What are the rough estimates?

[ponynutz]

Inspired by another thread and then some personal research where might be much more possible for me to buy a horse in the not so far off future.

Bearing in mind this will be in a minimum of four years what are the average costs monthly of keeping a single horse on DIY livery? Inclusion of travel costs would be great (obviously this won't be accurate but might be helpful to know what you're spending if you're comfortable) as well as competition costs (most likely showjumping, possibly some unaff eventing).

Just trying to convince myself it's possible really and getting myself very excited for it in the next couple of years.

 

[GreyDot]

It's hugely unwise to put on paper the monthly costs of owning a horse. It will make you sad, anxious and it's frankly best not to know. That way madness lies.

 

[GrumpyHero]

I don't compete but I can give you my rough costs for DIY in the north west

Stable rent £110 pcm
Hay 15p per pound (have to weigh nets)
Bedding £9 for shavings on site (price recently increased)
Muck collection £2 per month
Turn out/bring in £1 each way.

My best guestimate I'd say £200-£300 per month livery (summer/winter costs)
Obviously it varies depending on how much your horse eats and craps.

I only live a 5-10min drive away (2 miles each way) so fuel I don't spend much at all.

 

[Miss_Millie]

These are my estimates per month, for the essentials:

DIY Livery (including hay and bring-ins) £230
Bedding - £32
Hoof Trim - £30
Insurance - £50
Supplements/Feed - £31
Petrol to get to the yard and back every day - £60

+ more if there are unexpected vet bills or maintenance costs e.g. rug repair

The initial cost is huge to buy all of the tack and equipment you will need. Most horses that I viewed came with nothing. And bear in mind, you are looking at £5000+ for an average horse these days. I would budget £10k minimum to get you started.

 

[TheSubwayDino]

Hertfordshire -

£160-180 (more higher end usually includes hay and bedding)
However, a more of a private yard with only 4 stables is usually £110

Tho the best offer I saw was a yard offered as sole use with 14 stables, a school and only £245 PCM

 

[nagblagger]

Where abouts are you in the country? The costs vary so much from area to area and what you want for livery.
I am very lucky, the basic i pay is £30 per horse monthly, running water trough and an emergency stable and free trailer parking. Or £100 for a 2 acre field with nothing. ( I also rent a very large field)

Near me is a diy livery with individual turnout, stable, cross country course and menage for about £150 per month, lorry/trailer parking is extra.
Good luck.

 

[ponynutz]

It's hugely unwise to put on paper the monthly costs of owning a horse. It will make you sad, anxious and it's frankly best not to know. That way madness lies.

Hahaha love it. Unfortunately my dad has instilled a mad urge in me to monitor every aspect of my finances lol!

 

[ponynutz]

Where abouts are you in the country? The costs vary so much from area to area and what you want for livery.
I am very lucky, the basic i pay is £30 per horse monthly, running water trough and an emergency stable and free trailer parking. Or £100 for a 2 acre field with nothing. ( I also rent a very large field)

Near me is a diy livery with individual turnout, stable, cross country course and menage for about £150 per month, lorry/trailer parking is extra.
Good luck.

Thanks x

Don't know where I'll end up but it'll likely be Yorkshire and the Humber.

 

[I'm Dun]

Hertfordshire -

£160-180 (more higher end usually includes hay and bedding)
However, a more of a private yard with only 4 stables is usually £110

Tho the best offer I saw was a yard offered as sole use with 14 stables, a school and only £245 PCM

The cost of livery is not even close to the full cost. And I can't imagine there isn't a major, major issue with the 14 box yard as that's nowhere near the going rate. Even 3 times that is cheap.

 

[[153312]]

Thanks x

Don't know where I'll end up but it'll likely be Yorkshire and the Humber.

That's a pretty wide area and things vary a lot throughout. York/Northallerton way is more expensive than Sheffield way for instance, in my albeit limited experience, but both are significantly cheaper than SE.

 

[ihatework]

It depends hugely on where you are in the country, the availability of facilities, the type of horse you buy, your standard of horse care. Local variation in prices of consumables.
Inflation (prices are rising quite steeply!)

So it’s impossible to really say, but average, I’d estimate £400-700pcm depending on the above variables

 

[ponynutz]

That's a pretty wide area and things vary a lot throughout. York/Northallerton way is more expensive than Sheffield way for instance, in my albeit limited experience, but both are significantly cheaper than SE.

