Cost of keeping a horse (DIY VS Stabling Yards)

[Cowgirl@heart]

Good day to all fellow horse-lovers!

I have been riding at a riding school for nearly 3 years now, and I'm considering buying my own horse.

I've been asking around and many people (horse owners) have different opinions.

I know that the initial purchase price is not even close to what it costs to keep the horse in good health.

My question today is, how much does it cost to keep a horse (DIY) per month?

I could stable my horse at the school where I ride, but have the space for a horse on the property I stay at, so DIY would suit me better, though it would take up a huge amount of time and effort. (And money)

1) Stable should be set up

2) Food (what do I feed the horse? Apart from the grazing and lucerne. Type and %, etc.)

3) How much do vaccinations cost (AHS, Equine flu, tetanus, etc.)? And when do I vaccinate the horse?

4) Deworming - what's the cost and how often should it be done?

5) Farrier - I know it depends on the rate at which the horse's hooves grow, but how often do I need a farrier's services and how much does it cost?

6) Vet / dentist checks - Cost and how often should it be done?

7) Which plants are poisonous for horses?

What is good bedding for a horse?

9) How often should the bedding be changed?

10) OK...How much does it actually cost per month to keep a horse? And how does DIY compare to stabling at a stabling yard?

11) How much money do I have to save up as a back-up fund in case the horse needs to see a vet (in case it gets sick)?

12) How much does it cost to insure the horse? (Also for a back-up fund in case it gets sick)

If there's anything I left out, please also share that information with me.
I think I covered most of the basic things, all I need now is the monthly cost of keeping a horse, with the above things taken into consideration?

Thank you in advance for your help/advice.

[Willem vd Mescht]

First off, I'd like to say welcome to "Die Aalwyne" forum.

That is quite a long list of questions, so I'll probably won't get to answering them all, but lets see how far I get.

First I'll just make a few general comments regarding having your own horse.

Good for you to have had lessons for the past 3 years, before thinking of getting a horse. So many people just jump in blindly, buy a horse and then it doesn't work out, cause they didn't know what keeping a horse all entails.

DIY will surely be cheaper. But that doesn't mean it is the best. You'll have to way up all the pros and cons and decide for yourself. First the biggest disadvantage of having your own horse at your own place would be not having anyone to ride with. It can get very boring to ride all by yourself and soon one don't feel like riding and eventually the whole exercise of feeding and caring for a horse every day become a pain. It is however a bit easier if you are staying on the property, but many are not that fortunate.

While if you have the horse at a boarding facility, you don't have to be there for your horse every morning and evening. There will be other people riding as well, that you can ride with and chat to. Your horse will also have other horses to socialize with.

If you have a horse on your own property it will be a good idea to have a companion for him, even just a little pony or a donkey. If you have a good friend who also has a horse and the two of you can keep your horses together, go for rides together and so, that would be the ideal situation.

As for cost. That can vary quite a lot. I'm fortunate enough to have a horse that stay in good condition even on very little feed. My cost for her last year, the entire year was less than R2000. And most of that were spend during the last part of the year, due to the incredibly dry summer we are having.

Don't know if you have selected a horse to buy yet, but when you do, do consider the cost of his upkeep. Ask the owner how much they feed the horse. Whether the horse had been sick over the past few years and so on. Ask about anything you can think of that could cost money. It probably won't be such a good idea to just go and ask outright, "how mutch dit the horse's upkeep cost you?"

In general Thoroughbreds cost a whole lot more to keep than non TB's. They need hoof care (the farrier) more often and often need shoes too. They need to be fed a lot more to keep their condition. And they tend to be more injury prone and get sick easier. That said, not all TB's will be like that and not all non TB's will be low cost like my horse. But personally, I just try to stay away from TB's. A non TB, will however cost you a lot more to purchase than a TB, but I think it is a worthy investment.

