Keeping a horse.

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Dandycandy

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Ok I'm not a moron but I'm not anky either. I'm desperate to get a horse of my own and get out and see life. I dont mind difficult/ young/ nappy. I have time and i dont mind schooling on. though i dont do alot of jumping (riding dressage horses atm as is my love). how much do you guys spend on livery/ insurance etc etc. is it possible to keep one in not very much. i work full time but im not getting millions!! lol who is. i think im scared of taking the plunge. advice please :)

Thank you
 
I spend

Livery £ 15 pw
Insurance £ 70 pm
Bedding £ 20 pw
Feed £ 25 pm
Hay £ 20 pw
Shoeing £75 pm

Then factor in worming, vets, consumables, tack repairs, trailer running and repairs, fuel, fripperies ;)

That's for a 16.2 ISH good doer who comes in at night.
 
I'm assuming thats DIY livery??
its the unexpected things that are making me worry,
i think ive just got it into my head i cant coz im not from a rich background.
hummmmmm.
people seem to be asking lots for their horses that havent done much is that just me or are they being optimistic.
thanks! X
 
16.1 TB mare, stabled at night in winter

£120 pm livery-includes ad-lib haylage and straw between Nov-May
£34.00 pm insurance
£20 pm feed
£65 pm for shoes-a lot more atm as she is having remedial work but this is covered by insurance

Then, as Persephone says, an unspecified amount of dosh on fripperies for hoss and trailer and 4x4 needed to pull said trailer
 
I pay £35 a week for stable grazing and hayledge
£3 per hour for lights in the indoor arena
£10 for weekend haying and feeding
£1 per turnout or bring in.
I pay during the winter around the £220 a month for livery, ontop of that I go through aprroximately 2-3 bales of shavings a week which is £10-£15
Feed: about £25 a month, if that.
Shoes every 6 weeks at £60.
However this is mid winter, for a high maintenence Warmblood.
 
I gave myself a big scare recently by working out that my horse costs me three grand to keep each year.
This is inclusive of:
stable and grazing (diy)
feed, hay, bedding, wormers, supplements
insurance
shoes
school hire

Not including: rugs, tack, stuff for me! show entries, travel expenses.

I wish I was rich!
 
I pay..

£130 Livery a month (he's stabled at night in winter and stabled in day in summer)
£40 hay + feed
£12 insurance (veterans!)
£70 shoes every 6 weeks

I give myself a budget of £300-350 a month for my boy, incase of anything else unusual that crops up. Obviously Winter and Summer you'll see a difference in costs, im lucky that I have a very good do-er, so in the summer my costs drop dramatically.

Have you maybe tried full loaning before you buy that way you havent commited yourself to owning a horse, see if you can afford it.
 
I pay per month per horse:
£160 DIY Livery
£40 Haylage
£40 Shavings
£20 Feed
£30 Insurance
£70 shoes every 8 weeks

Not including lessons, supplements, equipment etc!

and I have 2! However I do choose to keep them at a very nice yard with massive beds and ample haylage.
 
I worked out one horse cost me £4,800 to keep last year.

Horse is a good doer (so not fed cart loads of hard feed), in at night Oct-March, out 24/7 April-Sept.

This included:

DIY livery
Feed
Hay/haylage
Bedding (on mats with shavings direct from woodmill, not excessive amounts used)
Lessons (45 mins once a fortnight)
Competition entry fees & diesel
Farrier (full set every 6-7 weeks)
Dentist
Saddle check / reflocking
Wormer (Pramox)
Insurance (vets fees, tack & third party only)
Annual vaccinations
Grooming spray / shampoo / plaiting bands etc
Sharpening clipper blades
Replacement mediumweight rug (£60)

It did NOT include:

Transport - no horsebox/trailer costs - just diesel to comps
Diesel to yard (£20-£25 per week)
Riding wear for me - replacement jods/hat etc
Any tack for her - replacing bridle/boots/new saddle etc

So yup, it's expensive! I'm not rich, we go without other things to keep the horses and I work two jobs.

Good luck with making your decision :)
 
oh dear me. this is sounding bad!!
lol
alot of the ones ive looked at (horses) they seem to be asking too much for something that hasnt done much.
why have i chosen such an expensive sport.
i migh put the lottery on tonight!!
 
I dont earn a massive amount either. People especially the OH think im bonkers! But i would much rather spend my money on my lovelys rather than go out drinking etc!
 
It can be done...I`m on a not so good wage...Less thank £12k...i`ve got 3 horses :D

They're at home now so am saving on livery however there is rent on my house to be paid.

I was on livery a few months ago and managed it fine.....

