Simply curious. I’m getting back into the horse world and the numbers of…. everything… are quite a bit different than they were 10 years ago. So I’m just curious what the month to month looks like now (in different areas too) 
I’m talking anything horse related. Board, lessons, whatever you pay for in regards to your horse(s).
Just for fun!!
I do self board. The dry stall is $225. A ton of hay is now $750 and lasts 3 to 4 months. I keep a truck and trailer which need annual maintenance. Grain and bedding are not huge expenses. Horse is barefoot. Get teeth and vaxx annually.
My horses are at home. Including utilities (electric at the barn and water), hay for the year, veterinary care, farrier, grain, etc. my two horses cost on average $250/month. There’s minimal maintenance costs, we use maybe 20 gallons of diesel per year for the tractor for mowing and general chores. Fencing we are slowly replacing but spend less than $1,000 per year there. They’re on a 13 acre field and we’ve got a long growing season so I luckily don’t have to buy very much hay at all. 120 bales is more than enough for the entire year.
I have three that are on the feed bill. My fourth one has a job which pays for all of his upkeep. My monthly average on horses is (all 3) about $1275/month. That include farrier, feed & hay, vet, supplements, lessons, and truck/trailer/fuel. Mine are kept at home. I consider shows and large expenses regarding tack (saddle) to be icing (not consistent or even necessary each year) on the cake that I pay for by picking up extra shifts at work; so, they don’t get worked into my ‘budget’.
Northern Illinois. Board is $625/month. Weekly lesson is $45. Farrier every 6 weeks is $55. Supplements are $50 per month. In the winter I pay $35 a month for blanket service. Board includes 12 x 12 matted stall cleaned every day, daily turnout in big pastures plus my girl goes out at night during DST. Grain twice daily, hay three times a day. Huge indoor, 3 outdoors, trails on the property. Heated clubhouse.
Here y’a go! Board is partial care where I do the stall and provide his feed. We have a large indoor arena, a few trails and beach access. Dry lots which are a plus for me. Close to several park systems with extensive bridle trails.
I shoot for two dressage lessons and two driving lessons a month. Depending on our riding schedule though, the driving lessons may drop here and there. I don’t actively budget for show/clinics at this time but do track everything I spend on them; I’ll have done two clinics and a schooling show…possibly two, in 2022. I haul out now and again for trail rides as well so there is fuel for that. This does not account for the harness, cart, and trailer I purchased this year either 
I thought I had the vet average in there, maybe it got hidden. 2022 was going into year 3 with my gelding and I can’t say we have “average” years. I’ll ballpark and say $600 - $1000/year for the vet. I got him in July of 2020 and that was a very routine 6 months no surprises. 2021 was all the routine care plus several visits and sets of rads for laminitis. This year I am splitting up his vaccines and we needed several rounds of blood work done, plus a call for allergies and some meds for that. A couple farm calls with just me so that increased the cost on otherwise not too expensive things. So add an extra $80ish/month to that.
Edit to add - Oh and I also trim myself! I use Scoot Boots and am still on my first set with a lightly used second set in the wings. 4 new boots X $100 and trimming tools needs to be accounted for too. But that isn’t much in the big picture.
Well, if we ignore my significant investment in a property suitable for horse keeping, fencing, a barn, large tack purchases and the companion horse (with his unholy maintenance costs) then my riding horse probably only costs $500 a month or so for feed, bedding, farrier, vet, supplements and supplies.
I’m in NW FL.
I get “high end” feed and fly spray (use a ton), bagged bedding, large wardrobes (blankets / flysheets) and lots of miscellaneous supplies in that monthly figure. Also, I use the vet for dentals, vaxx, etc at minimum twice per year. I have farrier out every 4 weeks max like clockwork; currently the companion horse has farrier out every other week. I’m calling these out bc I could trim a lot of costs in these areas. Everyone’s priorities are different.
Also maintain a truck and trailer but they would resale at or above my cost so consider those more as assets than liabilities.
The companion horse is pushing 5k in “extra” vet bills this year. Could just as easily be my riding horse. Something to consider as a big variable in any horse budget.
about $850 per month for three horses, three miniatures and eight goats…all are kept here at home, one is on 24/7 stall rest for at least another few months, the other two are in their stalls currently at night but during the summers they are up during the day then out at night.
Horses are Morgans so really do not require a lot of hay and only one (Bonnie) gets grain (Purina Healthy Edge Strategy, one bag lasts her about three weeks), the minies just get Teff hay, the goats get Teff hay and some sort of stuff that older daughter gets for them.
Converting to US dollar equivalents:
Indoor board $650/month
Full training (5/week lessons or training rides) $650 month
Farrier - front shoes with pads, rear barefoot $175 every 5-6 weeks.
Routine vet care (vaccines, dental care twice a year) plus supplements about $1000/year
Adequan $500 once or twice/year
Then there is gas to get to and from the barn, frequently used items like fly spray, shampoo, leather cleaner, etc., plus replacing any tack, blankets, grooming supplies, etc. if needed.
Plus Christmas gifts for barn owner, barn worker, trainer, assistant trainer, and farrier.
I don’t show anymore so no expenses there, but may go in a clinic once or twice a year if held at our barn.
My horse is 22 so has a little more in maintenance costs for farrier, Adequan, dentals every 6 months, etc. than other horses I have owned but it’s worth it to keep him healthy and working happily at his age. I co-own with a friend so my share is half of what’s listed above, otherwise we could not afford the quality facility and training program we are in.
Fun fun! I love talking horses and dollar values.
