lannerch
Well-Known Member
Crikey that’s cheap how can any yard make money with full livery only being £433 a month ?
Monthly cost of a horse?
- Thread starter notsoluckyhorseshoes
- Start date
Crikey that’s cheap how can any yard make money with full livery only being £433 a month ?
AntiPuck
Well-Known Member
I haven't bought just yet, but based on the "research" I've done so far, I'm budgeting for up to £900 per month Inc full livery, in the West Mids area, if that's at all helpful.
Izzwall
Well-Known Member
I have 3 horses, 2 ridden and keep mine very cheaply but I'm so lucky that my yard rent is so cheap, they live out too and rent includes water, lights, stone barn they can access from the field and hay storage. All are barefoot and get minimal feed, thank god the thoroughbred is a good doer ?
£120 rent
£90 hay
Trims every 6-8 weeks £75
Feed every 10 weeks £65
3rd party insurance £7
Supplements £49
Saddles checked every 3-6 months £90 for two
Physio every 8-12 weeks £90 for two
I buy all my equipment second hand apart from the odd new thing, just splashed out on a henry james bridle in the black Friday sale for the thoroughbred as he was sharing my mare's bridle.
And then unexpected vet bills which have been £2k this year ??
Thoroughbred had a stubborn abscess in September and October, must of spent over £100 in poultices, vet wrap and duct tape!
£120 rent
£90 hay
Trims every 6-8 weeks £75
Feed every 10 weeks £65
3rd party insurance £7
Supplements £49
Saddles checked every 3-6 months £90 for two
Physio every 8-12 weeks £90 for two
I buy all my equipment second hand apart from the odd new thing, just splashed out on a henry james bridle in the black Friday sale for the thoroughbred as he was sharing my mare's bridle.
And then unexpected vet bills which have been £2k this year ??
Thoroughbred had a stubborn abscess in September and October, must of spent over £100 in poultices, vet wrap and duct tape!
Widgeon
Well-Known Member
Ah yes, this is a very good point - I'm about exactly the same as you. £90-£100 every 3 weeks to fill the diesel tank, and I don't go anywhere much except the yard (can I add that in "normal times" I do in fact have friends and other interests). So if I add it up...
£270 pm assisted DIY, including forage and basic feed (he lives out as long as humanly possible)
£75 farrier every 7 weeks, so say £44 pm
Horse insurance about £50 pm
Trailer insurance another £10 pm
Supplements and extra bits of feed....(holds finger in air)...about £20 pm?
Bits of tack and mending at the saddlers £20 pm
Worm counts, worming and annual vaccs probably average out at about £12 pm
So maybe £450 per month? And that's not including any lessons or trips out. Or unexpected vet bills, or the physio, or clipping in winter.
sbloom
Well-Known Member
Saddle fitter at least twice a year (very few people have the knowledge to get away with doing their own, though of course there are some!), ideally more often. Bodyworker at least twice a year. And if the horse is injured or otherwise sick or sorry factor in spending a decent amount of money for a rehab programme, just jumping back on after a bit of lunging isn't probably going to be the best way to proceed long term.
meleeka
Well-Known Member
I don’t want to know ?
I tell myself it’s not too bad because I can keep 5 at home for the same as it keeps someone with one horse on full livery. Granted it would be a very posh yard but still ?
I tell myself it’s not too bad because I can keep 5 at home for the same as it keeps someone with one horse on full livery. Granted it would be a very posh yard but still ?
AShetlandBitMeOnce
Well-Known Member
The important thing is not to underestimate when you are budgeting to see what/if you can afford it, as horses will always cost more than you think and there will always be hidden extras that you need to find money for, and if it's a struggle to afford it or more than you are comfortable spending, it will very quickly suck the fun out of ownership.
I had one on DIY - (caveat, these prices relate to the South East - my livery was cheap!)
Base Costs:
£125 livery
£50-100pcm on hay in winter, and about £25 in summer (large bales were £50 each, had to buy from the yard)
£80-100pcm hard feed (large Warmblood)
£30 supplements
£80 shoeing every 7 weeks, some horses can only go 4, some don't need shoes
£28 insurance
£40 or thereabouts for DIY services if I couldn't get down for any reason
£48 bedding - 2 bales of chopped straw every week, so £60 if a 5 week month.
Extras
£45-60 saddler - twice a year, sometimes more
£45 dentist - every 6 months
£50 bodyworker for maintenance every month
£120 for my very good physio that I got out if I thought something was off
£100 estimate for things you will need replacing, rugs, buckles, buckets, headcollar, boots, haynets etc. It all adds up quickly.