Livery for 3 - £20 wk
Haylage £30 a month
Straw for 3 - £6 a week
Shoes for 2 every 6 weeks £110 (1 is a youngster so no shoes just a trim £20)
Feed for 3 = £40 a month
Worming - between £10-20 each

What about a short term loan at the moment? That way you can see if you can manage.
 
Thanks everyone.
Above is that a year? I think thats me too so I probably could. I'm a bit daft atm with my dosh i have lots of lovely shoes coz i have nothing else to spend my money on lol but i think i could do it.
I'm just scared.
 
I think if its something you really want in your life then you'll budget. You say you spend a lot of shoes, work out how much money you actually spend on these sorts of things as well as pointless things you buy just for the sake of it as like you said 'youve nothing else to spend your money on' its easy just to spend money when you look at it like that.

I know that my horse is my responsibility I have chosen to have him and that means to care for him as well, before myself sometimes!! I would love to buy a new pair of shoes but he always wins and gets his shoes instead!!! lol

Owning a horse is a massive responsibilty but at the end of the day I get so much enjoyment out of him that it justifies the amount of money I spend. You can always get loans for your horses if you're struggling a bit, there are lots of competent people out there that want horses on loan. Good luck!! x
 
It really does depend on the breed/size of the horse you get, the cost to keep can vary so much!

For my Welsh Sec D I pay on average:
£110 pm for livery which includes hay/straw/facilities etc
£60 every 10 weeks for shoes
£20 pm for feed
£80 pm for morning turnout/rug change
In the summer £10 pw on fly spray
Dentist a few times a year usually about £50-£80 for check up depending who you use.
Vaccinations once a year - £70
Worming through the year £10/£15 each time

Then you need to think of extras like insurance for yourself, insurance for your horse, clothes, tack, stuff like that! Oh and whether you can afford the very expensive and unexpected vets bills (I've just had a nice bill of £400 due to my horse having an infection!)

If you can afford it, definitely go for it :)
 
Spending all your money and being constantly poor is something you get used to when you have a horse. It's scary but you manage, personally I don't go out shopping or buying nice things but my horse is my luxury.

Ok mine costs (16hh TB)

To buy horse - 2.5k
Tack, rugs, boots, buckets, haynets, grooming stuff ect in total comes to - 1.7k (my saddle was 1.1k though so that's a large chunk, you can get a nice saddle for £400)

DIY livery - £100
Feed - £25
Haylage - £60
Bedding - £28
These are my monthly costs

Farrier (every 6 weeks) - £85 (Surrey, all decent carriers round here are £££)

Wormer - £20 every 3 months

Backman - £60 every 3-6 months

Dentists - £45 every 6 months

Saddler - £65-£100 every 6 months

Jabs - £70 every year.

My horse is 6 this year so hopefully will be able to get away with yearly visits from osteo, saddler and dentist soon.

Then there are 'extra's, £80 for a new rug here and there, £15 on a lotion or potion, £25 on the odd supplement and then potentially £100's on vet visits but that's why we have insurance :)

Oh insurance is also a monthly cost £37.

Competing and lorry hire costs me a lot but the above is what's needed to keep my horse is tip top condition :)
 
Dandycandy said:
Thanks everyone.
Above is that a year? I think thats me too so I probably could. I'm a bit daft atm with my dosh i have lots of lovely shoes coz i have nothing else to spend my money on lol but i think i could do it.
I'm just scared.
Click to expand...

Yep thats a year.
Just be sensible and it can be done, so many people blow money on stuffhorses dont need! I used to. Now they have what is needed and when it`s needed. They`re all in great condition, if anything two are a bit tubby, all get exercise and gets lots of TLC :)
 
I knew I shouldn't have read this post... I pay a fair bit more! Livery in Surrey is soo expensive but looks like you're in the NE. Keeping a 17hh eventer in work in assisted DIY, feed, bedding, insurance, shoeing - £400 a month minimum.

Mind you there are so many livery yards advertised in Surrey in the classifieds section compared to other areas maybe people are realizing they are too expensive and going elsewhere or finding alternatives but then thats a whole new thread.

Maybe you could full loan a horse and then you have a bit of comfort in knowing that if it gets too much you can end the loan period.
 
Kateyb33 said:
jadelovescassie said:
£80 pm for morning turnout/rug change
QUOTE]

Crikey that sounds alot! I charge £1.50 for turnout and rug change or £1.75 for turnout, rug change, pick feet and boots etc. That would only work out about £45 for everyday of the month!
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Yep tell me about it! Think its £1.50 for turn out and an extra £1.50 for rug change, which are both needed as I cant get up the yard mornings! I don't give my mare morning feed on top simply because I'd be constantly drowning in debt lol (and because she is a little porker anyway and doesn't really need it)!!
Click to expand...
 
jadelovescassie said:
Kateyb33 said:
Yep tell me about it! Think its £1.50 for turn out and an extra £1.50 for rug change, which are both needed as I cant get up the yard mornings! I don't give my mare morning feed on top simply because I'd be constantly drowning in debt lol (and because she is a little porker anyway and doesn't really need it)!!
Click to expand...


