How Much Do Horses Cost

How much do horses cost? There are many factors that affect the price of owning a horse. The average lifespan of a horse is between 25 and 33 years. There are also costs for equipment that will help you maintain your animal. Feed and Insurance expenses are also part of the cost of owning a horse. It’s important to know all of these costs before you purchase your new pet.

Horses cost – Average lifespan of a horse is 25 to 33 years

The average lifespan of a horse varies based on breed, environmental factors and care. In general, a healthy horse may work for twenty to thirty years before retirement. However, this may vary greatly depending on the breed, age and purpose of the horse. For example, a hard-working draft horse may retire sooner than a pony that is ridden only once a week.

Horses with larger bodies live shorter lives than smaller ones, but there are exceptions. Some breeds are known for their longer lifespans, such as Arabians, Percherons and Friesian horses. While the average lifespan of a Thoroughbred horse is 25 to 33 years, smaller breeds tend to live much longer than medium-sized breeds.

Horses cost – Equipment needed to maintain a horse

Horse owners will need to purchase equipment to maintain their animals. This equipment includes tack, blankets, lead rope, lunging equipment, saddle pads, stirrups, and horse grooming supplies. The horse will also require a stable where it can be housed and secured. It will also require a place to store hay and feed.

Feeding a horse costs a considerable amount of money. An average horse weighs around 1,100 pounds and requires approximately 1.5% to 2.5% of its body weight in hay and grain each day. This means that the average bag of grain or bale of hay will not last for a long time. Feed costs account for one-third to half of the total horse ownership costs. The average owner spends more than $1,000 per year on food alone.

Other equipment that horse owners need to maintain their horses’ health is necessary for daily riding. Tack can cost from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Tack can also cost from $10 to $200 per month depending on its quality. For example, a leather girth will cost more than synthetic tack. Another piece of equipment needed for riding horses is a bridle, which goes over the horse’s head. A bridle set will also include bits and reins. Reins typically cost between twenty dollars and $100 for a set of four.

Feed costs

Feed costs for horses can be surprisingly high. Horses spend up to 16 hours a day munching on forage, which is essential to the digestive system. But, the high cost of forage can be a sticker shock to new owners. Luckily, there are ways to keep costs low while providing quality nutrition for your horse.

For example, pasture maintenance costs about $194 per year for an average horse. For more expensive pastures, it may cost up to $300 a year. If you don’t want to use pasture for your horse all year, you will need to supplement its diet with hay.

Insurance costs

Insurance for horses helps cover the costs of medications and veterinarian bills. Just like health insurance for humans, horse insurance can reimburse up to 60 percent of the total cost of treatment. However, in many cases, this coverage requires you to take your horse to a veterinarian who works with large livestock. This can be costly.

Fortunately, insurance companies offer several options. For instance, you can purchase loss-of-use coverage, which reimburses a percentage of the insured value of your horse in the event of a loss. Typically, this type of policy is more expensive than the major-medical coverage. You can also purchase permanent disability coverage.