When people think of getting a pet they would normally think of getting a cat or dog, but sometimes they might think of getting a horse. How fun would that be? Getting to have a large animal that you can ride whenever you want. It requires a lot of work to house and keep these animals. First of all, the horse needs food and water. Horses eat hay, grain, and some minerals. The average monthly cost of grain is $ 100-250 (Smith). The price of hay varies by the season, kind, and quantity. Another factor that goes into owning a horse is where to put it. Horses need a decent amount of land and if you can’t provide this land you might have to board your horse. Boarding a horse is keeping the horse at a barn or stable. Boarding a horse can be costly. The average price to board a horse is $400-500 per month but in popular areas it can go anywhere from $1200 to $2500 per month (Smith). You also will need to pay barn fees such as grooming, maintaining the pastures, cleaning the stalls, and much more. Normally, barn owners require you to provide bedding, which can also be costly and will affect your horses’ health. Some types of bedding can attract flies which can cause problems for your horse. The bedding also affects a horse’s hooves. A Farrer must trim the horse’s hooves. When the farrier comes, it usually costs about $20 to $50 dollars per visit (Smith). If you don’t pay attention to a horse’s feet, their hoof could get cracked. This issue could lead to the horse not being able to have the ability to get ridden or getting horseshoes. A full set of horseshoes can cost anywhere from $75 to $135 depending on the area you are in and if you must repair the hoof (Smith). The vet bills are also separate. Every year on top of having a farrier visit, the equine dentist may need to work on the horses’ teeth, they need to get vaccinated, and the need to get dewormed every other month. The visit can cost $77 to $250 depending on what you receive and the location. If the vet comes to your property or to your boarding facility, it may add some cost for gas and extra fees. After that, you still need grooming supplies and tack. Tack includes a bridle, saddle, saddle pad, bit, halter, reins, and a lead. If you were to get a new set it could cost a couple thousand dollars and needs to get replaced every five to ten years. You can buy used tack for a couple hundred dollars cheaper, but it might not last as long. Grooming supplies aren’t very costly, but you do need a bunch of supplies including a bucket, sweat scraper, shampoo, conditioner, hoof pick, hard brush, soft brush, comb, fly spray, and a sponge. These should not cost more than $200. Horses may seem like fun animals to own, but they are costly. If you have the ability to win a horse, you should definitely give it a chance but if you know you are unable to afford to keep the horse then, you may want to lease.
Works Cited
Goldberg Smith, Pam. The average Monthly Cost Of Owning A Horse , animals.mom.me/average-monthly-cost-owning-horse-5504.html
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