Also, a hardy, non TB, won't need to be stabled, even in cold whether. I never stable or blanket my own horse, in fact she is much happier being out, even in bad weather. In that case you won't even need to build a stable, though it is still nice to have a stable for tacking up, grooming and feeding.

Continue....

[Willem vd Mescht]

....Continued

I'd say budget for at least R500 (Depending on the horse, you might need as much as R1000) each month to take care of your horse. If you don't spend the full R500, then put the rest away into an emergency fond, for when he get sick. Just a single vet visit will cost you at least R500, but probably more toward R1000 or more, with treatment included. It will also depend on the distance he must travel. Not sure exactly, but they easily charge R4, R5 per km, when on a call out.

www.africanhorsesickness.co.za has a lot of information about AHS, when to do the injections, etc. Flu and tetanus are usually given together as one injection. Not sure of the exact pricing now, but think it is about R150 for AHS and R100 for flu and tetanus combined. Don't hold me to that, I'm really not sure now.

Deworming, also depend on what you use, but also budget for about R150, four times a year.

 Farrier, R120 for a trim. (Might differ in your area, BTW where are you from?) It will be more if your horse need shoes. Again not sure of the exact pricing, but say about R200 for trim and shoes on front feet only and about R300 for all 4 feet. A horse with weak feet, could need a farrier as often as once every 6 weeks, but if your horse has nice strong feet, it can go up to 12 weeks before the next visit from your farrier. I've even had 18 weeks go by between visits. At that time it was a huge hassle to get a farrier all the way out to my property. Fortunately my farrier now stay close by, so he can respond quickly when I call him.

Bedding: All the people I know use wood shavings. Find a saw mills near you and you'll surely be able to get from them. Try to get the more coarse shavings, not the fine dusty stuff. Then on a daily basis, just remove the wet shavings. You'll easily see or feel the spots that are wet. And remove the droppings. Then add shavings as needed. No need to replace all the shavings. Oh, and open up the floor area where it is wet, to dry out.

Insurance: I'm afraid I don't believe in insurance. Don't have anything of mine insured, so I can't help you their. Would like to know myself what insurance would cost, just out of curiosity. Personally I think it is a waste of money, cause they for ever have excuses when you want to claim and you end up paying for the damage or what ever yourself. No wait, let me not go there.

I don't think I've covered all the questions, but probably most of them. I know the forum is rather quiet, but do hang around here, even if no one else is around, I'm always here and eager to chat and help if I can. And let me know how it goes with your new horse.

[Cowgirl@heart]

Good morning!

I am situated in Pretoria.

I do not have a horse yet, but not sure whether I will be able to afford one at this stage. Thank you for your reply. I now have a fairly good idea of what a horse would cost.

Still not sure whether I'd like the horse to stay on the property, but think it will be better to stable at a stabling yard. And like you've mentioned, it would be better for the horse to be with other horses. And nicer for outrides.

As far as breed is concerned: I am looking for a Boerperd or Boerperd X. I know they are very hardy and strong, and most of them have nice strong hooves and do not need constant maintenance regarding their condition. Most are good doers.

Will definitely keep you up to date regarding my decisions and should I decide to dive in and purchase a horse, I will inform you of that aswell.

I have not been taking lessons though, just general riding (trail rides). But I have ridden on quite a few horses and have a good idea of what I want in a horse. I do know that I prefer geldings. I just feel closer to geldings than mares and feel like I bond easier with them. I also noticed that mares can be quite temperamental at times, though that is not always the case. Either way, it is personal preference

Would also prefer a horse between the age of 5 and 10 years. Don't want a horse that is too green, but would love to be able to grow and learn with the horse. Also don't want one that is older than 10. It just seems like a good age for me.

[Willem vd Mescht]

Yes, boerperde are good doers. Just be careful, many people will call any horse that come from a farm environment a boerperd, even though they not. Just be aware of that.

