful beginner horse. He does fine at low level local shows although I don't think he could be competitive at higher levels.

Oh I'm not counting my technical first or second horses. One I had as a kid and daddy took care of the expenses so I have not a clue. The second was free and waaaaaay too much horse for me. We just gave him away. I spent a ton on that free horse including hospital bills when I ended up with a concussion :)
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#11 ·
-Mini Vet kit $0
-the actual horse $50
-tack: Around $1000
-shoeing: $0( I don't shoe)
-hoof trimming $30
-worming $30
-pre- vet check: Didn't get one.
-tack box- I have a tack room ;)
-grooming supplies $40-$50
-training equipment $60
-feed (including a bucket)- $100-$250
-board fee- Free ;)
 
#12 ·
Let's see...

Horse- $1600 (including free gelding and 30 days training)
Mini vet kit- Don't have one...barn does
Tack- Well, since Aires isn't broke yet...lol. I do have my own bridle that my friend gave me after she sold her appy gelding that it was too big for (it's WAY too big for her mare). The trainer at our stable gave me the nice french link snaffle we're now using. When we do start riding, we'll use the BO's saddle and blanket since he has a saddle that fits Aires perfectly right now. So far I've only spent $16 on a new saddle pad (for an English saddle because that's what we're going to show in), $15 for a padded nylon halter that he outgrew in three weeks, and $15 for a rope halter that he is now almost too big for. I also got a $700 custom winter blanket with full neck and hood for free from a lady who comes up and overnight boards at our stable throughout the summer. She had used to manage a boarding stable in Phoenix and has tons of tack and such that people just left there that she's trying to get rid of, but she had never found anyone with a horse big enough for this blanket (it's a 78"). lol Aires will be out of it by spring, but it'll work for this winter!
Shoeing-We don't need shoes, thankfully
Trims-$40
Worming- I think we spent $7 on the wormer?
Pre-vet check- Didn't get one
Tack box- My friend and I share, so nothing
Grooming supplies- So far all I've bought are two hair brushes from the dollar store (for mane/tail) and a jug of Repel-X fly spray concentrate for my friend and I to share
Training equipment- None. The BO provides anything we need.
Feed- Included in our board since all Aires gets is alfalfa
Board fee- $250 a month, partial care (meaning I clean my own stall and dump/fill my own water...even with a severely sprained ankle :-p ).
 
#13 ·
-Mini Vet kit Don't really have one, to be honest. I currently have a bottle of wonderdust and some antibiotic spray
-the actual horse $700
-tack $300 saddle. $50 bridle. $16 sidepull attachment. $30 blanket. $70 pad. $10 halter and lead (auction). $100 SMB3s and bell boots.
-shoeing
-hoof trimming $38 every 6 weeks
-worming I got a year rotational pack for like $33.
-pre- vet check Didn't do one, to be honest.
-tack box Erm..I have a Professional's Choice bag that came with my SMBs that all my random tack is in
-grooming supplies I just got a lovely grooming set for my birthday. It was $50
-trianing equiptment Lunge line - $ 15. Lunge whip - $12.
-feed (including a bucket) $50 for a 10lb Ugard bucket, which lasts like 80 days. $80 for a gigantic bucket of SmartCalm. Dunno how much, but it lasts like 115 day or something.
-board fee $285/month.
 
#14 ·
-the actual horse $4700. I had a $5k budget when I was shopping for my eventing prospect, & talked his owner down from $5500. Smoke is a green jumper, but he's very smart, sensible, & has a heart of gold.
-tack $350 for a used Stubben, between $17-$50 for each saddle pad, $25 girth, $40 stirrups & leathers, $65 bridle, $25 snaffle bit, $60 breastplate, $100 for 1 leather & 1 nylon safety halter, $90 2 pairs of brushing boots, $100 each for his blanket & sheet. I've bought most of my tack for a really good deal off ebay & smartpakequine.com. tackoftheday.com also has some REALLY good deals sometimes!
-shoeing he's barefoot
-hoof trimming $35 every 6 weeks
-worming included with board
-tack box you mean like a trunk? The one I have on my wish list right now is $350. You can get a cheap one for around $100 & custom ones up to like $1k.
-grooming supplies The bag + brushes & whatnot probably cost me around $70.
-trianing equipment $40/lesson 2x per week
-feed (including a bucket) feed is included with board. a basic small bucket is about $5 (I keep bathing supplies in that), a typical flat-back feed bucket is about $10, a feed tub is about $15.
-board fee $450/month


