Cost of Owning a Horse: August 2022 Expense Report

How much do horses cost? Here’s my answer for August.

These reports are intended to be a tool for horse enthusiasts who are considering buying (or leasing) a horse and want a transparent look at the real cost of horse ownership.

(If you’re new to these expense reports, make sure to read the “reminders” section here for background on my finances.)

Here’s the recap of where my horse funds went for August:

19% Education
26% Stabling
13% Health
33% Gear
4% Insurance
3% Travel
1% Fun

Remember that if you’re not exploring barter opportunities, you need to start! Sign up for our email list to get 7 ways to trade for horse expenses and lower your cash out-of-pocket burden.

Cost of Owning a Horse This Month

$745 // Education

$225 – Lessons (Bartered down to $0)
$255 – Training Rides (green jumping horse)
$60 – Reining Schooling Session
$55 – Ranch Horse Show
$150 – Reining Clinic

If you’re taking lessons (or about to start), check out our 13 best horseback riding boots for lessons.

$527.01 // Health

$295 – Farrier (shoeing one horse, trimming the other)
$39 – Horse Sunscreen
$46.67 – SmartPak – EquiThrive Essential (cow horse)
$46.39 – SmartPak – SmartDigest Ultra (cow horse)
$99.95 – SmartPak – SmartGI Ultra (pony)

$1,283.50 // Gear

$900 – Dressage saddle for the pony
$82 – Horse blanket cleaning
$30 – Saddle gullet
$18 – Feed bag
$9 – Leather cleaning wipes
$140 – Dressage stability stirrup leathers (adjusted to $40, gift card)
$40 – Secondhand dressage girth (adjusted to $0, gift card)
$17.50 – Treats
$20 – Fly Mask
$52 – Martingale attachment
($-25) – Consignment tack sale

Click to see my favorite stirrups at Amazon

$144.08 // Insurance

$14.58 – Equisure Liability
$129.50 – Berkley Mortality & Major Medical

$1,050 // Stabling

$525 – Cow Horse (Bartered to $0 for clinic management services)
$525 – Jumping Pony (Bartered down to $0 for lesson system management services)

$107.52 // Travel

$107.52 – Mileage to the barn

$50 // Fun

$50 – Gift card for my trainer

GRAND TOTALS

TOTAL (Before Adjustments) = $3,907.11
TOTAL (After Adjustments) = $2,492.11
Over-budget by $492.11

Note: I doubled my budget for 2022 now that I have two boarded horses.

Wonder how expensive horses are where you live? We break down the average horse cost in all 50 states.

Remember, if you’re surprised how expensive horses are, remember that there are plenty of other ways to get your horse fix besides ownership.

Happy Trails!

P.S. If you hate buyer’s remorse too, check out our Horse Rookie Must Haves on Amazon for equestrian gear that’s worth every penny!

P.P.S. Buying your first horse? Check out 60 Questions to Ask When Buying the Horse of Your Dreams and our Beginner’s Guide to the Best Equine Insurance.

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