If I may make a few more suggestions. First of all, I'd think it would be a good idea if you could get hold of a good riding instructor. There are just so much more to horses than just getting on and ride and a good instructor can teach you a lot. Ideally, someone who is more focused on natural horsemanship, who can help you form a stronger bond with your horse and who can help you understand how a horse's mind work. Since you don't seem to be interested in jumping, dressage and such, I think natural horsemanship will be of more value to you and it will give you a good foundation to build on, should you at a later stage become interested in competitive riding.

I too, started of by doing only trail rides and thanks to a riding instructor, whom I only met several years after I started riding, I developed an endless thirst to learn more about horses, their mentality and reasons for doing things, and there is always something new to learn.

Even if you only have a lesson once a month. Then you'll have someone to turn to, who can help you select the perfect horse for you, who can see to it that you are not being taken for a ride and who can make sure the horse you choose is sound and don't have any faults that you may not be aware of.

Also remember that once you start looking for a horse it can take a long time to find your perfect match. So it could be worth your while to start looking for a horse now. Since you are not really ready to take on a horse of your own, you will be less likely to just take the first horse you look at. If you do find a horse that you like, you can also now negotiate more strongly for a better price. If they don't want to drop the price, then you can just move on and keep on looking, since you weren't intending on getting a horse right now anyway. Hope that make sense.

After riding other people's horses for several years, my first horse I bought was about 13 when I got him. He is now close to 30 and will probably be put down soon. I went to visit him two weeks ago. He is well taken care of by an old lady who lightly rode him for several years after we parted ways. My point, it would probably be better to go for a horse closer to 10 than one closer to 5. A 5 year old is still very inexperience and you'll need a horse that can teach you and help you learn.

Frosty, my second horse was 4 years old when I got her and in June I'm going to buy a six month old filly. So as you gain more experience, in future you can consider buying a younger horse, that with the knowledge you have gathered by then, you can teach and bring up to be a good horse-citizen.

And lastly, don't just write off mares. I too use to have only contact with geldings and heard a lot of stories about how moody mares are and such. So I also thought I'd never get a mare. However it just worked out that I got Frosty, a mare, at a really good price and she changed my mind completely. But, yes, thinking about it, a gelding will probably make a better first horse than a mare. All I'm saying is, if you come across a mare, don't pass her by just because she is a mare.

Hope to hear from you again soon. Keep well.

[Cowgirl@heart]

Hi.

I haven't logged on for quite a while.

I am once again smitten on a horse (two horses, actually).

One grey (white) Boerperd and one bay Boerperd type.
The grey is around 15hands and they want R3000 for him.

The bay is around 14.3hands and they want R2500-R3000 for him.

I contacted both owners and got great feedback, and now I am once again down in the dumps because I cannot afford them, even though it's almost giveaway prices. I don't know if it's a good idea to loan money to buy them, because I'll have to a) Pay back the loan and b) How will I properly care for the horse if I can't even afford the purchase price?

I don't know what to do, my parents also keep crushing my dream and it seems like they don't want me to own a horse.

I am more interested in the bay horse, because he is very stocky and I've always dreamed of a bay horse. Though the grey reminds me a lot of my friend's horse, and I have bonded quite well with my friend's horse.

I've tried to negotiate with the owners of the bay horse, and asked them if I will be able to pay him off and only take him once the full amount has been paid. They didn't reply yet, and I don't know if that was maybe a wrong move on my side. I am getting desperate and I don't know if I am making a huge mistake to want a horse now. Any advice is welcome!!

Oh, I've since moved back with my parents and can now afford stabling fees. So that will make it a bit better on me. But still unsure if I may be making a huge mistake. What if the horse falls ill or gets injured and I don't have money to nurse it back to health?

Heartbroken and desperate horse lover...

[Willem vd Mescht]

Oh, I indeed know how it feel to be in love with a horse and not being able to buy him, whether it is because of own finances or because the current owner don't want to sell, it is all the same.

So it is a battle between following your heart and that what your logic mind tells you. I know it will hurt, but I would suggest that you go with logic. That you save up some funds for a backup in case something goes wrong. If you have that backup funds and something do go wrong, you wont be sorry. However if you buy a horse and some time down the line you can't afford to keep him any more and have to sell him, you will be even more heart broken.

