Posted 2008-02-20 3:32 PM (#77428 - in reply to #77062) Subject: RE: Approximately how much per month will it cost me for 1 horse?
Veteran
Posts: 150
Location: Farmville, VA
We're in VA and our costs are about the same. So I decided to do the math: 2.5 bales of hay @$4 each (last summers price) $580, grain, 4 bags per month based on $12.50 per bag, $600, farrier at $90 per trip, average 7 trips per year, $630, vet $200 twice a year, $400, wormer $10 x 7 per year $70, association & memberships $100 per year, sawdust $500 per year (two dump trucks a year) mineral blocks, flyspray, etc. tack on another $150 and maybe an extra $300 to cover electricity for the barn, leaving an average of $3,330.00 for my beloved equine friend. Now top on trailer, insurance, shows, blankets, tack, the list is endless. I cant put a cost on my son either, but for everything else, theres VISA!
Posted 2008-03-09 10:33 AM (#79080 - in reply to #77062) Subject: RE: Approximately how much per month will it cost me for 1 horse?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316
Location: Illinois
Depends on if you are boarding or putting them in your backyard (where you have to fix your own fences etc. OK, so you say the horse will be in your backyard. So between $150 (perhaps a bit less in the summer if the pasture has good grass, using extreme care introducing said horse to spring grass) and $10,000 a month. The latter only should there be unforseen medical/surgery costs.
Posted 2008-03-09 3:21 PM (#79099 - in reply to #77062) Subject: RE: Approximately how much per month will it cost me for 1 horse?
Expert
Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico
I was helping my daughter with her 4-H record book after the show last year and from Jan 1 to Oct 5, we came up with $855.26 for hay and grain plus another $230 for the farrier, health and travel papers and the entry fees and fuel to get to the fair. There was also the 'extras' ($150), regular halter/lead, show halter/lead, buckets and such. Oh, and another $50 for the camper spot at the fair. After looking at the totals ($1285) my daughter quit complaining that I "never buy her anything"...... for awhile at least.
Oh, and I forgot to add the $30 per lesson (x6) to learn how to show and the $40 in fuel it took to get there. No wonder I was so broke last year!
Posted 2008-03-09 4:09 PM (#79104 - in reply to #77062) Subject: RE: Approximately how much per month will it cost me for 1 horse?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385
Location: high desert, CA.
Terri, I hope you figured in the comraderie from other 4-hers, the knowlege of what your kid is doing, and where. Also the morals and respect they will gain from both owning and caring for their charges. The respect they will gain for adults, and the lessons we all learned from child hood about life and what sacrifices we make to have the things we treasure. be they horses, or children, mom's and dad's, or grandparents, or friends.
Posted 2008-03-09 5:43 PM (#79115 - in reply to #77062) Subject: RE: Approximately how much per month will it cost me for 1 horse?
Regular
Posts: 85
This a very tough question since you failed to give critical info such as if you have to board this horse or if you are keeping it at home. Boarding makes it the most expensive to own a horse and it depends where you live as to how much you'll pay. Around here boarding a horse and adding in vet, shoes, worming, the best guestimate would be $235 month. That is based on a boarding fee of $180 per month, having the vet out once a year for shots and teeth, farrier every 2 months and worming every 2 months. This is no extra frills and only if you live in a rural area where the cost of living is much less than the big city folks!