The Price You Pay....

[Arelle]

It’ll make me cry if I actually add it up (LOL), but suffice to say - I have eight horses that I mostly keep at home. I spend roughly $950/month on feed/bedding/water/etc. All but two are kept barefoot, farrier comes every 6-8 weeks and it’s right around $400. I just did all my annual vaccines and coggins - call me a sucker, but I do these through my vet so that A) I have proof they were actually done and it’s not just my word and B) I keep a good relationship on the little stuff so that my vet is willing to go above and beyond on the big stuff. That was $1,200 for all eight horses.

I pay insurance once a year to the tune of about $2,000. I was lessoning once or twice a week for $65/lesson. However, I had to send out my babies to get going under saddle and that’s costing me $1,700/month ($850/horse). While they’re in training, I’ve cut the lesson fund from my budget for a couple of months. I anticipated that, though, as I bred these foals and knew I’d have to pay to have someone put 90-120 days on them before I was comfortable bringing them home to finish solo. #notimeforbrokenbones

I burned out showing a couple of years ago, and while I’ll probably get back into it now that my babies are getting old enough to get under saddle and hit the show pen - I’ll do things different this time around. I find solace in the fact that when I had ONE horse in training, my bill was roughly $1,400/month for the bare basics and here in DFW, even if your horse isn’t in training - it’s tough to find full care for <$600/month/horse. If I’m able to keep my old ladies and cripple happy and safe with me at the house, and have the funds for raising a couple of babies – all for less than it would cost me monthly just to board two? I figure I’m coming out ahead. Plus - it’s just money; you can’t take it with you when you go.

[Redemption3]

This thread makes me feel a lot better I don’t tally the bills as it makes me kind of nervous. The Ol Man is at home with me- not in lessons or showing. I had a dream of l/d endurance once upon a time.
In general the latest estimates would be
feed/hay -$200/mth
farrier $125/ 5 weeks
supplements- has been varying a lot but around $180/mth predictably and needs to come way down
grooming/fly sprays and fly prevention $40/conservatively a mth summer feels like 9 moths of the year here when it comes to insects
vet- my new vet has a plan for senior horse that costs $800/year includes all vaccinations plus X-ray and ppid/ ir testing and a free emergency visit if needed
I own my hobby farm outright and do not own a car (though I own a horse trailer :winkgrin:”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹ and have use of a truck whenever I need it)
I haven’t ridden in about 2.5 years and currently have no income that justifies this expenditure. So probably very high price to pay

[streamline]

When I had a jr jumper, and boarded at a private place it was about 1300 a month. Board was 900 (it’s been raised since) shoes 230, is figure another 150-200 for grain and extras.

I worked off all my training and sometimes board. My only ‘job’ was being at the barn and helping out.

I didn’t have a groom etc, so I’d imagine what everyone else paid was much more.

That 1300 is double the price of our mortgage right now.

I have 3 horses, at home. Who live on 20+ acres. They eat pasture til snow hits the ground. I think a ton of decent horse alfalfa mix is 100$. I have two that are barefoot and one who needs shoes 100$~ every 6 weeks. I spend a lot of money on random horse stuff now. I stopped riding and sold alllll my fancy stuff, my Voltaire girths, expensive horse boots and pads etc. I’ve been rebuilding everything thanks to eBay 😂

Full service board in this area is 600. My husband would kill me if I tried to board horses again. The sucky thing about my DIY horse set up is no real arena.

But yes your horsie budget sounds just about right for a good AA barn.

[Redemption3]

@streamline

But yes your horsie budget sounds just about right for a good AA barn.

Wow, that leaves so many horse lovers out of the picture

[Obsidian_Fire]

@snaffle1987

these costs are exactly why I stopped riding and showing altogether. Simply cant afford it and afford regular living expenses at the same time in a high tax area. And when I did show and ride I did so in the cheapest means possible: Kept the horses at home even in winter, all of them were barefoot or front shoes only, made my own hay, trailered to the shows on my own and as time went on, eliminated the trainer from the equation too and just showed for fun. This sport is HIGHLY costly and if you are not making 100k+ a year or marrying into wealth, it is nearly impossible to compete at the high levels without sacrificing long term life choices (like retirement)

Even 100k a year is not enough to support what the OP indicated. Not and factor in everyday living expenses.