£40 for approx 45 minute private lesson, and this was on the low side!!
£120 per day hire for a horsebox, or about £60-80 if you pay a transporter to drive for you.
I also needed the vet, a lot. And this isn't so much based on the breed or type of horse, but luck. You could get a cob that gets colic and quickly spend £1000 or have a warmblood like me and spend the same for other things. A simple cut can get cellulitis and the bill is £800..
I had one on DIY - (caveat, these prices relate to the South East - my livery was cheap!)
Base Costs:
£125 livery
£50-100pcm on hay in winter, and about £25 in summer (large bales were £50 each, had to buy from the yard)
£80-100pcm hard feed (large Warmblood)
£30 supplements
£80 shoeing every 7 weeks, some horses can only go 4, some don't need shoes
£28 insurance
£40 or thereabouts for DIY services if I couldn't get down for any reason
£48 bedding - 2 bales of chopped straw every week, so £60 if a 5 week month.
Extras
£45-60 saddler - twice a year, sometimes more
£45 dentist - every 6 months
£50 bodyworker for maintenance every month
£120 for my very good physio that I got out if I thought something was off
£100 estimate for things you will need replacing, rugs, buckles, buckets, headcollar, boots, haynets etc. It all adds up quickly.
£40 for approx 45 minute private lesson, and this was on the low side!!
£120 per day hire for a horsebox, or about £60-80 if you pay a transporter to drive for you.
I also needed the vet, a lot. And this isn't so much based on the breed or type of horse, but luck. You could get a cob that gets colic and quickly spend £1000 or have a warmblood like me and spend the same for other things. A simple cut can get cellulitis and the bill is £800..
Surbie
Well-Known Member
Get a big cob!
My bill for hard feed is about £70 for the year. So £5.84/monthEverything else about him is expensive though!
Last edited:
Elf On A Shelf
...
Get a big cob!
Everything else about him is expensive though!
I have Shetlands...
MarvelVillis
Well-Known Member
This is for one horse on DIY livery
DIY livery - £110pcm
Hay - £40 every two months (a big round bale usually lasts me 6-8 weeks)
Farrier - £25 every 6 weeks (he's barefoot so only a trim)
Feed - £50 every 2 months (he only has chaff and balancer)
Straw - £16 approx a month (I use one bale a week at £4 a bale, he's clean so I'm very lucky!)
Insurance - £30 a month
Then there's all the ad hoc costs like worm counts, wormer, dentist, physio, vaccinations etc. Plus any extras you need. This month I've bought some clippers, a hi viz sheet and some new chaps.
DIY livery - £110pcm
Hay - £40 every two months (a big round bale usually lasts me 6-8 weeks)
Farrier - £25 every 6 weeks (he's barefoot so only a trim)
Feed - £50 every 2 months (he only has chaff and balancer)
Straw - £16 approx a month (I use one bale a week at £4 a bale, he's clean so I'm very lucky!)
Insurance - £30 a month
Then there's all the ad hoc costs like worm counts, wormer, dentist, physio, vaccinations etc. Plus any extras you need. This month I've bought some clippers, a hi viz sheet and some new chaps.
Muddy unicorn
Well-Known Member
This is really important OP - from your other posts you're very young and won't be financially independent yet. I don't know any teenagers who are comfortably able to keep a horse on the kind of money you can get for part-time work so they all rely on their parents to a greater or lesser extent. Especially if your parents aren't horsey, then telling them it's going to cost X amount and them quickly finding out that it's X times two or even 3 and they're not going to be happy.
You may well find that having more lessons or going on riding holidays would be a better and more enjoyable way of increasing your horse time/knowledge than struggling to keep a horse on a very tight budget and worrying all the time.
sbloom
Well-Known Member
Let's clarify costs on a saddle fitter (saddlers make and mend saddles and leather goods). If you have a local fitter and only ever need a tiny flock adjustment, or nothing, then you might get by with under £100. If you use a specialist or for some other reason a fitter from a distance away, need comprehensive flocking adjustments (and at 5 years, maybe 10 years, you probably need all the flock removed and replaced, actually recommended every 2-3 years!), tree width adjustments or use foam panelled saddles that may need replacing more regularly, you can multiply that cost considerably.
