How much does a horse cost is a question often asked by those looking to buy their first horse. There is no one answer as it will depend upon your personal circumstances, the type of horse you buy, your location, and many other factors.
The cost of keeping a horse will vary by location and facilities. Whilst some costs will be broadly the same, the actual cost will depend upon the type of horse, facilities available, and what you wish to accomplish with your horse.
How much does a horse cost to keep is often something that horse owners shy away from actually working out. Many don’t want to tally the actual cost, as in some instances ignorance is bliss! This article will review the main costs of keeping a horse in the UK 2023.
Cost of a horse
Unless you have bought yourself a high level competition horse, the chances are that the purchase price will pale into insignificance when considering the cost of keeping a horse over its lifetime.
Below are the most regular expenses when keeping horses:
- Livery: Cost will vary depending upon your area and the type of livery you choose. Full livery where someone else looks after your horse will be far more expensive that simply renting a field and doing all the work yourself
- Feed: If your horse is a ‘good-doer’ and you have plenty of good quality grass it may be possible to buy in minimal feed, if any. It is likely though that you will need to provide hay during the winter
- Tack: Unless you are keeping your horse as a companion only, then a bridle and saddle will be required. If you start competing or your horse is strong in certain situations (hacking, hunting etc.) you may find that you need more than one of each
- Saddler: It is good practice to have a saddler check your saddles at least once per year to ensure that they fit your horse well. If your horse is prone to changing shape over the year, you may find that visit frequency will increase
- Farrier: The variation in cost here will mainly be determined by the health of your horses feet. Barefoot horses should only need regular trimming, whilst some will require a full set of shoes and remedial work which will be significantly more expensive.
- Vet: Even if your horse is happy and healthy, a yearly visit by the vet is necessary simply for vaccinations to be kept up to date
- Dentist: If your horse has good teeth then a yearly check up will be sufficient. Some horses will need more attention. Younger horses may need their wolf teeth out which will incur further cost, and often the attendance of the vet for sedation
- Chiropractor: Whilst a chiropractor visit yearly or more often is recommended, many owners choose their own routine depending upon the needs of the horse
- Insurance: 3rd party insurance is the absolute minimum all horse owners should have. There are many insurers available with many levels of cover
- Worming: Testing for worms regularly and only treating as necessary will ensure that your horse stays healthy, and that we as horse owners do our bit to reduce the increasing horse resistance to available products
If you’re looking for actual figures for 2023 keep reading
These figures relate to the cost of a good-doer, barefoot, field kept cob:
- Livery: £100pcm
- Feed: including supplement £15pcm during winter, £7pcm in summer
- Hay: winter only £3.50 per bale @ 2 bales per week
- Tack: £250+ for a second hand good quality saddle £50+ for a basic new bridle
- Saddler: £50pa
- Farrier: £40 per visit – usually every 8 weeks
- Dentist: £50pa
- Chiropractor: £50pa
- Insurance: £80pa for 3rd party only OR £500pa+ for more coverage
- Worming: £5 per test or £10+ 4 x pa depending on results
These are just guide figures and should be considered minimum costs. However they do show that the ongoing costs are in the region of £2k per year.
However, these are just the very basic costs. There will also be ancillary costs that need to be paid:
- removal of muck heap
- bedding if your horse is stabled
- competition entries and transport
- helmet and body protector
- horse treats
- replacement of worn out equipment (head collars/feed buckets/water hose etc.)
- rugs
- lessons
- electric fencing
- tack cleaner
- riding clothes
As you can see, owing a horse can add up to be extremely expensive. The benefits though more than outweigh the financial costs…
Conclusion
So when someone asks how much are horses, or how expensive is a horse, it really is quite a tricky question to answer. This article only provides a starting point of costs as each horse is different and has different needs. If you are lucky enough to have your own land, the cost is significantly reduced, but most people are not that fortunate. Owning and looking after a horse is tremendously rewarding, however, having knowledge of the real and ongoing costs is important so that you can be sure that you are in a position to keep your horse happy and healthy.
