The True Cost of Keeping a Horse

A horse may seem like a great idea and there is lots of fun you can have with your favourite equine, but they can also prove to be very expensive to upkeep. The initial cost of buying the horse can be expensive enough but there are all sorts of other expenses to be aware of before you make the decision to buy one.

Home for Horse

If you choose to rent out a field it can be cheaper than keeping them in a yard but there are less facilities, so this is usually the preferred option amongst horse owners. It depends on your budget which option you choose to opt for, but it can still be expensive either way.

Horse Wormers

Horses require to be wormed so equest wormers are an essential to ensure the health of your horse. You can pick up cheap wormers for horses if you have a small budget to work with or many other types of wormers for horses. The amount of worming required will depend on your horse, but around every 6 weeks is the usual requirement for most horses.

Food

It is important to keep your horse well fed so they are strong and this can prove to be quite costly. The amount you need to spend on feeding your horse will greatly depend on the size of your horse and the level of exercise it receives. You should give your horse regular exercise, for example around one hour per day and the food intake should be equated to the amount it is receiving. It is important to be aware of the cost of feeding your horse as you can’t leave it hungry if you can’t afford to feed it!

Hay and Straw

Hay will be required when there is little access to grass and the straw is necessary for bedding for your horse. These costs can all add up, so it is important to be aware of all of these necessities before deciding whether you can really afford to own a horse.

Vets and Dentist

There are regular immunisations which are required to keep horses healthy and if they become unwell, the vet bills can easily amount to thousands of pounds. It is often not something people consider when they decide to buy an equine, but it is important to have savings for these emergencies. It is also essential to give your horse regular access to the dentist so they don’t end up in pain and become unwell. These hidden costs can vary and it is also a good idea to take out an insurance on your horse, so you don’t end up having to fork out a huge amount of money when you least expect it.

If you want to look after your horse, you should always keep a supply of equest wormer so you can regularly worm your horse when it is needed.