I'm in the process of buying a young Appaloosa filly, 7 months old. She is not even here at my place and already I have had a couple of extra unexpected expenses in preparing for her arrival. I'm hoping to get her home within the next two weeks.

If you can afford to buy the horse cash and you know you can afford his upkeep and still be able to put some money away to save up for an emergency, then I would still hesitantly say, go ahead and buy a horse, even if you don't have a backup fund to draw from right now. Should something happen and you need too, you can always take a loan to attend to the horse's needs, but loaning money to buy a horse, I'd say you'll be looking for trouble.

Remember that there are hundreds and thousands of horses out there and you will always be able to find another. Also be patient when looking for a horse, don't just take the very first one you fall in love with. It took me more than a year to look for and find my horse Frosty.

If you really and truly got your heart set on one of these two horses, you could perhaps ask the owner if they would be willing to lease the horse to you with an option to buy. That way there is less financial risk for you. However should things not work out, again you will be even more heart broken than now. So best would probably be to just completely put these two horses out of your mind and to get yourself prepared for the next good horse that comes along for you. There will be another, that I can guarantee you.

I know what I've said is probably not what you wanted to hear, but stay positive, you will eventually find a horse at the right time and not having to worry about finances will make it just so much more pleasurable.

Good luck and keep us updated to what you decide and what happen.

[Cowgirl@heart]

It's not a matter of what I want to hear. More a matter of what I NEED to hear. I also feel that it would be much safer and better for myself to wait until I can financially handle horse ownership. I decided to go check out the grey horse (Habanna). The bay was sold already, so that tough choice was made FOR me. Lol. I had a great feeling about the grey from the beginning, and the bay horse's owners gave me the impression they're hiding something. So I'm glad I never even wasted time to go view him.

Now all that's left is for me to decide on a date that would suit both myself and Habanna's owner so I can go view and test-ride him.

Who knows? Maybe some miracle happens and he drops the price even more, and I'd be able to afford him. Ah, here I go again with the daydreaming!

But seriously, viewing and trying out a horse does not bind me in any way, and I get to decide what my next move is. Do I buy him or keep looking...Well, for now I'm putting all my trust in God. HE knows what is right for me, and at the right time, all will fall into place.

I just have to have patience. Trust and patience.

I always say things happen for a reason. And there's a plan for my life. What happens, happens because that's what is written in my "book of life" and that is my destiny. Well, until the right time, I will keep dreaming. Dreams are free after all! 

[Willem vd Mescht]

Oh, I actually thought that you've had gone to look at the two horses before. Yes, just looking at horses is free and even if you think a horse is not what you are looking for, go anyway and have a look. As you say, you don't have to buy the horse.

Just be careful, there are people out there whom might not be very honest about the horse they want to sell and will have no concern for your safety. The one horse I went to look at was still young, but the owner said he was broke and ridable, so I got on and he just about immediately bucked me off. So I didn't buy him. With Frosty I knew she was not ridden yet and also I wasn't planing on getting a mare, but she had such a lovely nature I just couldn't resist. I went to see her several times before I actually bought her. So the lesson I learned: Always ask the owner to ride the horse first, before you get on.

So here are my suggested guide to buying a horse. It is not fixed in stone, but you can't go wrong if you follow all the steps.

Before you start your search for a horse, make a list, no make that two lists. The first is your "must be" list. All the things you want your horse to be with no exception, i.e. Must be sound, must be a boer perd, etc.

Then make a "would like" list. Things like, would like a bay horse, would like a trail horse, would like to be x hands high, etc. i.e. Things that are not essential, like looks or things that would be nice if the horse can do it, but that you could train the horse yourself to do if he doesn't know it. Then also assign points to each item on your list and make sure the points add up to 100.