[Gumby80]

@Obsidian Fire

Even 100k a year is not enough to support what the OP indicated. Not and factor in everyday living expenses.

I agree! I make more than that, and I can afford a half lease in southern California (~$1k/month for a darling of an old ex-GP horse). If I wanted to cut things really fine I could afford to maybe board a horse, but not pay training, grooming etc. I’m not a huge fan of that business model, but it is often expected, as boarding isn’t a big money maker, I understand that. The costs of living and working in the area are just very high, and trying to cut costs by living further out can make your commute impossible.

Slightly off topic: I actually like the half lease situation a lot. I owned my own horses for years, and this is way less stressful! I think more people should consider it. It’s not just for people making their first foray into considering ownership. If you’re already paying a trainer to put most of the rides on your horse, and a groom to do everything else because you’re too busy working to get to the barn, does it really matter if it’s technically your horse that you’re getting on to ride…?

[Obsidian_Fire]

Next time my hubby gripes about horse cost I’m going to have him read this thread… :lol:

[streamline]

@Obsidian Fire

Next time my hubby gripes about horse cost I’m going to have him read this thread… :lol:

My DH thinks the 100$ we pay for shoes for one horse is ridiculous 😂 I told him ‘back in the day’ it was 230 every 5 weeks for shoes and he’s lucky.

Horses are crazy expensive, even having horses ‘in my own back yard’ is expensive.

[streamline]

@Redemption3

Wow, that leaves so many horse lovers out of the picture

Horses are crazy expensive. I stopped showing 4+ years ago when I realized I couldn’t swing it. I don’t have a high paying job (I kinda did when I was grooming, left no time for my personal horses)

Board at an AA barn costs more than I make a month.

Im lucky that I even have two horses. I don’t need to show or board at a fancy place to enjoy them.

I miss showing and miss that atmosphere. I’ve seen lots of people who are 40+ and above who end up getting back into horses and are able to go and show; have nice horses etc.

I just hope that will be me one day, probably after I have a few more kids and husband finally gives in and buys me a nice, safe horse 😂

Most people who do board AA have real adult grown up jobs and most of them work their butts off to afford the horses.

[Amy3996]

Oh boy… let’s see.

When I boarded at a high end H/J barn in the Westchester County area -
Board: $2k/month - included grain, unlimited hay, daily individual turnout, all extras (bathing, blanketing, etc)
Supplements/Meds: $200/month
Farrier: $300/ 6 weeks
Lessons: $75/hour private, usually 2x week
Showing: $200/year because I only showed at our barn show so no stabling or travel fees

Now, boarding at a small but incredible private facility in upstate NY:
Board: $500/month - includes free choice hay, small group turnout, indoor, outdoor, trail access, indoor wash rack (all of which are somewhat uncommon for rural upstate NY)
Grain: $40/month
Supplements/Meds: $200/month
Farrier: $110/6 weeks
Lessons: $35-$75/month, depending on if it’s with local dressage trainer who comes to the barn weekly or if I haul out to the BNT eventer a couple of towns over.
Showing: $1500/year - 6 to 8 local schooling shows, unrecognized horse trials, etc.

Misc: Probably $3000 in vet bills over the last two years because of my horse’s knack for trying to kill himself every time I turn around…

It’s amazing how different the costs are.

[Obsidian_Fire]

I guess I’ll bite…

Board - $200/mo. Does NOT include shavings. Luckily right now we are able to do 24/7 turnout so no shavings at the moment, but during the other months I go thru at least one bag a week (I am a very, very good stall cleaner) at about $6/bag if I can get them on sale. I budget about 5 bags per month on average.

