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Estimate Your Average Horse Cost (State by State)

girl with paint horse
Written by Horse Rookie

How much does it cost to care for a horse where you live?

When it comes to knowing how much horses cost and if you can afford one, you need to start crunching numbers early. From housing and feed to vet care and regular shoeing, these animals are a lot of responsibility.

Yet, the “payoff” of having a wonderful horse in your life is, well, priceless! Read on to learn about key expenses you need to be prepared for, as well as a detailed breakdown of typical costs for each state.

*Cover photo provided by Brittney Chambers 

Summary of estimated* annual cost of basic horse care by state:

State Average Annual Cost
Alabama $8,448
Alaska $10,226
Arizona $9,341
Arkansas $8,522
California $11,040
Colorado $10,015
Connecticut $10,560
Delaware $9,715
Florida $9,619
Georgia $8,995
Hawaii $11,565
Idaho $9,079
Illinois $9,715
Indiana $8,832
Iowa $8,752
Kansas $8,752
Kentucky $8,597
Louisiana $8,832
Maine $9,525
Maryland $10,676
Massachusetts $10,335
Michigan $9,079
Minnesota $9,432
Mississippi $8,375
Missouri $8,674
Montana $9,252
Nebraska $8,832
Nevada $9,525
New Hampshire $10,226
New Jersey $11,040
New Mexico $9,165
New York $11,167
North Carolina $8,832
North Dakota $8,995
Ohio $8,674
Oklahoma $8,752
Oregon $9,619
Pennsylvania $9,525
Rhode Island $9,619
South Carolina $8,752
South Dakota $8,597
Tennessee $8,752
Texas $9,432
Utah $9,432
Vermont $9,913
Virginia $9,913
Washington $10,226
West Virginia $8,674
Wisconsin $9,079
Wyoming $9,341

Typically, the most affordable states for horse ownership are: 

  • Alabama
  • Arkansas
  • Kentucky
  • Mississippi

Typically, the most expensive states for horse ownership are: 

  • Hawaii
  • New York
  • California
  • New Jersey

*Note to Readers

It’s important to remember the numbers in this article are only estimates.

Costs vary widely based on your particular horse, its health needs, where you house it, and what type of activities you like to do together. We started with the averages in our horse ownership cost article and applied state-specific values of the dollar to arrive at estimated expenses.

Horse Care Book

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Horse Care Categories

There are a lot of factors that can influence your equine bottom line. Purchasing your horse, buying a horse trailer, taking horseback riding lessons, and competing can all inflate your expenses (and deflate your bank account). 

For this article, we focus on six basic horse care components:

Housing

Stall Board

Image courtesy of Canva

There are a variety of housing options to choose from, including keeping your horse at home or at a boarding facility. Full, board, partial board, self-care board, and pasture board are all sub-categories of housing your horse at another facility. 

Learn more about how much it costs to board a horse.

Feed (Grain & Hay)

Horse feed costs vary depending on your location and the individual horse. For our purposes, we estimated average grain and hay costs for one year.

Learn more about how much it costs to feed a horse.

Read our Horse Hay FAQs.

See How Much Hay to Feed Your Horse During Winter.

Routine Vet Care

Horses require routine “vet care” every year, including vaccinations, an annual checkup, regular deworming, and typically a fecal egg count. 

If you are planning on traveling with and showing your horse, you will need a Coggins test and (potentially) a health certificate.

Learn more about how much vet care costs for a horse.

Farrier

Farrier molding a horse shoe

Image courtesy of Canva

Most horses require shoeing every 4-6 weeks. Even if your horse is barefoot, (i.e., doesn’t wear shoes) horses’ hooves still need to be trimmed regularly.

Learn more about how much it costs to shoe a horse.

See Why Good Horseshoes Don’t Hurt Horses.

Read about Why Some Horses Wear Shoes And Others Don’t.

Dentist

Dental care is critical, but sadly often overlooked. Having the vet check teeth yearly, or twice per year if the horse is a senior or quite young. The vet will let you know if floating (i.e., evening out/filing teeth) is needed.