 
#15 ·
My grandma helped me buy a horse fence for $400, and REALLY good friends brought Indie home for free... but Indie herself? Traded 2 days of work for her :)
 
#16 ·
My first horse as an adult was 18 years ago. Quervo was an aqua gelding, beautiful beyond belief and I paid $1800 for him. Back then feed was cheaper, but I fed a specialized mix made for a local barn and it was $12/50 lbs, so about $40 a month, hay was about $30. Tack we lucked into, $300 for western saddle, bridle and pads. Feet every six weeks were $45, and then a few hundred a year for vetting and the normal workings.

By the way, he was a Dash for Cash baby, and so is my sweet Red. Temprement wise I swear you can't beat it, and God blessed me with two of them!
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#17 ·
-Mini Vet kit - I used my own first aid kit. My mom works in a hospital so I got lucky.
-the actual horse - 200 dollars for a kid broke TB Paint cross that I was told was four- he was seven and maybe green broke at best.
-tack - Again, I just accumulated it. Started out with one nylon bridle that was twenty dollars, got a bit for free from a guy in my rented pasture. I also rode in a horrific unfitted saddle that I would never recommend to anybody. Ride bareback until you get one and improve your balance.
-shoeing - I don't do shoes, but they run about seventy dollars here.
-hoof trimming - thirty dollars about once a month.
-worming - fifteen dollars for wormer every two months or so.
-pre- vet check - Didn't get one, strongly advise that you do.
-tack box - Old grocery bag. 'Nuff said.
-grooming supplies - maybe thirty dollars. I accumulated it over time, started with just a curry brush, stiff brush and a hoof pick.
-training equipment - a lunge rope is about twenty bucks. You can use a stick for a lot of things, too :lol:
-feed (including a bucket) - Buckets are about 5-10 bucks. I spend twenty a month on grain and thirty to fifty on hay.
-board fee - 30 dollars a month for pasture rent.
 
#18 ·
-Mini Vet kit: heh well... I dont really have one. A tiny one $15
-the actual horse: just over $1800. Unbroke.
-tack: $1500+
-shoeing $110 for fronts and I think $170 for four I only have fronts because he is healing from an abcess and I get sliders for reining.
-hoof trimming-$40 per trim
-worming: $20 per tube
-pre- vet check- Ya I didnt get one of those
-tack box- WALMART
-grooming supplies-Well over $500 I have so much grooming stuff
-trianing equiptment - $250
-feed (including a bucket)- I used a rubber tub from a old cattle farm. I feed a grain free mix with paprika and flax seed: $50
 
#19 ·
-Mini Vet kit $0
-the actual horse $100
-tack....umm around $1,000 + (lol)
-shoeing $0 she doesn't get shoes
-hoof trimming $35
-worming $5 (every 2 months)
-pre- vet check $0 didn't get one :)
-tack box $100 for a saddle rack and like $30 for the tubes for the other tack ;)
-grooming supplies $ around $100 maybe
-trianing equiptment $50.
-feed (including a bucket) around $100 each months/every 2 months
-board fee free just $500-$1000 for the equment to put the fench up :p
 
#20 ·
mini vet kit -Never bought one, just bought what I needed when I needed it and used the BO's supplies
the actual horse -Depends on what you want, $2,000
tack -Bought two used saddles for around $400, bridle/bit/reins came with horse, bought girth from eBay
shoeing/hoof trimming -Self-trimmed until we decided to put front shoes on her, about $65 every 5-6 weeks
worming -Included in board
pre-vet check -Didn't have one
tack box -Boarders get a tack locker
grooming supplies -Found abandoned grooming stuff when cleaning out the tack room, bought a few supplies from Dover and the feed store
training equipment -Borrow from the barn, don't use this stuff enough to buy my own
feed -included in board
board fee -$200 a month since I worked off 2/3rds of it
 
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