Hay - OTTB, so given my suppliers prices, about $80/month.

Other feed/supps - probably pushing $100/mo.

Shoeing - $260 the 1st of every month, plus a tube of Dorm gel. To be fair, she’s got special shoes behind so that’s an added cost.

Lessons - $180/mo.

Worming, shots, misc. - I don’t know. 2 tubes of womer per year, one fecal, one dental visit, shots for R/F, E/WEE, WNV, etc., haven’t added it up.

Gallons of fly spray…….

Adding up the “knowns” - $10,500/year or $875 a month… OUCH. Dammit!! I really didn’t want to know that…

ETA: Other feed/supps - $141.74/mo… Not counting yearly Adequan.
Okay… now I’m really crying…

[Denali6298]

Board: $375. Pasture board that is full care.
Shoes every 5 weeks $110
Supplements $65 a month
Marsey has an HMO plan through the vet which is $400 a year and includes all shots, wellness exam, dental and discounted emergency services.

[zem1]

I’m located in the PNW, and ride at a small (35 horses) A/AA barn.

Full service board: $725
Training: $500 (includes 3-6 lessons/pro rides/week)
Farrier: $150 (5 weeks)
Extra grain for my OTTB: $50
Insurance: $1,050/yr

For me, an in-barn 2 day schooling show is $800. An out of barn 2-day schooling show is around $1,200, and an out of barn 1-day schooling show is $600. The local C/B rated shows are $3,000-3,500 (Friday-Sunday), and local A/AA rated shows are $5,000-6,000 (including special class fees for derbies/classics).

Vet-wise, mine does flexion tests twice a year, one at the start of show season and one at the end of show season, and it’s around $60. Yearly dental is $450, vaccinations are $200 ish. My mate gets chiropractic sessions very occasionally, but when she does it’s $180.

My barn is very reasonably priced for the area. The local AA barn, which shows up and down the west coast and always has kids who qualify for the Maclay, is around $2500 for board and training, and you are required to do a certain number of shows each year both on the local A circuit, and at bigger shows like Thermal, T-Bird and the Las Vegas Nat’l.

All in, it’s about $20,000 not including shows.

[bringing_up_baby]

Jeepers. In Northern Illinois, my full service board…not including lessons or training…was $2300 a month which is average!!! (Others are $2600-$2800 with one barn $3600k a month with the right in the boarding contract that it can be raised any time!) So with lessons 2x week plus farrier, vet, dental, not to mention all equipment for horse and rider…just board was $27k a year!

And then you need to buy a horse, so there goes another $40-$50k (which is cheap for people in this area). And I don’t show. Showing all summer at Traverse, Kentucky Heir, Equifest at Lamplight, all spring and summer long. And then everyone up here goes to Wellington to show at WEF for 4-5 months. Most have 2-3 horses. Even if you have one, your horse’s expenses to board down there, show at WEF, training/lessons, as well as your own lodgings and expenses of living there is easily $100k for one horse for that season. Plus, you are still paying the approx. $13k board for at home board even though you aren’t even there.

If it wasn’t for my health insurance and all my doctors, I’d move in a heartbeat as it seems the Chicago/Northern Illinois suburbs are more expensive than anywhere in the country.

[Denali6298]

@bringing_up_baby

Jeepers. In Northern Illinois, my full service board…not including lessons or training…was $2300 a month which is average!!! (Others are $2600-$2800 with one barn $3600k a month with the right in the boarding contract that it can be raised any time!) So with lessons 2x week plus farrier, vet, dental, not to mention all equipment for horse and rider…just board was $27k a year!

And then you need to buy a horse, so there goes another $40-$50k (which is cheap for people in this area). And I don’t show. Showing all summer at Traverse, Kentucky Heir, Equifest at Lamplight, all spring and summer long. And then everyone up here goes to Wellington to show at WEF for 4-5 months. Most have 2-3 horses. Even if you have one, your horse’s expenses to board down there, show at WEF, training/lessons, as well as your own lodgings and expenses of living there is easily $100k for one horse for that season. Plus, you are still paying the approx. $13k board for at home board even though you aren’t even there.