I would also say it's easy to be a happy hacker and think you don't have to spend much money on instruction etc, but as riders we massively affect our horse's posture, straightness, soundness, so I recommend to all riders to see a bodyworker themselves regularly, consider being on a customised conditioning programme, or at least pilates or yoga classes, ideally with someone who works with a lot of riders. Plus ideally rider biomechanics sessions. None of this is cheap but you must see it as spending money on your horse.
It is very easy for a rider to make a horse lame over time - how many hackers do you come up behind who are hanging off one side of their horse? Where do you think that is likely to end up in a year, 2, 5?
I would also say it's easy to be a happy hacker and think you don't have to spend much money on instruction etc, but as riders we massively affect our horse's posture, straightness, soundness, so I recommend to all riders to see a bodyworker themselves regularly, consider being on a customised conditioning programme, or at least pilates or yoga classes, ideally with someone who works with a lot of riders. Plus ideally rider biomechanics sessions. None of this is cheap but you must see it as spending money on your horse.
It is very easy for a rider to make a horse lame over time - how many hackers do you come up behind who are hanging off one side of their horse? Where do you think that is likely to end up in a year, 2, 5?
Reacher
Well-Known Member
I certainly think some owners ignore / are unaware of the importance of regular saddle checks and sessions with a physio.
I’ve bought 2 horses with knackered back muscles from badly fitting saddles.
I’ve bought 2 horses with knackered back muscles from badly fitting saddles.
Red-1
I used to be decisive, now I'm not so sure...
I agree about the saddler, my new one had a new saddle when he came, he came in August, new saddle September (first time she could come out), booked for a check and adjust already this month- so just 3 months on.
They usually change when they change homes, as they are kept/ridden differently than before.
Makes me shudder when people make a guess and buy secondhand online. Very unlikely to be a good fit, and then people think they have been mis sold a horse when they start with behavioural issues.
They usually change when they change homes, as they are kept/ridden differently than before.
Makes me shudder when people make a guess and buy secondhand online. Very unlikely to be a good fit, and then people think they have been mis sold a horse when they start with behavioural issues.
Tarragon
Well-Known Member
Hmm - I am going to say approximately £300 per month for two ponies at DIY livery. Barefoot and do most myself with professional coming in 3 or 4 times a year to check on me, field kept (but with access to stables), perhaps 1 or 2 bales of hay a week, minimal but quality feed (Simple systems), one pony on one prascend tablet a day, annual dental/jabs vet visit, lessons as and when I can but look after instructor's horses when they are away so a reciprocal arrangement (that works well!). I do not compete or go out much and the stables are just a couple of miles from home.
BronsonNutter
Well-Known Member
I'm dreading working this out! I'm assuming you will want your horse/pony to be on DIY livery, so I'll work mine out for when they were on that...
- Livery £120 per month
- Shoes £85 every 6 weeks, so ~£65 per month
- Feed approx £60 per month (hollow legged TB)
- Haylage - lived out in summer so no haylage, in winter would eat a bale per horse every 2 weeks, so on average throughout the year £45 per month
- Bedding - none in summer as above, use 1.5 bales of shavings per week per horse in winter, so on average £24 per month
- Insurance £30 per month
+ fuel/transport to get to the yard! My last DIY yard was 20 mins from the house and I estimate that I was paying £30 a week in petrol to get there = £120 per month (obviously this would be less if your horse is really near home)
Total = £464 per month.
THEN add in your vet fees (vaccs, visit + dental once a year which would be you management 'minimum' will be approx £150-200 depending if sedation is needed for the teeth and how far your vet is travelling), physio, saddle fitting, rug washing, lessons, etc... I haven't put all of these on as they're so variable.
Working this out has actually been reasonable in that it's made me realise what good value for money my full livery yard is (£100pw) and I get extra sleep!
- Livery £120 per month
- Shoes £85 every 6 weeks, so ~£65 per month
- Feed approx £60 per month (hollow legged TB)
- Haylage - lived out in summer so no haylage, in winter would eat a bale per horse every 2 weeks, so on average throughout the year £45 per month
- Bedding - none in summer as above, use 1.5 bales of shavings per week per horse in winter, so on average £24 per month
- Insurance £30 per month
+ fuel/transport to get to the yard! My last DIY yard was 20 mins from the house and I estimate that I was paying £30 a week in petrol to get there = £120 per month (obviously this would be less if your horse is really near home)
Total = £464 per month.
THEN add in your vet fees (vaccs, visit + dental once a year which would be you management 'minimum' will be approx £150-200 depending if sedation is needed for the teeth and how far your vet is travelling), physio, saddle fitting, rug washing, lessons, etc... I haven't put all of these on as they're so variable.
