Many of my clients have considered if and when they should purchase their own horse. They also wonder why riding lessons can be so costly and if owning their own horse might bring down the costs of their riding lessons. The answer to that question is: "that depends."
Unfortunately, the purchase and subsequent care of a horse is significant and needs to be thought through carefully. Riding lessons can be one of the less costly items when it comes to horsin' around. Consider the following list of typical expenses before taking the leap into horse ownership. Just like most great rewards, they come with big commitments!
Purchase price of suitable beginner horse ............................. $2,500 - $5,000
Annual cost of feed in the Okanagan area ............................. $1,400 - $2,000
Annual vaccinations and veterinary costs .............................. $200 - $500
Farrier costs for shoeing annually.......................................... $700 - $1,000
Board (feed not included) ...................................................... $2,000 -$3,000
Appropriate start-up equipment (saddle, brushes, etc. ......... $1,000 - $2,000
Annual Total............. $7,800 -$13,500
Or if you want to consider costs on a monthly basis some typical costs are as follows:
Monthly Board (no feed included)...................................... $175 - $235
Monthly Hay ..................................................................... $100 - $170
Monthly grain/supplies .................................................... $50 - $100
Hoof Triming/Shoeing (every 6-8 weeks) ......................... $50 - $180