Question for horse owners

[jenL]

I've wanted a horse my entire life, and I've yet to get one, but dh and I are seriously talking about making my dream happen. I've ridden a few times, and ds is currently taking lessons. I would too if this becomes a reality. In the meantime, I have a few questions so we can think about this logically...

 

• How many acres would you consider the minimum for having 1-3 horses?
  
• How much is the yearly cost for owning a horse (food, vet bills, equipment, etc)?
  
• Is there a certain kind of barn I need to have?
  
• What else do you think I should know if I'd like to make this a reality?
  

BTW, this is about 5 years away, but if it's going to be a goal, I want to be as informed as possible. Thanks for your help!

[amy g.]

We have a horse and a pony. Our pasture is 3 acres, but I don't leave them on it all of the time, or they would kill the grass, so we use an electric fence to dry lot them when the pasture needs a rest.

 

We don't put ours in the barn unless there is a lot of lightning. They are happier outside. If it is cold, we put a coat on them.

 

Our trainer trims feet when she does lessons. I think it is $13 per animal. I don't know how much feed is because we have so many other animals sharing the hay and oats.

 

I think the most important thing is to get the help you need to find the RIGHT horse without health or behavior problems.

[Aggie]

Decide how much you want to spend on a horse, then double that.

 

Talk with a local vet about expenses. Then double that. Ask your vet if s/he'll check out a horse before you buy. An untrained eye can miss quite a lot.

 

Pay someone who knows horses to help you look for one. Perhaps your riding instructor. They'll know so much more than you can even imagine. Some sellers have no problem drugging a horse before letting you see it. :(

 

Since horses are herd animals, you will probably want 2 to start. Be sure they get along well. Apparently not all horses like each other.:glare: And others can't stand to be separated from their friends.

 

I would take lessons now in preparation for owning a horse. Even better, ime, if you are able, take lessons on training a horse.

[hillfarm]

IME, the amount of acreage needed varies depending on the type of pasture and climate in your area. Here in Ohio, a couple of acres would be fine for most of the year for two horses, but out west where the vegetation is more sparce, it probably wouldn't be nearly enough. You can always supplement with hay.

 

The cost of ownership varies greatly also. Part depends on you, the kind of riding you plan to do will dictate what kind of horse, what type of equipment, how much travel, any extra training or care costs, etc. The rest depends on your particular horse. When we had three Quarter horses, one was accident prone. She racked up double the cost in vet bills than the other two combined. Some horses are easy keepers with healthy constitutions and others are fragile and need frequent inputs of extra nutrients and manage to still catch every illness coming and going.

 

You can also opt for the Cadillac version, buying top of the line everything, or go for the horse version of a '92 Ford Escort. We had our horses only as family pets and for occasional trail rides on our own property, so we were pretty low end. Our costs averaged about $500 per year per horse, with an existing barn and ample pasture available. If you are interested in saving money, you can build a simple three sided run-in shed that will provide adequate shelter if your climate is not terribly severe. In my area, that would cost around $1200-1500.00.

 

My main suggestion to you would be for you to see if you could do some volunteer work at the stable where your ds rides and see if they might trade some lessons for it. Regardless of the trade, you would greatly benefit from being around the horses, observing proper care and handling techniques, learning about signs of good and ill health, etc. You might also make contacts that would lead you to your first horses. Ours were freebies, and came complete with all tack (saddles, bridles, brushes, etc.).

Edited January 8, 2010 by hillfarm

[Cindyg]

<<How many acres would you consider the minimum for having 1-3 horses? >>

 

Minimum, 1 acre per horse. This amount of pasture will not support the horses most of the year in most areas of the country. In other words, you'll still need to feed them hay. Nor is it much room to ride on. But it's enough room for them to move around and be horsey.

 

<<How much is the yearly cost for owning a horse (food, vet bills, equipment, etc)? >>

 

I figured this up once, but I'm not on my own computer and I don't have access to my files. There are a LOT of variables, of course.

 

If your favorite horse gets sick or goes lame, you could rack up $20K in bills before you know it. And it's not like on the first day the vet tells you it's going to cost $20K. The first bill is $200, then he has to come back out for another $300, and then one more visit might fix things up...and at some point you can't stop the treatment now when you've already spent $XXXXX. YKWIM.

 

If your horse is healthy, if your luck is good, if it rains on your grass, if your horse doesn't require an intervention from Miss Manners of horsemanship, well, I'm going to offer a quick guess of $5K a year for normal expenses.

 

Every horse has to have his hooves done every 6-8 weeks, shots once a year, broken tack replaced, hay in the winter, etc.

 

<<Is there a certain kind of barn I need to have?>>

 

I do think every horse deserves a roof and two walls for shade or a wind break. Many horses will opt to stand outside in most weather, but I do think they should have some way to escape the weather if they need to.