Working this out has actually been reasonable in that it's made me realise what good value for money my full livery yard is (£100pw) and I get extra sleep!
adamntitch
Well-Known Member
I budget by adding everything up then double it in case of emergencies so £1000 a month just in case
YorkshireLady
Well-Known Member
i am not adding it up - as i can afford it and it makes me happy and seeing the cost only makes you gulp!
fidleyspromise
Well-Known Member
So splitting my costs down to one pony is about £300
Livery
Feet
Hay
Feed
Then:
Dental £80
Vaccinations: £65 (I was unable to share call out last time so £25 call out fee).
Physio at £60 a time
Any lessons or competition fees/fuel
Bedding if bed down shelter
Vet - this year I've had one pony with a vet visit 6 months out of 12.
Saddles if change shape - £45 saddle check plus flocking etc
Livery
Feet
Hay
Feed
Then:
Dental £80
Vaccinations: £65 (I was unable to share call out last time so £25 call out fee).
Physio at £60 a time
Any lessons or competition fees/fuel
Bedding if bed down shelter
Vet - this year I've had one pony with a vet visit 6 months out of 12.
Saddles if change shape - £45 saddle check plus flocking etc
AntiPuck
Well-Known Member
I just remembered I had seen these, "Equestrian Money Diaries" on the web page of a horsey influencer - quite interesting to see the range of costs in different locations https://www.ridingwithrhi.com/equestrian-money-diaries
Sossigpoker
Well-Known Member
Just to add that i have a separate bank account that I pay into £600 per month and try and do all horsey expenses out of that . Some months it works but if i have , say , saddle check and farrier in the same month , I might need to top the account up ...?
sjdress
Well-Known Member
Mine is on DIY livery and for that and the basics it is about £350 a month. That doesn’t include hay or shavings though as I get them free!
windand rain
Well-Known Member
Field cost £250
Farrier for 4 £60 max usually less as trims not shoes
Feed for 4 £30 max probably less
hay £0 in summer £36 for 4
jabs and vets fees £10 per month for 3
dentist 10 roughly was a bit more last year.
So a cheap month is under £400 for 4 so £100 each although its not that easily divided as sometimes one costs more than the other and feed costs vary a little. Biggest cost is fuel to go to do them at around 100 which is of course the same for 1 or 100
The annual biggest expense is the lorry at well over £500 a year probably nearer £1000
Competition nothing for a while as I am shielded
Farrier for 4 £60 max usually less as trims not shoes
Feed for 4 £30 max probably less
hay £0 in summer £36 for 4
jabs and vets fees £10 per month for 3
dentist 10 roughly was a bit more last year.
So a cheap month is under £400 for 4 so £100 each although its not that easily divided as sometimes one costs more than the other and feed costs vary a little. Biggest cost is fuel to go to do them at around 100 which is of course the same for 1 or 100
The annual biggest expense is the lorry at well over £500 a year probably nearer £1000
Competition nothing for a while as I am shielded
HopefulHorse1971
Member
I pay £115 per week full livery, shoeing is £70 every six weeks. Insurance £70 per month. I am currently paying an additional £40 per week approx for schooling. We had a £400 vet bill in the first month we owned her, investigating a lump which thankfully wasn't anything sinister and getting her teeth done, so there is definitely a need to budget for a contingency. I had considered DIY but costing everything out and including fuel and the need to find and pay someone to bring in or turn out in the winter fully livery worked out to be good value.
HopefulHorse1971
Member
I also like the fact the yard we are on has year round turnout, the horses can be in at night if you choose but the majority tend to be in for part of the day and out at night.
HopefulHorse1971
Member
Sorry posted last reply to soon, the DIY yard we had planned to use instead the horses were stables at night in the winter so bedding and additional hay costs had to be factored in.
notsoluckyhorseshoes
Active Member
Ah yes Rhi! She's very good especially with her handling a city life with a horse haha
Fluffypiglet
Well-Known Member
Mine is £860 p/mth for livery (all bedding/hay/feed) plus insurance and shoes. Everything else including his monthly physio, any supplements etc is on top. I don't add up those bits, I prefer to remain blissfully unaware.
Childcare is apparently more expensive than this and I don't have children so I can cope with it, but it is blooming expensive! (I'm in the South East and my livery yard is middling price range, another yard 10mins drive away is twice the amount I pay!!)
When I was younger (30+yrs ago ?) I was on DIY and in a decent office job and my parents still helped me out by paying for shoes and Mum used to bring food down for me to take home to make sure I was eating properly!
