Horse Budget
What You Need To Know Before Buying A Horse
Getting a horse budget ready is a great first step towards prepping for your first horse purchase. I'd be willing to bet that the first and most important question looming over you is "how much is this going to cost?" Well I will be the first and not the last to tell you that there is no real way to be sure exactly how much you are going to be spending to buy and keep a horse.
Frustrating it is, but at least it’s very true. One thing is for sure is that horses are a more expensive pet to keep even if you plan to keep one on your property.
Prepare yourself right now for the unexpected expenses and make sure you leave room in your horse budget for such expenses. Below we will briefly discuss a few areas of horse keeping expenses you may want to include in your horse budget.
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Purchase Price
budget. Unfortunately, in the long run it will also be your cheapest area of expense as you only have to pay this price once.When a seller places a horse up for sale, a lot of factors go into consideration for the price. The horse's bloodlines, training, experience level, show record and age can all play a role in the asking price.
You need to have some idea of the type of horse you are looking for. If you are new to horses in general you may want to look at one with more experience rather than a younger one that needs a lot of work.
Though a budget for a purchase price is important to stick too, you want to make sure you find the right horse to suit your level of experience and your plans for this horse. Never buy only because the price is low or you like the color of the horse. The long term expenses may cost much more than a higher priced horse.
Vet Care
Having your horse vetted regularly is part of being a responsible horse owner. Your horse will need routine shots and possibly other vet care for unexpected expenses. Horses get hurt and sick and you should not hesitate to get the vet out to check your horse if you are having concerns.Routine vet expenses for your budget consist of shots 1-2 times per year and possibly more depending on the area you live, your horse's age, and your horse's health.
It is also important to find and stick with one vet to keep your horse health records in one place. If you stick to one vet their office will become familiar with you and your horse.
Farrier Care
Your horse will need his/her feet trimmed and possibly shod on a regular basis. Make sure you have room in your horse budget to have the farrier visit about every 6-8 weeks.If you intend to show or ride your horse regularly you may need to have shoes on your horse. Make sure you find a good farrier which you can do through word of mouth.
You want someone who is reliable and attentive to your horse's needs. Some horses need corrective shoes to be done on a regular basis to keep them comfortable.
As I stated above, this was only a BRIEF overview of SOME of your horse purchase and keeping expenses. There are of course many other expenses your should consider including horse board, feed, supplements, training or lessons, show fees, hauling and trailer expenses.
Horse ownership should come with a warning label for those thinking about making the leap. Fill out the form below to contribute your helpful advice to new horse owners or those thinking about buying their first horse.
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Read Other Horse Budget Tips
Click on the links below to see some great entries about horse budgets. They were all written by other visitors to this page.
Shop around!
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A lot of the times I buy my horse stuff and supplies online. Luckily there are multiple websites to buy these things from. And I'll find what I want on ...
Planning In Advance
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I have the best luck making a plan in advance. I have certain expenses due thoughout the year that I know I can plan on. Such expenses include shots,...