I’m at an average of $380/mo. (CAD$, or roughly $280 USD) and that includes:
Board (pony rate), outdoor (and facility has an indoor arena)
Grain & supplements
Vet (yearly vaccs split into two visits, plus random injuries or infections … this year has been worse for that)
Worming (and usually a fecal egg count once a year)
Farrier, trim every 8 - 10 weeks
Teeth, every 12 - 24 mos.
Lessons are variable, as they’re not a regular thing. But up to $100 extra for 1 - 2 lessons a month. Nothing in the budget for shows as they’re relatively inexpensive and don’t happen often anyway. I’m lucky enough to have a trailer, and that cost me $2800 this year just for servicing and maintenance as it had been mechanically neglected by the previous owner, but I don’t work that into my totals as it’s not something that occurs with any regularity, just as I don’t count the consumables like gas to/from the barn or treats or … (the list goes on).
ETA: For context, I’m located just outside the Greater Toronto Area.
Portland OR metro area. Board (full care) is $850/month, training/lessons $500. Shoes are $385 every 6 weeks. Chiro $100 every 2 months.
Married to a CPA so I know to the penny how much the 4 horses cost—but DH includes the taxes and maintenance cost for our entire property (20 acres) in my horse budget–not really fair because we would have to live some place even if I (we) didn’t have horses-- basic feed/hay/vet/farrier is $ 300 or so a month per horse Add my hunt club dues, travel and mounted archery competitions, part time (summer/vacation help) truck and trailer expenses and those taxes, $6-10K a year to live the horse life. Seems like a lot, but I worked every day from age 14 to 65 (retired now) to pay for my horses. DH has his car (s) and I have my horses. I could halve my costs if I eliminated two pasture pets–but don’t plan to do that. Good horses in their prime. Feel they deserve their retirement.
I wish so much I lived somewhere where stall board was under $700 a month!
I don’t have a riding horse currently but stall board with a lit arena (a must for me in the winter) starts around $900 here. My retired guy is on pasture board and I pay $500 a month for him which includes his trims. Barring an emergency, his routine vet costs per year average about $400-500.
@HeyJealousy I was just thinking that! I don’t own a horse, but I’ve always been aware of how much it costs to board in my area. The cheapest place with a trainer, indoor, and full care (not training board, but stall, turnout, feed, shavings, and stall cleaned) is around $750 in my area.
In a very expensive part of new england… I did the math for a year and looked at every penny I spent. It ends up being about $1,600/month!
I like this format from PP so I’m using it too 
Below is all CAD
Outdoor board – $500 month
Lessons – $30 each (2-4 per month)
Farrier – $65 (trim every 6 weeks)
Feed – ~$15/month (new horse in Sept so still figuring out how long her feed bag will last)
Vet – ~$50/visit plus any vaccinations/medications/etc. I expect I’ll have to do hock injections annually at approx $500
Location: Saskatchewan
Since it’s a new horse for me this month I’ll have to buy new blankets etc as well. I’ll sell my old blankets so hopefully I’ll only be out a few hundred dollars when all is said and done. My current saddle seems to fit her OK right now, the saddle fitter is coming out to adjust at the end of the month which will be a few hundred dollars more I’m sure.
I try not to add it all up (LOL) but for my 18yo Thoroughbred in Aiken, SC:
Board $800
Supplemental alfalfa $80 (goes through about 1 bale a week)
Farrier $200
Supplements $200 (hoof, joint, gut, and electrolytes)
He also gets regular PEMF and bodywork; those are on a 3-week and 6-week schedule respectively, so not quite consistent monthly. Sees the vet usually at least 3 - 4 times a year, probably going to be more going forward as we’re having to start splitting his vaccines up. Saddle fitter usually at least twice a year, chiropractor/acupuncturist at least 2 - 3 times a year. Yes, he is spoiled, and yes, he is very good at his job and deserves it
Then there are always the miscellaneous supplies - fly spray, liniment, treats, etc. And lessons when I can get them scheduled - I usually aim for once a month. We haven’t been competing much recently, but obviously show fees would be in addition to that.
LOL why would you willingly look at these numbers? 
I have four large, and three minis at home - I budget roughly $400 a week for hay/shavings/etc. Granted; that WAS $200/week as recently as last year but hay prices doubled this year. 
Since they’re at home, farrier trims every 6-8 weeks are $350 ($50/each).
My two show horses are $1,600/month for full training board. Front shoes are $200. Chiropractor is $225. I buy them miscellaneous things like salt licks and treats. I basically am happy anytime my monthly bill is roughly $3,500. They do both have vet issues right now - one is on the back end of $10K worth of diagnostic/stem cell treatments. The other was diagnosed as a roarer this week. So who knows what next month will look like. During show season my bills for them are closer to $5-$6K/month - but that includes all the show things (trailering, day fees, tack splits, etc).
I’m afraid to do a breakdown in today’s prices, but my basics are:
Self Care Board - 350/mo
Hay - 4 tons at 600/ton…
‘bucket feed’ - guessing from my last math session with this, 125/mo.
Farrier - every 5 weeks - varies but was $300/full shoes last time I had 4 on.
Vet - I have an OTTB, need I say more??
Lessons - $120, lucky if I get 1/mo (clinician) “daily trainer” is $50 per.
I’m in Oregon, Willamette Valley.
@Calvincrowe – who’s your chiro?? Thanks.
If I told you then I’d have to add everything up and know the total sum myself. Sorry, but not gonna happen! Ignorance is bliss…or at least not financial depression!
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