Below is a list of expenses we’ve incurred as beginner horse owners. One of the most important considerations for us as potential horse owners was how much it was going to cost. Not just up front, but what the ongoing horse expenses might be. We found no such list but estimated the best we could. Now that we’re horse owners, we’re keeping track and will document expenses to help you figure it all out, too.
First, a couple of points to remember:
- These are our expenses. You might have higher or lower expenses depending on things like breed, regional factors (hay costs less in the midwest than it does in Arizona, for example), the age of your horse, your horse’s health needs (some of which you may not know until after you’ve had him/her for a while) and more.
- We need to estimate on a few things. Sometimes we lose a receipt or pay cash for something. We’ll do the best we can estimating in those cases.
- This page is ongoing. Hey, we haven’t been horse owners that long. Believe me, new stuff comes up all the time.
March 2013 Note: I’m behind on updating this page. Sorry about that. I’ll try to get around to it soon but in general our expenses haven’t deviated very much from the trend you see below for 2006-2007. We are feeding 800 pound round bales at $35 each mostly and our square bales have gone up to around $2.50 each. Of course our expenses are higher now that we have four equines to care for but the per-equine cost is similar.
ONGOING POST…keep checking back
Here’s a breakdown by line item:
June 2006 – $69
- Hay – 15.5 bales of hay * $1 per bale = $15.50
- Equispot – 4 applications (2 per horse) * $3.50 = $14.00
- 10-12% Sweet Oats – 50 lb. bag * $8.50 = $8.50
- Equine Pine stall wood pellets – 40 lb bag * $5.50 = $11
- Dewormer – 2 doses of Zimecterin Gold * $10 per dose = $20.00
July 2006 – $83
- Pasture bush-hogging – $50 (a great deal!)
- Hay – 13.3 bales of hay * $1 per bale = $13.30
- 10-12% Sweet Oats – 50 lb. bag * $8.50 = $8.50
- Equine Pine stall wood pellets – 40 lb bag * $5.50 = $11
August 2006 – $333 (ouch!)
| |
Valentine
|
Moonshine
|
| Farrier |
$55 |
$55 |
| Hay (16 bales total @ $1) |
$8 |
$8 |
| Pasture Bush Hog |
– |
– |
| 10-12% Sweet Oats (2-50 lb bags @$8) |
$8 |
$8 |
| Equispot (2 applications per horse) |
$7 |
$7 |
| Equine Pine stall wood pellets |
$24 |
$24 |
| Antibiotic Cream |
– |
$13 |
| Dewormer – Zimecterin Gold |
$10 |
$10 |
| Annual Shots |
$48 |
$48 |
| |
|
|
| Totals ($333 grand total) |
$160 |
$173 |
|
* Notes: We purchased 6 bags of Equine Pine (40 lbs. each) per horse this month. We do this a couple of times a year and add another bag or so each month as needed. Also, Equine Pine was on sale for $3.85 per bag, plus tax. Annual vaccinations in our area covers West Nile, East Nile, Tetanus and Rhinopneunitis.
September 2006 – $83
| |
Valentine
|
Moonshine
|
| Hay (15 bales total @ $1) |
$7.50 |
$7.50 |
| 10-12% Sweet Oats (2-50 lb bags @ $8) |
$8 |
$8 |
| Fly Parasites (1 bag @ $12) |
$6 |
$6 |
| 1,000 pound round bale hay (1 @$20) |
$20 |
$20 |
| |
|
|
| Totals ($83 grand total) |
$41.50 |
$41.50 |
|
This was almost our least expensive month yet but I had a chance to buy a round bale for $20 and couldn’t turn down that deal.
October 2006 – $218
| |
Valentine
|
Moonshine
|
| Farrier |
$55 |
$55 |
| Hay (16 bales total @ $1) |
$8 |
$8 |
| 10-12% Sweet Oats (2-50 lb bags @$8) |
$8 |
$8 |
| Equine Pine stall wood pellets 8 @ $5.50 |
$22 |
$22 |
| Fly Parasites (1 bag @ $12) |
$6 |
$6 |
| Dewormer – Zimecterin Gold |
$10 |
$10 |
| |
|
|
| Totals ($218 grand total) |
$109 |
$109 |
|
This month was more expensive than we anticipated. Next time Equine Pine is on sale, we’re going to stock up!
