Horse are not cheap animals; they require work, time, and money. You have to purchase so much for them no matter if you ride or just keep them for other reasons.
Obviously if you ride and are an equestrian, your horses will cost a lot more. You have to pay for all the equipment which (depending on brands) can cost up t0 $10,000+ just for tack. This does not include feed, hay, shoeing, vetting, and living space.
A lot of horses who do get ridden and/or show have many other expenses that you would never even know about. Horses that I have known from previous barns get monthly chiropractic treatments and shock wave therapy.
For one horse, feed will normally cost around $400 per month which includes hay and grain. Horses also may need many additional supplements and these aren’t often cheap (depending on the product itself).
As horses get older they normally need more dense and expensive feed, along with more supplements. Show horses often need the more expensive supplements and feed no matter what.
Show animals of any kind have to be very well kept. They need shoeing, braiding, transportation, and so many factors that non-show animal owners don’t have to worry about. There are many shows that you have to travel to which is not cheap.
Horses also require a lot of space as they are not normally a backyard animal. Their stalls should be cleaned pretty much every single day. Cleaning stalls is necessary and often pitchforks and buckets are used, along with brooms.
These pitchforks normally come in a plastic material so if shoved under heavy shavings or mats they break very easy. That means you have to often replace them.
Horses also require blankets, just like us, as the winter gets cold. They normally need a few: a light-weight for when its damp or brisk, a medium one for when it gets colder at night, and a heavy one for when it’s freezing temperatures around your barn.
They also require buckets for water, food, and hay nets and bags. Plus of course your horses need treats!
Monthly costs do come down to vetting, and the farrier depending on if your horse wears four shoes, two or even none. The also need a tooth and mouth check.
Horses are prone to injuries and they cost a lot to get fixed; although they are large and strong animals, they get hurt very easily.
In the end, I believe everyone should have a horse (or a couple), but they do require a lot of work and need to be cared for very well!