When you go look at the horse, mark off the items on both your lists. Add up the marked points of the would like list and see what the score is out of 100. That way you will be able to objectively score the horse and make a decision without your feelings and love for the horse getting in the way.

If after you went to see the horse, you think this is the horse for me, he got a high score (80+) on my would like list and got ALL the points on my must be list, I would like to buy this horse. Then, DON'T go and buy the horse...

Instead, ask a riding instructor or a friend who knows more about horses than you and preferably someone who know you well too, to come with you to go and have a look at the horse again. This person will also be able to look at the horse objectively and maybe see faults in the horse that you might not notice.

If you and your friend still think he is the right horse for you, then get your vet to check the horse out as well to make sure there are not any potential medical problems. Since this is going to cost you extra money this should be the last thing you do before buying the horse. Think of it as an insurance policy. Many people will buy horses without a vet check and all could work out fine, but knowing that a vet also OKed the horse just give you that extra bit of peace of mind.

And only then do you go ahead and buy the horse. Oh, and you might also consider throwing an extra surprise or short notice visit in-between all that. It is proper and polite to arrange an appointment with the owner, but that would also give the owner an opportunity to hide something from you. Example a horse that is difficult to catch, the owner could always have him ready caught and waiting for you. Or difficult to saddle, to bridle, etc.

Now if you follow these steps, chances are good that you'll find that Habanna is not that perfect just for you horse you thought he'd be. Don't despair, it would be better to find that out before you buy rather than after. Remember you are about to embark on an expensive and long term endeavour and you need to get things as close to perfect as you can.

Once again, good luck in finding that perfect horse. When you do, it will all be worth it.

[Cowgirl@heart]

Thank you so much!

You've given me something to think about.

I will most certainly take someone that knows me well, and knows a thing or two about horses with. One of the ladies at the riding school, who happens to own a horse herself, is an equine specialist. Not sure what it is she does, but it's almost as good as taking a vet with.

She also knows me and knows what type of horse is suitable according to my riding abilities and needs. And she has a good eye for a great deal too.

Though she has a busy schedule, I could always ask her to accompany me. Then there's also my friend whose husband lets me ride his horse, Storm. She also knows me very well, and I would take her with me aswell.

And going home to think about it, and a few more visits, then I will have a better idea of whether or not I should buy the horse.

Many people bought horses without a vet check and all went well. And they only rode the horses once or twice and decided to buy them.

So yes, some deals do work out, but I won't take that chance, as horse ownership is not something to be taken lightly.

I will be sensible about it. And will try to remain objective and open-minded.

I think my main problem is that I grow attached too quickly.

I used to ride a stunning dun Boerperd, he was tragically run over by a vehicle in August last year. I had such a great bond with him, people started calling him my horse. Lol. I wanted to buy him, but then he was killed and my heart was in shatters. I am getting tears in my eyes as I'm typing this, actually. He was the first horse I fell from - a total of 7 times! Lol. I rode him bareback sometimes and used to take him swimming too.

He was so awesome, and everything I'd ever dreamed of in a horse.

He had a few vices, like rearing when I turn him to the left, and pulling his head down between his legs as I go into a canter, sending me head-over-heels over his head. Haha. But even though he was a bit naughty, I knew it was something that can be fixed by him having only me as a rider (if I owned him). Well, he will always have a special place in my heart, and I will never forget him and the great times we shared...

Here's a link to some random pictures, including some of this beautiful horse, named after his colour. Dun. Some of dogs, some of myself, and some of my sister's baby too...Hehe

I would've called him Baldemar. 'Bald' - Zoology: white marking on face or forehead.

http://s891.photobucket.com/albums/ac114/rubybabe88/Ruby88_random_pics

[Presence]

I did not read the whole thread, but I'll reply on your first post!

1) Not all horses need stables, so if you do not have stables on the property I would advise you to buy a horse that lives out (you can always blanket him if the weather gets to cold).

2)Good grazing/roughage is very important, consentrates depends on how often the horse is worked and how hard.