Learn more about how much it costs to float a horse’s teeth.

Horse Cost Estimates by State

Alabama

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,435
Grain $652
Hay $1,587
Vet Care $304
Farrier  $1,326
Dentist $143
TOTAL $8,448

Alaska

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,368
Grain $789
Hay $1,921
Vet Care $368
Farrier  $1,605
Dentist $174
TOTAL $10,226

Arizona

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,904
Grain $627
Hay $1,755
Vet Care $337
Farrier  $1,466
Dentist $159
TOTAL $9,341

Arkansas

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,474
Grain $572
Hay $1,601
Vet Care $307
Farrier  $1,338
Dentist $145
TOTAL $8,522

California

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,795
Grain $741
Hay $2,074
Vet Care $398
Farrier  $1,733
Dentist $188
TOTAL $11,040

Colorado

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,258
Grain $672
Hay $1,881
Vet Care $361
Farrier  $1,572
Dentist $170
TOTAL $10,015

Connecticut

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,543
Grain $709
Hay $1,984
Vet Care $380
Farrier  $1,658
Dentist $179
TOTAL $10,560

Delaware

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,100
Grain $652
Hay $1,825
Vet Care $350
Farrier  $1,525
Dentist $165
TOTAL $9,715

Florida

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,050
Grain $646
Hay $1,807
Vet Care $347
Farrier  $1,510
Dentist $163
TOTAL $9,619

Georgia

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,722
Grain $604
Hay $1,690
Vet Care $324
Farrier  $1,412
Dentist $153
TOTAL $8,995

Hawaii

Category Annual Cost
Housing $6,071
Grain $776
Hay $2,173
Vet Care $417
Farrier  $1,815
Dentist $196
TOTAL $11,565

Idaho

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,766
Grain $610
Hay $1,706
Vet Care $327
Farrier  $1,425
Dentist $154
TOTAL $9,079

Illinois

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,100
Grain $652
Hay $1,825
Vet Care $350
Farrier  $1,525
Dentist $165
TOTAL $9,715

Indiana

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,636
Grain $593
Hay $1,659
Vet Care $318
Farrier  $1,386
Dentist $150
TOTAL $8,832

Iowa

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,595
Grain $588
Hay $1,644
Vet Care $315
Farrier  $1,374
Dentist $149
TOTAL $8,752

Kansas

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,595
Grain $588
Hay $1,644
Vet Care $315
Farrier  $1,374
Dentist $149
TOTAL $8,752

Kentucky

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,513
Grain $577
Hay $1,615
Vet Care $310
Farrier  $1,350
Dentist $146
TOTAL $8,597

Louisiana

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,636
Grain $593
Hay $1,659
Vet Care $318
Farrier  $1,386
Dentist $150
TOTAL $8,832

Maine

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,000
Grain $639
Hay $1,789
Vet Care $343
Farrier  $1,495
Dentist $162
TOTAL $9,525

Maryland

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,604
Grain $717
Hay $2,005
Vet Care $385
Farrier  $1,676
Dentist $181
TOTAL $10,676

Massachusetts

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,426
Grain $694
Hay $1,941
Vet Care $372
Farrier  $1,622
Dentist $176
TOTAL $10,335

Michigan

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,766
Grain $610
Hay $1,706
Vet Care $327
Farrier  $1,425
Dentist $154
TOTAL $9,079

Minnesota

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,951
Grain $633
Hay $1,772
Vet Care $340
Farrier  $1,481
Dentist $160
TOTAL $9,432

Mississippi

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,397
Grain $562
Hay $1,573
Vet Care $302
Farrier  $1,315
Dentist $142
TOTAL $8,375

Missouri

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,554
Grain $582
Hay $1,629
Vet Care $313
Farrier  $1,362
Dentist $147
TOTAL $8,674

Montana

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,857
Grain $621
Hay $1,738
Vet Care $333
Farrier  $1,452
Dentist $157
TOTAL $9,252

*Want to see real horse expense reports from Montana? Check out what my horse costs!