Your yard must be raking it in! lol I dont charge anything to feed, after all how long does it take to chuck a bucket through the door! However i suppose this is how some yards survive just think its abit steep.
Click to expand...
 
Trying a loan horse or share isa good ideas first. If you do buy, buy something with a cross of something heavier - ID/shire/cob, as they are usually much better doers and cost less to feed.

Try and find a yard where the horse can live out in summer - this will definately cut costs down for part of the year at least. Winter turnout will help too. Bedding with straw not shavings saved us loads too.

Those who are telling you that you will need a trailer and 4x4 are not necessarily right - I hacked to local shows for the first year that I had my horse (she was much calmer too!!), and anyway you don't have to compete! I used to hire a local box now and again, at £100 a time, which, even if once a month, is cheaper than insuring and running a box or 4x4.

Its definately doable. Don't be too put off. Go round a few local DIY yards to see what they charge. Ring up a few insurance companies for quotes on what you would pay for the type of horse you would get. Just do a bit of homework first.
 
Kateyb33 said:
jadelovescassie said:
Your yard must be raking it in! lol I dont charge anything to feed, after all how long does it take to chuck a bucket through the door! However i suppose this is how some yards survive just think its abit steep.
Click to expand...
Haha yeah, my stable is literally right next to the feed room too and it would take no more than 10 seconds to put in there for her but would still cost me a pound each time! It's a bit cheeky IMO but hey ho!! :)
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Monthly costs for a 13.3hh NF... who cost me £750 as a 3 year old...

Insurance - £25
Livery - £100 (DIY)
Hay - £45 (winter with daily turnout) £20 (summer as he comes in during the day)
Bedding - £25 (wood pellets)
Feed - £15
Supplements - £4.80
Trailer insurance - £18
Lessons - £23 a time

Regular costs...

Farrier - £35 for fronts only every 6 weeks
Dentist - £40 every 6 months
Vet - £35 vaccinations

Additional costs...

Insurance excess - £300
Rugs - £45-£60 each
Saddle - £450
Bridle - £55
Riding clothes - £££
Grooming kit - £30
Headcollar/lead rope/lunging equipment - £££

etc etc etc... :P OUCH!
 
I have two, one elderly TB that I own, and younger Welsh that I have on loan.

They live out 24/7 with field shelters

Livery £25 per week (for both not each)
Old boy is 30 yrs old and not insured.
Owner of loan pony pays insurance for him.
Shoes - old boy £65 every 8 weeks
Young boy trim £20 every 8 weeks
Hay - £3.50 per bale. Using about 15 - 20 bales per month at the moment, more when it was colder, none in the summer (14 acres!)
Straw for shelters - £1.25 per bale. Use about 2 a month!!
Old boy has one bute per day at about £1 per day

God can;t think of everything, don;t know how much feed costs, I buy in bulk.

BUT i do know, the TB costs me about 5 times the amount that the welsh does. So if you take the plunge, get something hardy, native type or crossed native, that will liveout without shoes! Makes a HUGE difference.
 
On looking at it it doesnt seem that scary but i recon if you keep adding up the amount then im always gunna scare myself.
the tack etc is a one time thing so i guess thats not too much of an issue unless it breaks or something ofcouse.
i just found this one
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/all_rounder_horse_7_yrs_16_2_hh_bay_county_durham/advert/150713
for £495 whats wrong with it??!?
they are either mega money and over priced or priced like this which makes you wonder if its completely bonkers.
 
I try not to think about it but...

This month was a special case but usually in winter my livery bill is IRO £280/£300. This included mucking out, bringing in and turning out Mon-Fri, my bedding (which is not included in my livery package, but is included in that £300 pm, as I've given you the total cost), haylage and feed, plus either a TO or BI Sat and Sun.

Insurance is £35 pm.

Shoes are normally £80 every 6-7 weeks, although last time he had his back shoes taken off so it was only £40 for a front set and trim/tidy up behind.

If I want him to go on the walker, be exercised by YO and if I want extra services over the weekend (ie, mucking out, TO, BI) then it costs more.
You also need to factor in teeth, annual vacc's, tack, rugs.

I am moving onto grass livery at the end of this month. That will be £15 p/w or £30 p/w if YO poo picks daily for me, plus hay and feed. Probably I will pay my YO to catch my horse every morning to muzzle him, so add about an extra £10-£15 p/w for that.
 
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