Interesting, thank you! Even that helps give me an estimate.

Aware a very wide area but not comfortable sharing my exact location on here.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

It's very difficult to work out how much a month's livery costs. Prices are different in different areas of the country and there can be a massive difference. Could you afford to buy & run another car? That's the kind of money a horse will cost you to keep. Buying a horse is the simple thing but caring for it is another. Stable & grazing, turn out & bring in, feed & hay/haylage, shoes every 6 weeks (£75 a time), saddle & bridle, boots, numnahs the list just goes on & on. I'm not trying to put you off but just to let you know how things really arew.

 

[HorseMaid]

Oh god never EVER add it up properly!! ?

My "rough" estimates are as follows:

DIY livery I know ours is very cheap for the area.
My horse is pretty low maintenance in most ways so she is cheap to keep. She was also cheap to buy compared to today's prices!
I buy my tack and equipment 99% second hand so that is cheap.
I don't spend a huge amount on lessons.

I basically kid myself that it doesn't cost that much.

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Hertfordshire DIY:

£50 a week for stable and field
Hay is £4 a bale but I don't use any hay in summer (except for shows) as he lives out
Feed, depending on what you want to feed but mine likes to watch his figure so in order for me to combat that, £70 a month
Barefoot trim £35 every 6 weeks
Shows - showjumping - unaffiliated around £14 a class and affiliated around £16 - £20 a class
Supplements - whatever is needed
Diesel too and from the yard - twice a day in winter, once a day in summer
Lessons - £25 for 45 mins (instructor works on the yard so does not have to travel)
Freelance groom if needed - £12 per day
Straw for bedding - £3.50 a bale
Wood pellets for bedding - £7 per bag

 

[WelshD]

For one 13hh pony on DIY livery I budget £300 a month for the basic needs. In the summer when competing this usually sits around the £600 mark. Sometimes you get costly months, my total last month was £950 and that's before I got a vets bill and my horsebox blew its head gasket (I wont get change out of £1200 for those two things)

Its worth going six months longer without a horse and saving the 'basics' money each month ready, not only does it give you an idea of whether you will cope financially it also gives you a financial buffer to start with, remember your new horse may need teeth, tack, back, hooves done in the first few weeks not to mention the costs of mucking out tools, rugs etc..

 

[Birker2020]

Inspired by another thread and then some personal research where might be much more possible for me to buy a horse in the not so far off future.

Bearing in mind this will be in a minimum of four years what are the average costs monthly of keeping a single horse on DIY livery? Inclusion of travel costs would be great (obviously this won't be accurate but might be helpful to know what you're spending if you're comfortable) as well as competition costs (most likely showjumping, possibly some unaff eventing).

Just trying to convince myself it's possible really and getting myself very excited for it in the next couple of years.

You'd probably be better putting any money into learning some new training courses and expand your knowledge base in order to get a better paying job. Then start saving.
I was putting by around £120 a week for my horse on assisted DIY because when you take into account livery, bedding, hay, feed, shoeing, vacs, insurance, etc it all adds up.

 

[ponynutz]

You'd probably be better putting any money into learning some new training courses and expand your knowledge base in order to get a better paying job. Then start saving.
I was putting by around £120 a week for my horse on assisted DIY because when you take into account livery, bedding, hay, feed, shoeing, vacs, insurance, etc it all adds up.

Gosh that is a lot!

Not singling you out sorry just boosting the thread slightly by quote replying x

Unsurprised by the replies to be perfectly honest was just looking into horses that would suit the budget my savings is at now (rather wonderfully I was born when Gordon Brown gave us babies some money) and got myself excited.

Luckily I am at university currently and plan on going into primary school teaching... I've always put my education first as I'm a bit of a realist but, yes, maybe back to plan A which was pine desperately for a horse until I get into my thirties at which point I assume all my problems will be solved and magically I'll be able to afford one (tongue in cheek). But, yes, in a way I'm glad - will stop me spending stupid amounts of money I could be saving for a house and such in the future.

 

[stangs]

https://www.ridingwithrhi.com/equestrian-money-diaries is worth a look through

 

[ponynutz]

https://www.ridingwithrhi.com/equestrian-money-diaries is worth a look through

Thanks Stangs, love this.

 

[ponynutz]

Thanks all, lots of food for thought there!