Nebraska

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,636
Grain $593
Hay $1,659
Vet Care $318
Farrier  $1,386
Dentist $150
TOTAL $8,832

Nevada

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,000
Grain $639
Hay $1,789
Vet Care $343
Farrier  $1,495
Dentist $162
TOTAL $9,525

New Hampshire

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,368
Grain $686
Hay $1,921
Vet Care $368
Farrier  $1,605
Dentist $174
TOTAL $10,226

New Jersey

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,795
Grain $741
Hay $2,074
Vet Care $398
Farrier  $1,733
Dentist $188
TOTAL $11,040

New Mexico

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,811
Grain $615
Hay $1,722
Vet Care $330
Farrier  $1,439
Dentist $156
TOTAL $9,165

New York

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,862
Grain $750
Hay $2,098
Vet Care $402
Farrier  $1,753
Dentist $190
TOTAL $11,167

North Carolina

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,636
Grain $593
Hay $1,659
Vet Care $318
Farrier  $1,386
Dentist $150
TOTAL $8,832

North Dakota

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,722
Grain $604
Hay $1,690
Vet Care $324
Farrier  $1,412
Dentist $153
TOTAL $8,995

Ohio

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,554
Grain $582
Hay $1,629
Vet Care $313
Farrier  $1,362
Dentist $147
TOTAL $8,674

Oklahoma

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,595
Grain $588
Hay $1,644
Vet Care $315
Farrier  $1,374
Dentist $149
TOTAL $8,752

Oregon

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,050
Grain $646
Hay $1,807
Vet Care $347
Farrier  $1,510
Dentist $163
TOTAL $9,619

Pennsylvania

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,000
Grain $639
Hay $1,789
Vet Care $343
Farrier  $1,495
Dentist $162
TOTAL $9,525

Rhode Island

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,050
Grain $646
Hay $1,807
Vet Care $347
Farrier  $1,510
Dentist $163
TOTAL $9,619

South Carolina

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,595
Grain $588
Hay $1,644
Vet Care $315
Farrier  $1,374
Dentist $149
TOTAL $8,752

South Dakota

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,513
Grain $577
Hay $1,615
Vet Care $1,615
Farrier  $1,350
Dentist $146
TOTAL $8,597

Tennessee

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,595
Grain $588
Hay $1,644
Vet Care $315
Farrier  $1,374
Dentist $149
TOTAL $8,752

Texas

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,951
Grain $633
Hay $1,772
Vet Care $340
Farrier  $1,481
Dentist $160
TOTAL $9,432

Utah

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,951
Grain $633
Hay $1,772
Vet Care $340
Farrier  $1,481
Dentist $160
TOTAL $9,432

Vermont

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,204
Grain $665
Hay $1,862
Vet Care $357
Farrier  $357
Dentist $168
TOTAL $9,913

Virginia

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,204
Grain $665
Hay $1,862
Vet Care $357
Farrier  $357
Dentist $168
TOTAL $9,913

Washington

Category Annual Cost
Housing $5,368
Grain $686
Hay $1,921
Vet Care $368
Farrier  $1,605
Dentist $174
TOTAL $10,226

West Virginia

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,554
Grain $582
Hay $1,629
Vet Care $313
Farrier  $1,362
Dentist $147
TOTAL $8,674

Wisconsin

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,766
Grain $610
Hay $1,706
Vet Care $327
Farrier  $1,425
Dentist $154
TOTAL $9,079

Wyoming

Category Annual Cost
Housing $4,904
Grain $627
Hay $1,755
Vet Care $337
Farrier  $1,466
Dentist $159
TOTAL $9,341

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do horses cost so much?

Horses are a living breathing animal with needs, just like us. They need proper feed, housing, veterinary care, and farrier care to stay happy and healthy. As we’ve just covered, the cost of all of these items does vary by state, but they can also vary a bit by horse and your situation.

Many horse owners choose to save on boarding costs by keeping their horse at home, though that comes with a different set of expenses.

Preventative vet care also helps to reduce unexpected medical costs, which is why keeping your horse up to date on vaccinations, teeth, and hoof care is important.

Do you have to be rich to have a horse?