Childcare is apparently more expensive than this and I don't have children so I can cope with it, but it is blooming expensive! (I'm in the South East and my livery yard is middling price range, another yard 10mins drive away is twice the amount I pay!!)
When I was younger (30+yrs ago ?) I was on DIY and in a decent office job and my parents still helped me out by paying for shoes and Mum used to bring food down for me to take home to make sure I was eating properly!
HollyWoozle
Well-Known Member
Ours cost significantly less than most as they are unridden, kept at home and live out 24/7, it really varies dramatically depending on how you keep them, what they are like and what you do with them. Ours have hay, a basic balancer and the two ponies have a little chaff. None of them have any supplements. Farrier comes every 7 weeks on average (6 if needed) and there are 5 here now so the dentist also works out a little cheaper as we don't pay a call-out type fee. As they are unridden we don't have costs of tack, lessons, saddle fitter and so on and only the elderly loan pony is rugged. If we do need something (ie. rug for loan pony!) then I buy secondhand as much as possible and go for quality which will last. My horse has had the same head collar since I got her in 2009 and we use brushes we've had for yonks, so it can also help to keep costs down if you try to be economical and not get lured into buying near gear if you don't need it.
Having said all of that, it's always good to budget more than you think you'll need when it comes to horses, plus the costs of things like equipment are minor compared to vet fees and suchlike. Good on you for taking these things into consideration so carefully.
Having said all of that, it's always good to budget more than you think you'll need when it comes to horses, plus the costs of things like equipment are minor compared to vet fees and suchlike. Good on you for taking these things into consideration so carefully.
MuddyMonster
Well-Known Member
So much depends on your type of horse, what you do, type of livery & area you live. When 8 was on part livery, I was probably paying £800-900 a month all in and I'm largely a happy hacker!
I'm currently on DIY and I've broken down my costs per month but some aren't actually monthly. He has his feet trimmed every 6 weeks for example, a bag of chaff & fibre nuts (double up as treats) last months & months & I bulk buy my bedding and supplements for example.
DIY Livery £185 pcm
Bedding £22
Hay £30-40
Feet trimming £36
Insurance £48
Feed £6
Supplements/medication £30
Fuel £30 a month
So monthly at this time of year, he costs about £360 per month as a minimum and less in the summer.
Nice to have extra's that tend to vary month to month are lessons, clinics and rides/events. It can vary from £0 - £200 depending on what is planned.
Extra's that don't fit in monthly are 6 monthly saddle fitting (about £60-90 on average), 6 monthly physiotherapy (sometimes more frequently if needed at £65 a visit), yearly dentist (I think about £60-70) & vet's for blood retest boosters (plus any emergencies or unplanned visits throughout the year). I also pay annually for group membership/PL insurance & hacking permits too which is about £350 a year.
I don't tend to need to replace much *touch wood* as he doesn't need lots to begin with (he doesn't wear boots, he's got by with the same 5 rugs for years & I've built up a collection of saddle pads for him and don't need any more) & what he has is fairly decent quality. I'm not swayed particularly by wanting the latest 'fashion' as pony is still wearing wearing the same headcollar I bought about 6 years ago ?
I'm currently on DIY and I've broken down my costs per month but some aren't actually monthly. He has his feet trimmed every 6 weeks for example, a bag of chaff & fibre nuts (double up as treats) last months & months & I bulk buy my bedding and supplements for example.
DIY Livery £185 pcm
Bedding £22
Hay £30-40
Feet trimming £36
Insurance £48
Feed £6
Supplements/medication £30
Fuel £30 a month
So monthly at this time of year, he costs about £360 per month as a minimum and less in the summer.
Nice to have extra's that tend to vary month to month are lessons, clinics and rides/events. It can vary from £0 - £200 depending on what is planned.
Extra's that don't fit in monthly are 6 monthly saddle fitting (about £60-90 on average), 6 monthly physiotherapy (sometimes more frequently if needed at £65 a visit), yearly dentist (I think about £60-70) & vet's for blood retest boosters (plus any emergencies or unplanned visits throughout the year). I also pay annually for group membership/PL insurance & hacking permits too which is about £350 a year.
I don't tend to need to replace much *touch wood* as he doesn't need lots to begin with (he doesn't wear boots, he's got by with the same 5 rugs for years & I've built up a collection of saddle pads for him and don't need any more) & what he has is fairly decent quality. I'm not swayed particularly by wanting the latest 'fashion' as pony is still wearing wearing the same headcollar I bought about 6 years ago ?