Need costing help (kind of urgent and would appreciate help)

A

Annette4

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 May 2008
Messages
4,526
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
Excluding livery what costs am I looking at realistically for a foal? I've got a budget already but it's for a horse in work not a baby pony and I have a rough idea at what I think I'll have expenditure-wise but wanted some input.

I have all equipment I'm just thinking of 'running costs'.
 
My running costs for my baby have been the same as my older horse, they both get the correct feed to their age and apart from outgrowing rugs which tbh i have sold the outgrown ones on ebay to buy the new ones is the only thing more. Obviously starting the injections from scratch and getting him cut was extra oh and micro chipping. I find its the time that costs me more as i have not just turned him out in a field and left him he comes in everyday to be messed with and is stabled at night in the winter.
 
I'll be totally turning away until after christmas for personal health reasons so living out. Already passported, chipped etc....got to do some thinking I think. If only this offer was coming in January :(
 
Being turned out till after xmas is going to do no harm at all, i know we dont want to think about it but its only 6 weeks away lol
 
Having seen the money my friend has spent on her foal (yes she bred it out of her mare, but I am not taking those costs into account), to becoming 4 years old.

I would consider it to be a considerable amount of money, covering all the usual vet innoculations, farrier/trimming, dentist, worming and good quality feed, plus the fact that he was forever injuring himself, and needing antibiotics etc and the vet. (I am surprised he made it to 4 yrs old with 4 legs!).

Dont get me wrong, it is rewarding, but also a big risk. You really dont know what the foal is going to be when it is an adult, yes you may have a good idea by knowing who its parents are, but you dont know how they will accept being ridden, or what they will be good at.

Where as if you buy an adult working horse, you kinda know what you are getting.

But then that is personal preference.

Sorry, I couldnt give you any actual figures, but it would expect roughly be the same as an adult.
 
I'm actually seriously considering just doing the groundwork and handling then selling and not keeping through breaking etc.

I'm going to do some serious thinking but it's whether heart will rule head ;)
 
I Have two 3.5 year olds that I bought as weanlings, I have estimated it has cost me £1800.00 each to get them to this age and they have been backed and hacked this summer. This includes gelding, trimming feet and vaccs. I keep them out all year on good grass at home, they have home made hay in worst of weather plus a few nuts and beet. They are not insured and I have been lucky so far no injuries or illness. They are both IDs so very hardy and pretty laid back. I have loved doing them and am looking forward to getting them going properly next spring.
 
Injections, farrier and field (and castration)
Our little ones haven't had rugs until 3/4ish just very wooly. But time was the big thing most have taken to handling well, one took nearly a year to get a headcollar on! And hay for snow/not enough grass. Never had to feed hard food until they were in work. So costs were minimal. No stable either just big hedges and trees.
All the first line vary from place to place and we rented a church field for £5 a month and made hay on part of it (paid the farmer in bales) so really not alot but if livery its going to cost more.
 
I have 2 foals. Running costs are, I reckon as much as for an adult horse. there is vaccinations,hoof trimming,castration if a colt and stud feed. Today I paid £11 for a bag of stud mix which will last 12 days and £21 for some balancer ( as they dont need quite the amount what it says on the bag of mix). Then theres aextra petrol to get to the stables/field as they are on 3 feeds a day. When they grow they will probably need rugs. Then there is tack and breaking and schooling costs,even if I do this myself there will be menage hire and lessons so someone on the ground can help and advise. There will be lunging cavesson and rollers and lunge reins etc. And insurance costs.
So a foal is not a cheap option. I have them because I love yougstock and delight in seeingthem grow and mature. I'm quite certain tht its cheaper to buy an older ,more ready made horse at say, 4 or 5 years old or so. Theres no money to be saved by buying a foal.
 
I've still got my budget from my old mare somewhere on my laptop so going to work from that anyway. I've got to find some cheap grazing to turn her away on first and sit and work it all out.
 
Once Christmas is over and I've been given the ok, I'll be fine to keep her in, do all the handling etc. In reality I'm looking at 6 - 8 weeks of minimal handling and living out so I should be ok right? I'm having a massive 'I'm going to be a bad mummy' moment :( :o

ETA - This is not my first horse at all, or my first youngster, just my first foal
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top