 

<<What else do you think I should know if I'd like to make this a reality?>>

 

Go to the library and read some books on horsekeeping. A lot of us got into horses later in life. Nothing wrong with that. Yes, take riding lessons. But riding lessons are not like owning your own horse. Owning a horse and keeping him at home is complicated.

 

Please do NOT buy a young horse for your kids to "grow up with" or to train your own way. Do not buy a flashy "dream horse." This could cost you dearly over the years. Start with an older, gentle, chubby guy. (Chubby because he might be an easy keeper.)

 

Owning a horse is a wonderful experience and an absolute privilege. I highly recommend it. Don't be afraid to try it. Just go slow and be careful.

Edited January 8, 2010 by Cindyg

[creekland]

 

• How many acres would you consider the minimum for having 1-3 horses?

 

 

 

Generally 1 acre per animal is good, but as the others said, unless you live in a rain forest, you'll still be supplementing with hay. Price hay in your local classifieds. Be sure it has been barn kept and not rained on.

 

How much is the yearly cost for owning a horse (food, vet bills, equipment, etc)?

 

 

For us, over 13 years of owning and breeding/raising English show ponies it has worked out to $500 per animal per year - taken from our farm taxes. This includes basic vet costs, but I do my own shots other than rabies. It also includes feed, regular worming, and some farrier care. Other farrier care we do ourselves. None of mine need shoes. Some need their feet trimmed every 6 weeks, others hardly ever need it. Young colts need gelding, fillies don't, so our overall expenses are an average of all we have. We also seldom have major vet bills. If any occur, they would be above and beyond that $500 figure. This does not include any show expenses.

 

 

 

• Is there a certain kind of barn I need to have?

 

 

 

A run in shed is the best - or stalls they can go in and out at will, but you could lock them in if needed. Mine live out 24/7, but all have shelter they can get. They tend to use it on hot days and stay out in the cold. We also need to lock some in when the vet is coming - or when I have prospective buyers coming and don't want to walk the full length of the farm to see them. Equines that can go in and out as they please seldom have barn vices.

 

 

 

• What else do you think I should know if I'd like to make this a reality?

 

 

 

Definitely learn all you can about horse care in the meantime and have experienced people go with you when you're shopping. Many sellers have no values at all except getting the almighty dollar for themselves. Unless you are showing in breed shows or planning to breed for them, papers are not worth paying extra for. Always judge the individual horse. And yes, don't buy young with the thought that 'we'll bring them up the way we want them' unless you have training experience or an experienced trainer you plan to use. Training horses properly is not as easy as Disney makes it out to be and horses that take command in your 'herd' (including humans in their herd) can be dangerous.

[jenL]

Thank you so much everyone! You've given me so much to think about! Dh is a money guy, so thank you for offering the cost per year information. We'd be one of the families coming to horses later in life. :)

[Brigitte]

Have you considered leasing first?

[Corraleno]

If you have enough grass that you only need to supplement with a little hay in the winter, that will greatly reduce your expenses. The rule of thumb I've heard (from many different sources) is 2.5 acres of good (not scrubby or weedy) grass pasture per horse. So 5 acres of good grass would provide enough forage for 2 horses, with just a bit of hay in the winter. The less grass you have, the more hay you will have to feed, and hay can be really expensive ~ recent droughts out west have doubled the cost of hay here in the last 5 years. We feed alfalfa hay, timothy hay, and some grain, and we figure our expenses average about $300/month per horse, including vet, feed, & farrier. That doesn't include tack or occasional paid help in the barn.

 

If you don't have access to 5 acres of grass, and you plan to feed mostly hay, you want a paddock of at least an acre or so, even if it's just dirt. They need to be able to run and jump and act like horses. You need to provide some kind of shelter, but you don't need a barn ~ a three-sided shelter (with the open side facing away from the prevailing winds) is fine. If it gets really hot where you are, you should also provide some shade trees (a metal shed may provide shade, but it will feel like an oven inside). And you definitely want to get 2 horses rather than 1; they're herd animals and they pair-bond. It makes me cry when I drive around here and see a lone horse pacing back and forth in a tiny, poop-filled, unshaded dirt pen. :sad:

 

Jackie

[Ottakee]

You have gotten a lot of great information. We came into horses later in life as well. I was 36 when I got my first horse. We boared ours with a friend for 2 years before we had enough land to keep them at home--we bought more from a neighbor.

 

 

[*]How many acres would you consider the minimum for having 1-3 horses?

I would say 2 acres per horse if you want them mostly on pasture. I have about 2-2 1/2 acres total for our 3 horses but I have to feed hay year round. Also, check your local zoning as different areas have different rules. Some it is 2 acres for the first horse and then 1/2 acre after that. Other areas you can have horses on just an acre and other you need 5-10 acres just to have 1 horse.