No! You do not need to be rich to have a horse (though it certainly helps). Owning a horse can be achievable for many income levels, especially if you create a budget of anticipated expenses—and stick to it.

Thinking ahead will save you a lot of money in the long run. Purchasing used equipment and tack, or getting vaccines done during an on-farm vaccination clinic, are also great ways to reduce your horse costs.

How much money do you need to get a horse?

Make sure you have enough money for the anticipated ongoing care expenses, not only the purchase price of the horse. If you take a look at our state-by-state calculations above, it will give you a good idea of what your horse will cost on a monthly and yearly basis.

You should also allocate for one-time or infrequent expenses like tack, blankets, building housing and fencing (if the horse is staying on your property), a horse trailer, and a vehicle to haul your trailer.

Keep in mind, all of these items are not necessarily required. Many depend on your situation, what you are planning on doing with your horse, and where your animal is housed.

What is the cheapest horse?

Horses can be purchased from many places, including auctions, for low prices. While there are some amazing horses to be found in these unfortunate situations, be very cautious.

Have your veterinarian do a complete health check to discover any health or soundness issues.

If you are able, it is also nice to spend some time with the horse and get a better idea of its personality. Often, you will not be able to find out much about the horse’s background or training at an auction, but a calm personality can tell you a lot.

Do your due diligence to make sure your cheap horse doesn’t become a very expensive vet or training bill once you get it home.

How can I get a free horse?

Horses can sometimes be adopted or rehomed for “free.” A note of caution on all “free” horses — they do not stay free. You will have the same general expenses for any horse, regardless of the purchase price.

Learn what you can about the horse’s situation and history.

Unfortunately, some of these horses have behavior issues or past injuries that prompted the original owners to give them away. This is not always the case, but it is certainly something to look into before you make a commitment.

Is it hard to own a horse?

Owning a horse takes time, hard work, and a solid budget. If you are unable to commit to any of these areas, it will be much harder to own a horse. Carefully consider the resources available for a horse prior to purchase.

While you may not need to go to a boarding facility every day, if your horse is at home, you are fully committed to at least two meals a day and daily stall cleaning.

How can you afford a horse in college?

Affording a horse in college can be challenging. If you are close to home, you can offer to work at the barn cleaning stalls, doing repairs, or even exercising horses for reduced board. Many barn owners are willing to work with students and get creative.

Depending on your horse, you can also consider a partial lease or ask your trainer to add your horse to their lesson program to help with the expenses while you are in school.

If you are going to school far away, you could offer a full lease to a friend or your trainer. Some lease agreements will cover all of the expenses of the horse.

How much does a baby horse cost?

The cost of a baby horse depends on several factors. Their sex (colt or filly), color, pedigree, and manners all make a difference. A foal by a top-performing stallion and a mare with an excellent performance record can easily be $20,000.

Not to worry, as foals can often go for much less. If the mother isn’t registered or if the stallion is average, the price may be in the $500-$2,000 range.

Some foals may be cheaper the younger they are. For example, buying a horse right after he’s weaned versus just before his first birthday could be the difference between $1,000 and $10,000!

How much does it cost to feed a horse for a year?

There are a few elements to consider here, starting with the size of your horse. Feeding a miniature pony versus a draft horse will leave you with two very different bills!

Forage, or hay, should make up the majority of your horse’s diet. Depending on where you live and what kind of hay you choose, a bale can run from $5 to $50. Most owners also feed grain, which can range from $25 to $40 a bag.

On average, plan for about $300 a month in feed costs, or about $3,600 a year.

Go Forth and Pinch Those Pennies

Now that you have a better idea what it will cost to care for a horse in your area, you can start to budget accordingly. If you want to see how this all shakes out in real life, check out my monthly horse expense reports that track my spending down to the penny!

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About the author

Horse Rookie

I began riding horses at age six, and I'm just as infatuated (OK, more!) with the sport decades later. My AQHA gelding exemplifies the versatility of the breed -- reined cow horse, reining, roping, ranch riding, trail, dressage, and jumping. We're also dipping our toes (hooves) into Working Equitation!