Just added up the costs this year!

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poiuytrewq

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Over 2014 I logged every penny spent on horses into my diary!
I've just added up general keep so field rent, bedding, feed, farrier and worming. I get hay free.
I'm actually really really impressed at just under 2.5k this is for 2 horses both good doers, out every day or night dependant on season. One shod all round one fronts and a Shetland pony who's on the same routine.
Obviously in reality they cost more as I've not put in vet bills, rugs or equipment costs and repair. Back treatments etc.
I thought I'd be horrified but am very pleased! Even my OH didn't seem horrified! ;)
 
Mine would be a cheap year if I added it up. I haven't competed, bought much or had a vets bill this year (unless it all goes tits up in the next two days!). I've also ditched the insurance, but am saving the equivalent anyway for a while.
 
Pearlsacarolsinger said:
You are braver than me, OP!
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Me too!

Having said that, I've just moved to a cheaper yard which is much nearer home so reckon I'm saving around £130-140 per month now on livery fees and transport. Which is why I don't feel guilty for having just treated the boy to a nice new turnout rug .....😄😄
 
You are brave! The only thing I add up is vets bills, just so that I can beat Spike over the head with the evidence if he plays the hard done by card! He had a good year - or rather, the vets had a good year, thanks to him. Alfs total bill for the year was £210 - vaccinations and a mild colic. Spike has had nearly £7000 spent on him (and guess which one is insured for vets bills!). Cheap field companion my ar5e!
 
I keep a note of everything we spend on ours, but only because, I pay for one and a half, and my sister pays for the other half (he's hers, but he's on loan to us while she's living abroad, but as at the time we couldn't afford a second one she agreed to split the cost).

works out at ~£3200 a year for 2 horses who are out as much as possible and in for about 2 nights a week unless the weather is bad. They are shod all round, every 6 weeks, and regular dentist, jabs etc. very luckily we've had no vets bills other than routine stuff in the last 18 months. But we keep them at home so there's no rent/livery costs to pay, and we don't compete.

The biggest single expense (which isn't in there) is the hunt sub which was £720 this time round, not included above because it's not part of their keep!
 
Ok so there are 3 things that are guaranteed in life - death, taxes, and I will NEVER add up what I spend on my horse.....
 
My 2 (like OP I have a biggun & a littl'n)
Half set shoes done every 6 weeks & trim every 12 weeks for tiny fuzzy, hay, feed, bedding (only 'in' 3 nights a week tho usually over winter), wormer, routine vet, extra vet (this has only been sedation for clipping), clipper-man, has come to a total of £1,101.00 for the year.

Not in the above is 2 x new PE rugs brought for CF, my little shopping outings which seem to accumulate Ariat boots, gloves etc, nor any running costs of field maintenance (own land & yard) or horsebox running etc.

This is purely the 'living' costs of 2 :)
 
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If I add up (for one horse) livery, bedding, hay, feed, farrier, saddler and dentist I'm at over £3350 already so you're doing well! (I'm casually ignoring the fact that I had two for the better part of the year, compete and hire a horse box regularly, had to buy new tack for the new horse and various other costs!)
 
I've done a very quick sum and I'm at £1,440 a year for DIY livery alone - let alone assistance from YM, hay, feed, bedding, insurance, physiotherapist, vets, barefoot trimmer, equipment & training.

Ignorance is definitely bliss!
 
vallin said:
If I add up (for one horse) livery, bedding, hay, feed, farrier, saddler and dentist I'm at over £3350 already so you're doing well! (I'm casually ignoring the fact that I had two for the better part of the year, compete and hire a horse box regularly, had to buy new tack for the new horse and various other costs!)
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It's the cost of livery that makes it so expensive - just totally unaffordable for me, on my wage, with what livery fees are in my area, I'm so glad I keep them at home, even if it's a short drive away...
 
Our horses are part of our business so we have to know every penny that goes into them. Over the past ten years they cost us on average £1,000 each per year, and that includes electric, water, muck heap disposal, routine vet, worming, farrier (not shod), dentist, feed. We have own land, stabling and training arena. We do not insure them, but do have 3rd party liability as part of our business and assign a percentage of this to the horse costs. Pretty reasonable really.
 
I keep my horses at home and we only live here because we have horses. If I look at the increase in the value of the property and deduct the amount I've spent on horses over the past fifteen years I think I'm still in credit. I wonder if I can use that logic with OH to replace current lorry with something newer?
 
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