Am I being realistic?

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missshell

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Im looking to get my first horse in the not too distant future. My hubby has asked me to work out how much per month it will cost.
I have worked it out to be around £200 per month. Is this realistic?
(baring in mind i'll be keeping him/her at home)
 
i think it is fairly realistic if it is just for one and kept at home.

i would maybe add another £75 - £100 on though......

new things just have to be bought you know!

and hubby doesnt have to know - tis only a slight bend on the truth.....
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Most of us daren't add it up!!

depending on your facilities I would have thought that is fair.

Not going to put prices on things.. but you should consider which of these apply:-

Hard feed
hay
bedding
shoeing
wormer
vaccinations
vet/dentist for teeth
insurance
tack/rugs/equipment
clipping

lessons
entry fees
travelling costs

fertiliser/weedkiller for paddocks
muckheap removal


I've gotta stop before I scare myself!
 
probably be ok however i know if it was my first horse i would be buying new things all the times so that will up it by a bit
 
Yes I would say that's pretty generous for the one horse really, some months you are going to pay out a lot more and some a lot less... I worked out my tb used to cost around £150 on DIY.
 
More than realistic IMO. We kept ours at livery for under £200 a month.
 
Funnily enough I did this exact calculation just yesterday. I keep my girls at home, turned out 24/7. One is TBx who has about £20 worth of hard feed a month, the other is a small pony who is laminitic so has hay rather than grass and she probably eats £20 - 30 worth of hay a month. Rest is shoeing / trims, worming, lesson for me (once a month), insurance and routine vet avergaed over the year and this works out about £190 per month but doesnt include any extras (like new m/w turnout rug, sheepskin seat saver, new girth, new paddock jacket - all those things I didnt need but must have!). Also havent included any field maintance / muck heap removal but I try and work out ways of getting rid of muck to neighbours, mow the rouigh patchs of paddock with lawn mower etc to save money. So - in all, think your estimate is pretty accurate. If they were in at night over winter then cost might increase a bit more (although I use straw so not much). Hope that helps. The TB costs a lot more than the ponio - reckon the pony costs £40 -50 per month on her own.
 
Add on the cost of what you will do with the horse when you are away on holiday. We pay a fortune for a house-sitter (we have 4 horses, 4 dogs and a cat!) but livery would be more expenssive and unsettling for the animals.

It might be an idea to get a DIY livery, someone who can help you out if you are busy/sick/on holiday, keep your horse company and hack out with you.
 
£200 per month per horse should be fine
BUT
how much acreage?
Muck disposal?

If insufficent grazing, you would spend a lot on forage
plus companionship
Most horses are not happy living alone.
If you have plenty of grazing and stabling consider one of two options-
A second horse, as a livery, might laos give you company for riding out and hlep with costs
A pony - perhaps a rescue companion, as long as that one woud stay on its own whislt you were out riding.
 
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