According to the old joke, buying a horse is the cheapest thing you'll ever do. It's the part that comes after that will cost you.
There's a reason why owning horses has been considered the pastime of the wealthy.
The horse itself doesn't really have to be expensive, according to Cowgirl Magazine. You can sometimes rescue a horse for free. If you want a trained trail horse, you might pay $2,500. If you want a competitive arena horse, think $25,000.
Other expenses:
* Boarding: Outdoor boarding is about $3,600 per year, including pasture and feed. Indoor boarding can cost $6,600 per year. Home pastured horses cost about $2,200 a year for upkeep of pasture, barn, bedding and hay. You'll need to rent or own a tractor to spread manure.
* Health: Vaccinations, dental care and farrier services cost about $1,500 a year. Expect thousands of dollars more in emergency veterinary charges if the horse gets sick. Horse health insurance could help save money, but will cost about $500 annually.
* Tack and saddles: Saddle, about $800. Bridles, bits, halters, groom kit, $500. If you want to show, add a horse trailer or truck and fancy duds.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
