Set up Costs

[Gorgeous George]

Sorry to post again, but already I seem to be addicted to this wonderful source of helpful information

When first buying a horse what are the things that you would need to buy / budget for, I don't mean month by month costs just those one off first things. I have come up with:
Horse!

Tack
Rugs - what would I need as a minimum for a native cross turned out during the day.
Headcollar and leadrope
Haynets
Bucket
Skip
Broom
Mucking out fork
Mucking out shovel
Wheelbarrow
Feedbins
Horsey first aid kit

I already have a full grooming kit and all my riding kit (hat, protector etc.) I know I would need /want more than this as time went by but I'm just looking at basic start up. Thanks all

 

[Rambo]

Grooming kit

 

[bex1984]

oooo it's so exciting getting your first horsey!!!

Tack - you might be lucky and get some included, but it can be a bit rubbish and then you end up buying new anyway! Prices for leather bridles start around £25, and a decent synthetic saddle will be £200+

Rugs - depends whether you clip, and depends on the individual horse, but you will almost certainly need a decent outdoor winter turnout and a stable rug, both £50+. I also find a fleece is invaluable (£20 ish) and a lightweight waterproof turnout rug is handy too

Mucking out equipment can work out quite expensive!!! But it's not worth getting the cheap stuff. I paid £26 for my shavings fork, straw fork was £15, wheel barrow was £25, skip was £10.

Don't forget the initial costs of worming, vetting if you want to get one done, vaccinations and transport costs (expect to pay £1 per mile for a professional transporter - but totally worth every penny for peace of mind). And putting the bed down for the first time, and getting the first set of shoes. All these things will probably come in the first month so be prepared!

Ebay is great for getting started, you can then gradually upgrade things as you go along.

Basically, you end up spending a small fortune at first but it's all worth it! I got my first horsey 8 months ago, and recently sold him and started again with a new pony and am feeling poor but happy!

Becky x

 

[ihatework]

You might need to budget for horse vetting (possibly 2 or 3 if any failures), your yard will most likely want the horse wormed on arrival. Plus you may need teeth, vaccinations and possibly a set of shoes on arrival.
So many little things that add up!
Numnah, girth, possibly boots, possibly travel kit.
As for rugs and a native you can probably get away with a bare minimum especially as going into the summer. I would start with an all round cooler / light stable rug and possibly a light weight turnout.

 

[the watcher]

make that several buckets...

and don't forget a travelling wardrobe (tail bandage and leg bandages/travel boots) although mine tend to travel in brushing boots

rugs-something lightweight and waterproof should take you into autumn now, when you can review what else you might need, and maybe a cooler for after work or washing

 

[Tia]

Your total price will completely depend on how expensive you want to go with the saddle - they range in price from a couple of hundred to thousands.

Excluding tack, I suppose you could get all of the things on your list for under £500 and that would include 2 rugs of reasonable quality.

 

[Sparklet]

Tack - horses often come with tack if you negotiate

Rugs - none at the moment - stable and turnout needed towards winter - horseware underrugs recommended as a cheap extra for the really cold weather

Headcollar and leadrope

Haynets

Bucket - dont get horsey ones get B&Q 99p ones.

Skip - can do without or use a bucket

Broom - B&Q type rubbish, get a proper one.

Mucking out fork/shavings fork

Mucking out shovel - snow shovels are pretty good

Wheelbarrow B&Q orange ones good, last, dont rust, cheap, lightweight

Feedbins - dustbins

Horsey first aid kit -

You also need a water bucket for your stable, feedbuckets (tugtrugs best for these or kangaroo type)

 

[xxcharlottexx]

When i bought my horse in july heres a rough guide to what i paid

horse-£800 lol always a start to have that

saddle- (as came without) £90 2nd hand (but was good as new condition wise!)

bridle-friend gave me

rugs- spent far too much! must have spent over £200 but i do have a fetish for rugs and i have loads and loads for my money,

spent another £100 at robbies on 1st aid kit, buckets, haynets, skips and fork,new brushes and saddlecloth

wheelbarrow we share at the yard and feed bins, but they are usualy quite pricey

headcollars you can find bargins for about a £5 with leadrope

as bex1984 said- get ebaying! lol

 

[Hanz]

Buy rubber buckets!!

 

[ruthsimms]

When I bought my horse last year I started a spreadsheet that included all the one-off costs, the on-going costs such as livery, dental, shoeing, worming, vaccinations and a shopping list that grew and grew.

Sounds a bit anal, I know, but it helped working out my initial outlay and what I'd be spending each month/year and then what extras I could afford. Needles to say, the budget has gone totally out of the window as every time I walk into a tack shop I end up buying more stuff!

Your list and the advice from other people looks complete. On top of this I included lungeing equipment (caveson, roller, whip) and insurance.

 

[dwi]

it makes a big difference where you buy things from. I'm lucky in that I get most of my basic stuff from an equestrian market in derby that takes place alongside the horse sales. its worth seeing if there is anything like that near you because tbh a bucket is a bucket, you don't need to pay a fortune just because it came from a fancy shop

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Probably it would be best to sit down & look through a catalogue. Alot of the stable things you can buy from places other than tack shops, buckets, barrows skips etc & that will save money.

Make a list from the catalogue of what you would like....then go through it again & only tick the things you will need.

You don't need everything straight away, just get the necessary & then you can build your equipment up. If you do it all at once you will drain your account & somethings you just won't use....It will take time to get to know what you will actually need. Don't be in too much of a hurry to buy everything