If it wasn’t for my health insurance and all my doctors, I’d move in a heartbeat as it seems the Chicago/Northern Illinois suburbs are more expensive than anywhere in the country.

This thread is about what people actually spend on horses, not an outline to play at the top and keep up with the joneses.

[Emily_amp_Jake]

@Scribbler

…my total horse operating expenses (stall; feed including grain, hay, and supplements; feet; vet) were well under $4,000 for the whole year last year.

Mine were just under $4000 for 2018.

[CantFindDistance]

@Gumby80

I agree! I make more than that, and I can afford a half lease in southern California (~$1k/month for a darling of an old ex-GP horse). If I wanted to cut things really fine I could afford to maybe board a horse, but not pay training, grooming etc. I’m not a huge fan of that business model, but it is often expected, as boarding isn’t a big money maker, I understand that. The costs of living and working in the area are just very high, and trying to cut costs by living further out can make your commute impossible.

Slightly off topic: I actually like the half lease situation a lot. I owned my own horses for years, and this is way less stressful! I think more people should consider it. It’s not just for people making their first foray into considering ownership. If you’re already paying a trainer to put most of the rides on your horse, and a groom to do everything else because you’re too busy working to get to the barn, does it really matter if it’s technically your horse that you’re getting on to ride…?

Agree. I make more than double that, house paid off, no kids, living in California, while i can afford it, i simply cannot fathom spending this amount of money every month. It is easily peoples mortgage in a high cost of living area. It literally made me sick when i was doing it. I still want to be able to travel and retire someday!

[GraceLikeRain]

@Scribbler

This thread reminds me of why I didn’t go the full board/ showing route when I returned to riding a dozen years ago. I am at the opposite end of the spectrum, in self board in the suburbs, and my total horse operating expenses (stall; feed including grain, hay, and supplements; feet; vet) were well under $4,000 for the whole year last year.

I’m so curious about how you manage this. Running the absolutely tightest numbers I’ve seen for any one item even on self-care I still came out $5k and would reasonably expect another $1k+ in misc. expenses like having a saddle checked once a year, sporadic chiro or bodywork, replacing worn or broken equipment, etc.

Dry Board - $175/month ($2,100)
Shavings - $6/10 bags a month ($720)
Grain & Hay - $75/month ($900)
Supplements - $15/month ($180)
Vet x 2 - $150 per visit ($300)
Barefoot trim every 5 weeks - $45 ($468)
Fly spray and replacing misc. items - $10/month ($120)
Dental - $125 ($125)

[dmj]

I recently semi-retired my guy to a low-key partial self care barn, but when we were at a full service HJ barn:

Board - $700/month, inclusive of blanketing, hay, grain, turnout
Training- $500/month for 5 services (trainer rides or lessons) per week
Shoes - $165 every 5-6 weeks
Supplements - about $40/month
Shows - didn’t so much and only local, about $900 for 3 days.

This is near Boise, Idaho.

[Absolut_Equestrian]

@Horsegirl's Mom

I always assumed California was the most expensive place to keep a horse!

Yep. Coastal Southern California with (irrigated) grass pasture. Stupid expensive. I’m especially grumpy about it, as I moved here from the East Coast. Our barn has H/J and dressage trainers, monthly pricing is similar for each.

Board, including stall cleaning and hay feeding, use of Eurociser: $1275
Turnout, 6 days/week: $150
Grain (varies by horse): $220
Grooming/care [Required] (includes feeding grain, turnout of horses, laundry, etc): $125/week
Training [required]: packages start at $800/month
4 shoes, nothing special: $200

Assuming no vet visits or shows, total base price is just over $3200/month. This is not the fanciest, nor the most expensive barn in the area. It’s also a lot better than a dirt pen in the desert.