3) AHS once a year, flue every 6 months, tetanus once a year, the injections will cost you about R300 all together, but vet fees are allot, they usually ask about R500 to come out.

4) 3/4 times a year, dewormers cost between R80 and R200, I use the cheap ones, but I deworm with different brands everytime.

5) All depends on the area you are in, my farrier asks R110 for a trim (barefoot) and comes every 6 weeks, but I skip if my horses hooves are still short.

6) I do my horses teeth every two years and the vet only comes for injections or if something is wrong.

7)  All depends on your area, buthorses do not generally eat the poisonous plants.

hay or sawdust, sawdust should not be used for horses with allergies.

9) Every day, just remove the poop.

10) If you have the time and experience DIY is cheaper, because you do not pay for someone elses time. I keep my horse DIY, this is my budget...
Rent of property: R300
Guy who feeds: R100
Bag of feed :R160
4 bales of oathay: R160
But it all depends where you are situated

11) As much as possible, my backup is my parents

12)I don't insure my horse, not lots of people do!

If you need any other advice please ask!!

[Cowgirl@heart]

Hi, thank you so much for your reply!

I now have a good idea of how much things cost when owning a horse.

Unfortunately I do not own one yet, and weighing my options, I think a stable yard would be ideal, as I have since moved back with my parents.

As for the money back-up plan: I cannot look to my parents for that, since they feel I cannot afford to own a horse, and won't be able to support me financially. They do have the means should I really need it, but they won't pay for everything though. Horse ownership isn't something to be taken lightly, and one must be financially, emotionally and physically ready to properly care for a horse. Until such time, I will ride the horses at the riding schools in my area (Pretoria). I've recently come across an ad on JunkMail about a lady looking for an experienced rider to exercise her Saddler X for her, as she is kept busy keeping her SAB in shape for shows, and only has time to ride the Saddler X once a week.

I responded to the ad, and went out to ride with her on the 11th of this month. My current profile picture is of myself with this Saddler X. He gave 7 single bucks with me, and refused to move about twice. Also tried to kick my foot about two or three times, but I didn't panic or dismount, as this would give the horse satisfaction. I plan on going there tomorrow to spend some one-on-one time with him, grooming, working with the saddle (he nips at you when you fasten the girth) and also mounting and dismounting (he tries to kick your foot as you are getting ready to mount).

I'm sure that with some patience and time, he will once again be the wonderful horse he was when she first got him. He is also very jumpy on outrides and shies for the silliest things, like a rock, hole in the ground, etc.

Again, some time under saddle and a confident rider should resolve this issue. Fortunately I am not easily scared off by "difficult" horses.

I may not be an expert but feel that I have enough knowledge to help this lady work with this horse...

[Presence]

I'm happy your able to help the Saddler X!

Something you could try is leasing. See how it is to "own" a horse, before you buy your own!

[Presence]

And have a look at horsejunction, horsecrazy and gumtree, they have lots of people looking for riders!

[Cowgirl@heart]

There are so many good buys at the moment, but I do not have the money now. So I'm happy to just enjoy my riding. Even if it is other people's horses. Lol. Glad to announce that the Saddler X hasn't bucked even once, and wasn't startled by anything this past weekend. The only think he still needs some work on is with his hind legs. He just needed more time under saddle, and with the young guy also riding him, he gets sufficient time under saddle and is turning out to be an awesome horse.

I'm even considering buying him off of her (after a few months, that is).
Doubt she'd sell, but with a good offer, who knows? Won't hurt to try.
Plus, he won't be too far from where he is now, so she'll be able to visit him regularly. But I'm still considering it, not dead-set. Lol.

He kicks out at you when you try to pick them up to clean his hooves and also kicks out when you try to mount. Any suggestions?

I just give him a slap on the bum and tell him in a strict voice to stop.
He eventually stops and I'm able to mount safely.

My way may not be the best way, but the owner is happy with it and the horse doesn't seem to mind either. So all is good.