November 2006 – $65.50
| |
Valentine
|
Moonshine
|
| Hay (16 bales total @ $1) |
$8 |
$8 |
| 10-12% Sweet Oats (2-50 lb bags @$5) |
$5 |
$5 |
| Equine Pine stall wood pellets 5 @ $5.50 |
$13.75 |
$13.75 |
| Fly Parasites (1 bag @ $12) |
$6 |
$6 |
| |
|
|
| Totals ($65.50 grand total) |
$32.75 |
$32.75 |
|
We took advantage of the Black Friday sale at Tractor Supply to buy feed for $5 a bag this month. November was our least expensive month yet!
December 2006 – $124
| |
Valentine
|
Moonshine
|
| Hay (22 bales total @ $1) |
$11 |
$11 |
| 12% Sweet Oats (2-50 lb bags @$8) |
$8 |
$8 |
| Bedding wood pellets 4 @ $6.50 |
$13 |
$13 |
| Fly Parasites (1 bag @ $12) |
$6 |
$6 |
| Dewormer – Zimecterin Gold |
$10 |
$10 |
| Carrots and other horse treats |
$3
|
$3
|
| |
|
|
| Totals ($124 grand total) |
$62 |
$62 |
|
This is what I would call an “average” month. Added this month is “Carrots and other horse treats”. It may not be much, but it is an expense. Note, the cost of horse bedding pellets has gone up. What you don’t see is that the bag size has gone down. Equine Fresh is nowhere to be found now so we’re forced to buy other brands which cost around $6.50 a bag for only 35 or 40 pounds.
January 2007 – $292
| |
Valentine
|
Moonshine
|
| Farrier |
$60
|
$60
|
| Hay (30 bales total @ $1) |
$15 |
$15 |
| 10-14% Sweet Oats (2-50 lb bags @$8) |
$8 |
$8 |
| Bedding wood pellets 6 @ $6.50 |
$19.50 |
$19.50 |
| 1,000 pound round bale hay (2 @$17.50) |
$17.50 |
$17.50 |
| Dewormer – Zimecterin Gold |
$10
|
$10
|
| Grooming supplies |
$3
|
$3
|
| Leather care supplies (for tack) |
$5
|
$5
|
| Carrots and other horse treats |
$8
|
$8
|
| |
|
|
| Totals ($292 grand total) |
$146 |
$ 146 |
|
Our second most expensive month so far, due to the farrier visit, a few round bales, increased hay consumption due to cold weather and a larger than normal purchase of wood pellets. We bought more because we felt we should offer our horses a thicker bed due to the unusually frigid January we had this year.
February 2007 – $128
| |
Valentine
|
Moonshine
|
| Hay (30 bales total @ $2) |
$30 |
$30 |
| 10-14% Sweet Oats (2-50 lb bags @$8) |
$8 |
$8 |
| Bedding wood pellets 4 @ $6.50 |
$13 |
$13 |
| Dewormer – Zimecterin Gold |
$10
|
$10
|
| Carrots and other horse treats |
$3
|
$3
|
| |
|
|
| Totals ($128 grand total) |
$ 64 |
$ 64 |
|
* Notes: The “old” hay is gone so we’re buying bales from the most recent harvest. Still a deal at $2 a bale, but our hay expense doubled this month.
March 2007 – $141
| |
Valentine
|
Moonshine
|
| Hay (30 bales total @ $2) |
$30 |
$30 |
| Purina Omolene 100 (2-50 lb bags @$8) |
$8 |
$8 |
| Bedding wood pellets 6 @ $6.50 |
$19.50 |
$19.50 |
| Dewormer – Zimecterin Gold |
$10
|
$10
|
| Carrots and other horse treats |
$3
|
$3
|
| |
|
|
| Totals ($141 grand total) |
$ 70.50 |
$ 70.50 |
|
* Notes: My local feed store substituted Omolene 100 for sweet oats this month. Normally the Omolene is about $12 per 50 pound bag. Turns out we like it better than just sweet oats anyway. We had trouble scheduling the farrier this month too, hence it’s omission from the expense list.
April 2007 – $194
| |
Valentine
|
Moonshine
|
| Farrier |
$60
|
$60
|
| Hay (15 bales total @ $2) |
$15 |
$15 |
| Purina Strategy (2-50 lb bags @$9) |
$9 |
$9 |
| Dewormer – Zimecterin Gold |
$10
|
$10
|
| Carrots and other horse treats |
$3
|
$3
|
| |
|
|
| Totals ($194 grand total) |
$ 97 |
$ 97 |
|
* Notes: We had a coupon for Purina Strategy from the Purina Horse Owners Workshop so we thought we’d try it. Normally it’s about $10 per 50-pound bag. The grass is growing (woohoo!) so we’re using half as much hay. We let the horses in later and out earlier now, so they need less hay in their stalls.
