Considerations for Horse Buyers-Part 1
If you are thinking of buying and owning a horse, there are some considerations to take before jumping in with both feet. Owning a horse is a unique and rewarding experience but isn’t for everyone. In this post, we will discuss financial and care considerations. Next post, we will take on the topic of reviewing horse ads.
Take a moment to review the following thoughts before committing-after all, owning a horse is quite a bit different than owning any other pet!
Where will I keep the horse?
If you’re planning to keep the horse at home, you’ll need to ask yourself these questions:
Do I have adequate shelter and fencing for the horse? Additionally, am I prepared to blanket the horse as needed?
Where will I ride the horse?
How will I transport the horse for lessons, shows, clinics, etc.?
Do I have adequate knowledge of veterinary care so that if there is an emergency I know when to call the vet? Is my vet willing to make barn calls to where the horse is kept or do I need to arrange transportation to and from the veterinary office?
Check with your barn to see if they offer full-care boarding. This means that they provide shelter, feed, and water for the horse, and some barns offer blanketing, transportation and turnout services additionally. Make sure your barn manager or whoever will be in charge of taking care of your horse day-to-day has adequate veterinary knowledge to alert you and/or the vet in case of emergency.
What routine health care do horses need?
Horses need vaccinations every 6 months. In our area, we administer a 5 way and a West Nile vaccination. These run about $100 together, plus the cost of veterinary administration.
Horses need deworming about every 6 months. Dewormer can cost $10-$20 plus the cost of veterinary administration.
Horses need their teeth “floated,” or filed, usually every 2 years and need to be checked annually. Floating usually costs $100-$200.
Horses need farrier care every 6-8 weeks. Some horses need shoes due to their soft feet, but some may just need trimming. Trimming can run between $20-$60 and shoes from $45-$85 (fronts only) or $75-$150 (full set).
Be sure to check with your boarding facility to see if they offer scheduling and/or holding for veterinary and farrier services.
What and how will I feed the horse?
Horses need forage (hay) at least twice daily. Hay can run between $5 and $15 per bale. Most large horses eat a little under a bale of hay per day, in two feedings. If you are planning to keep the horse at home, consider how you will store and transport your horse’s hay.
Some horses need supplements or concentrates (grain) that will also need to be fed daily. Talk with your trainer, a trusted horse expert, or barn manager to see if your horse needs feed supplements besides hay.
Horses need access to fresh water at all times (which can be tricky in the winter, as water troughs freeze easily!).
Most boarding facilities cover the cost of hay only in their boarding cost, so be sure to factor in the cost of grain and supplements if your horse requires them.