| Subject: Re: How much does the average horse cost?? |
Author:
Katie
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 03:21:21 11/27/05 Sun
In reply to:
laurie
's message, "Re: How much does the average horse cost??" on 11:12:36 10/27/01 Sat
It costs a lot to keep a horse, I have my own because I have worked hard and am now working twice as hard!
The horse itself is only the beginging, it will cost approx. $2500+ for anything suitable with proper education.
I personally would NEVER EVER buy a rescue horse unless you are a VERY capable horse person. Capable being an adult with lots of riding experience and a large budget because it costs more then buying a trained horse, NOT a person who has read 'everything' about horses, that does not and never will make you the best horse person and you will only get yourself in deep trouble if you buy a horse based on that view. Horses are beautiful but they can easily kill, every horse has the ability to, so don't think you will get the most perfect horse and you and your horse will have the ultimate bond because it won't be like that and never will.
Agistment costs a LOT of money, it costs up $100 a week to agist my horse, that is $5200 a year and that dosen't include feed or anything! And is there anywhere to actually keep a horse! You can't just throw him in the backyard, you need AT LEAST 1 acre, thats 1000 square metres.
Feed is also very expensive, $800 a year to feed a horse, more if it is stabled all year around.
Time, Horses take up a HUGE portion of time. I get home from school and have to go straight down to the Pony Club where my horse is kept to look after him, and we have to leave at 6 in the morning to feed him.
Shoes, having a horse shod is expensive to, $80 a pop from the farrier, and thats once every 5 weeks, thats approx. 11 times a year so that is $880, its even more expensive if the farrier has to travel, its around 50c ever kilometre here and my farrier is 50 km away so thats an extra $25 everytime he comes out so that is $1130 all together for shoes for the year.
Tack: Tack costs a lot of money, $1000 for a decent general purpose saddle (english). $150 for a decent birdle (Once again english) and then you need a jumping saddle if you want to compete in jumping, a dressage saddle if you want to do dressage and a western saddle if thats what you want to do, so all in all you could end up paying $3000 for a couple of saddles. Rugs are very expensive to, $300 for a Weatherbeeta rug for winter and $200 for a summer weatherbeeta. Halters are about $30 each and saddle pads are about $30. Boots are around $100. A bit can cost from $50-$250. Float boots are about $50-100.
Vets. No one wants to think about the vet, no one wants to have to call the vet, but it happens and it seems to happen at the most inapropriate time. Like you have just sat down to dinner and you get a call from the stable manager saying your horse is collicing and it looks bad, so you better get down their fast. Vaccinations are usually yearly but cost about $100 each, so 4 of them is $400. Worming is $15 every 2 months thats $90 a year.
And riding lessons still need to continue, its very important to maintain your skill level and not develope bad habits, thats $50 a weeks so $2600 on riding lessons. Pony club fees, thats $50 quarterly, so $200 a year.
and don't forget the time when you put your horse out in the paddock and he was wearing his brandnew Weatherbeeta rug which cost you $300 and then the other horses have a great time pulling it to shreads, you come to the paddock in the morning and your horse is looking rather pathetic in the remainder of his rug (usually the very inner layer) and there is bits of material and filling strewn randomly around the paddock, I have been their and it is NOT funny in the least.
Now think about why your parents don't want a horse, its a lot of work and effort, work for riding lessons for at least 5 years before asking for a horse.
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 