 

[*]How much is the yearly cost for owning a horse (food, vet bills, equipment, etc)?

I plan about $1300/year per horse. This can vary GREATLY though. We have a mare that needs senior feed in a mash 3 times a day so she goes through a bag of grain in just a few days while our other geldings only need about 1 cup a day. Farrier is $25 every 6-8 weeks, more if they need shoes, special trimming, etc. Vet is $100 or so a year---unless something goes wrong and then you are looking at $$$ depending on what it is. Equipment--you would need the basics to get started---halters, leads, buckets, feed dishes, saddles, pads, bridles, RIDING HELMET, etc. but once you have these, they can last for years----unless you need yet a different saddle as the first one didn't fit, or you see a neat bridle or ............. (horse tack is addicting) You can get much of this stuff used though.

 

 

[*]Is there a certain kind of barn I need to have?

In your area, a good size run in shelter--likely 3 sided would be enough protection for them. Even in West Michigan, my horses are out about 23 hours a day. You will need a safe, dry place to store your hay, tack, grain, etc. We have a 40x48 pole barn with 3 stalls, room for hay, tack, grain, etc. (and my husband's snow plow truck). We bought it used and had the builder put it back up on our property. Good fencing is KEY. Check out http://www.horsefencesthatwork.com for some great ideas as to cost, types, etc. We have the electric rope and it keeps the horses in, is easy to put up, cost effective, etc.

 

 

[*]What else do you think I should know if I'd like to make this a reality?

 

My first suggestion would be to take some riding lessons yourself which include basic horse care--from grooming, vet vists, farrier, how to recognize illness, etc. The more I learn about horses, the more I know that I don't know much at all. When you go to buy a horse, take a very experienced friend/trainer/riding instructor with you as not all horse sellers are honest. You likely would want a horse in its teens or so with LOTS of experience doing what you want to do--showing, trail riding, jumping, dressage, etc. The best horse we have had was 29 when we got him.

[My3Boys]

Have you considered leasing first?

 

This is what I was going to say. I owned 2 horses for several years, grew up riding, etc. I rented pasture/stalls but was totally responsible for their care. You really have to love horses and the lifestyle. It's a labor of love, but it is hard work. Depending on where you live, you could get away with just pasturing them, which would eliminate the upkeep of the stable, but it is still a huge commitment. It means regardless of weather, state of your health, wanting to go on vacation, etc., your horses must be fed, watered, groomed, vetted, exercised, facilities maintained, you get the picture.

 

Don't get me wrong. If you do love it , and I was as horse-crazy as it gets, it is indeed a labor of love, but the romantic notion of owning a horse and the realities involved can be quite different.

 

Something else to consider. If you haven't had any experience with horses, I would also be concerned about the numerous safety issues involved with being around them. Before you buy, I would enroll in a class designed to train you in their care and handling. Any equine facility worth it's salt will include this in their beginner's classes. I can't stress the importance of this enough. It will also give you a good idea of whether or not this is really something you want to do.

[Journey]

Here is what it costs us to have one horse. We live in NYS nowhere near the city by the way. Cost of living around here is average.

 

Board--our barn has an indoor and my daughters clean stalls in exchange for the board. Since you will keep them at home, this won't matter. But I do very strongly suggest that if you build a barn, build one that has an over hang that is at least 8 feet wide.

 

Farrier--every six to eight weeks in the summer and two front shoes. $75. Every eight to 10 weeks in the winter with no shoes, so just a trim--$28.

 

Hay--$3.00 bale, we buy 20 bales about once a month. $60.

 

Grain--we feed better quality grain which is about $13 a bag twice a month.

 

Wormer--averages $5 a month, we worm about every three months.

 

Good quality English saddle--at least $600---a very important purchase

 

Bridle--$30, bit $25.

 

Winter blankets--up front cost about $200 but these keep for a long time if your horse doesn't rip them up.

 

Shavings for the stall--$4 a bag, we go through 2 bags a week

 

Riding lessons--$35 an hour

 

Spring and Fall shots about $125 respectively

 

This year our horse ripped her face open on a nail--$350, last year she stepped on a nail--$450--needless to say, there are no more nails that we can find.

 

Horses can be expensive but they also don't have to be. Since you are keeping them at your house, it will be far less expensive than boarding. I do agree that basic horsemanship is a must for any new horse owner as they are very unpredictable. If you only have one horse on your farm with no other animals he/she will be very bored and lonesome and yes, they do get depressed. You don't have to have another horse to keep them company (sometimes it's better not to because they don't all always get along with each other). Even if you have a chicken that will stick around, a goat (don't recommend them though) or something that will stay around the horse, he/she should be fine.

 

They are an awesome pet though. our mare is a part of our family and she is such a blessing. She has taught my 15 year old daughter so very, very much in so many ways. I wouldn't trade her for the world.