Your largest cost will be hay, grain and farrier. Here is the breakdown of costs for keeping a horse in my area (Kansas).

1 Bale Brome hay - $4.00 This should last you 2 days at feeding 4-5 flakes daily. You most likely will not have enough pasture not to feed hay daily.

Grain - Depending on the nutritional needs of the horse, amount of exercise etc. An Average would be $10 a bag.

Worming - every other month since your pasture is small. $3-12 a tube depending on type and brand.

Farrier - $35 trim, $85 shoes. Trim/shod every 6-8 weeks.

Water - $15 a month. A horse will usually drink 5-10 gallons a day depending on the weather. Heated water will be required in the winter so you'll see a small rise in your electric bill too.

Vet care - Expect $300 a year. This includes vaccinations and unexpected minor injury etc. Can run much higher if horse colics, gets cut etc.

Goat - $75-100. Horses are herd animals. He/She would be happiest with a buddy.

Shavings - $6.00 a bag. This is if you intend to stall your horse during cold or extreme heat with a fan.

Horse Insurance - if the animal needs to insured incase of death. You'll also need to make sure your current homeowners insurance has a farm animal clause in it just in case the horse escapes and someone hits it and tries to sue you for negligence, loss of property etc.

There are many other unexpected costs too associated with having a horse. If it needs a tune-up then there will be training costs. Owning a horse a huge commitment of time and care. Not to mention the financial costs. I say owning a horse is 90% hard labor and 10% fun play. But to me grooming, training, stall cleaning, and riding is relaxing and satisfying work.

You'll need to decide if you have the time and money to keep a horse happy and healthy. Good luck with your decision.

So YOU are moving to PA?

How much is heating going to cost you in PA vs AZ?

Before you accept the horse, you may want to re-evaluated your living costs in PA...especially your Property and School TAXES...

The easiest way to find out is to call a feed store in the area you are moving to and find out local feed/hay prices.  Then call a farrier in the new area and find out how much it is to trim/shoe.  Maybe it's just where I've lived but I've never heated the water.  You won't be paying board so you don't have to worry about that.  I have a savings account just for the animals I add to every pay day for emergencies.   Definately check on property taxes.  If you already have the property you know what they run.  Call the tax acessor in that area and see if they charge taxes on livestock and how much.  In NM I pay $20 a year for 6.  In Tx there was no livestock tax.

It depends on so much- most pleasure horses don't need an grain or supplements. (Buying good quality hay will save money on grains) Most horses do well without shoes ( but your riding conditions and the hoof health will dictate that) Other than routine shots, vet care is generally limited with a otherwise healthy horse. Shop around for your feed and services.

You can get by and still take good care of your horses without being anal about stuff. Hooves don't always need a trim every 8 weeks...sometimes you can prolong it.Deworming can be done 4 times a year and not compromise health. I would ask around and get rpices on things you kow your going to need on a monthly basis. Since you have horse experience, you know what that is.

PS arabians are a good choice!

I live about 5 miles from the Pa line.I have 3 horses on 3 acers.You will need to make sure you have a sacrifice lot and to small feilds to rotate to keep your pasture.Although with one horse you should be fine.I keep mine on the sacrifice lot during the day in the summer with hay ,and out in the field at night.In the winter they are on hay all the time and don't go out in the field at all.They stay in my dirt lot area.Hay around here right now is going anywhere from 5.50 a bale to 8.00 a bale.Round bales anywhere from $55-75 .grain is anywhere from $8-13 I do not spend $300 in vet bills .I do all shots myself(that I can) and have the vet out once a year for rabies and coggins and teeth.Other than that I have been very lucky and no problems.My horses are barefoot right now and they get trimmed every 8 weeks @$20 a horse.I have mine on daily wormer and worm with a paste for bots and tapes avry spring and fall.I do not beleive that 3 horses cost me more than $150 a month.Even less in the summer.

Originally written by azmusclecar on 2008-02-17 10:36 PM

 Thanks again to all, you've given me info and hope and now I just need to pray on it. Are we allowed to say prayer on this forum????

Anytime its necessary

The GOAT thing.Sometimes a horse and goat are ok.Sometimes not.I've had goats badly damaged/killed by a horse.They don't hold up to being bit or kicked like another horse buddy.If left out with a horse stray dogs are a issue.

Not only are you allowed to pray, I'll add my prayers to yours for your friend.

I'd think about the goat.  My horses don't like them and my 5yr old killed one of the neighbours goats when he got in her field.

In PA you should be fine with one acre for your horse.  If you have to feed hay the basic is 12-15 bales per month.  Orchard grass runs about $4.00 bale in PA if you buy it all at cutting time. It will cost you about $120 month for vet, grain, hay, salt block, wormer, farrier trims.  It would drop to $100 month if you pasture 6 months and do your own shots. This is average for a healthy horse, more for higher maintenance. 

Wow, can't believe a lonely single horse would injure a goat especially if introduced slowly.  Sorry to hear a goat got murdered by a horse! I've had pygmies running with 4-6 horses at a time and never had one injured or even kicked at. It was quite the opposite with the goats butting the horses at grain feeding time. Had to stand out side waiting for horses to finish their meal. Built a new pasture just for the goats so I can quit "waiting".

Typically a boer or nubian goat (whether works best) has the size to be with a horse. You could also try a small donkey or burro.

Here's how I figure my horse upkeep.  I'm going to base this on my geriatric horse ( 25yrs old ). 

10# Purina Senior per day = 6 bags per mo. @ $14 = $84

2 bales of hay a week = 8 bales per mo. @ $6 = $48

Water  we keep 2 100gal tanks full and 5 gal buckets in stalls, plus humidify our 20X40 green house, plus all the house water.  Our bill runs around $30 per mo.

Fly Predators = $28 per month, but that's based on 5 horses.  With only 3 acres, I'd suggest you use some type of fly inhibitors.

Simplifly = $45 per month, but again based on 5 horses.  I HATE FLIES !

Farrier (Now this is a killer ) 2 sets of shoes and 3 trims every 6 weeks is $250.  Of course this cost ALWAYS seems to rise.

I don't figure vet costs on a monthly basis.  They all get their shots twice a year approx. $70 and a coggins at approx. $38

Without the vet thrown in there . . . approx $200 per month.

Now I'm going to go vomit

Some more things to think about...

Do you have a way to transport this horse to the vet if necessary?

I.E. do you own a trailer and vehicle capable of towing it?

or do you have access to such at any hour of the day?

Is the current property fenced?

Have you come up with a plan for manure disposal?

Finally, are you ready to commit the rest of your life to daily care for this horse?

Do you have anyone in the area that will be able to take over the daily chores, if you need to be out of the area for any length of time?

Where in PA are you moving to?