Horse are Expensive: January

1/31/2012

One of my New Year's resolutions was to track just how much my ponies cost me in a year. It's not that I don't already suspect, but I want to actually know.

It's not as though I buy a bunch of ... things, instead, I think I spend a lot on their care. That's one area that I don't scrimp on. If they need medical attention of any kind, I tend to spring for it, and I spend a lot on preventative stuff. I also spend a chunk on feed which includes beet pulp and rice bran.

I know you spend a lot as well. You probably spend a lot more if you show at higher rated shows, but you might spend less if you have your horses at home, or if you don't show or travel.

As part of my New Year's resolution I'll post a monthly expenditure list. If it seems too personal, it feels REALLY personal to me, please feel free to skip it. If you're like me however, and like to get into the nuts and bolt of things, please feel free to study the numbers and compare them to your own. Are horses more expensive in California, or am I getting a good deal?

Here is what owning two horses cost me in the month of January ...

There are often other expenditures, but I managed to avoid them this month: gas for my truck and bedding for stalls. I filled up last month and I bought several month's worth of bedding in November. I'll need an oil change soon and tires will probably be on the list eventually.

We're going to Pomona for the Horse Expo on Saturday. That will probably influence February's spending! I'll let you know on Leap Day.

10 Comments

jennifer keneman

1/30/2012 11:23:25 pm

I need to do this. Like you I know approximately what I spend but on certain months it's a lot more than others. Like you said bedding and feed and such can hit all at once. Unfortunately tires are lurking in my future too! Have fun at the expo!

Karen

1/31/2012 09:34:37 am

Thanks!

AareneX link

1/31/2012 12:28:45 am

I'm glad you're tracking this, because I REALLY don't want to know. Call it a coping strategy...

Have you seen Angie McGhee's list of how horses save her money? Like, she doesn't smoke b/c she rides, so that saves her $XXX from not buying cigs, plus $XXX to not have extra medical bills, not to mention $XXX because she doesn't have to dry-clean all her clothing...!

And wouldn't I love to fill up the truck once every-other-month, sigh.

Karen

1/31/2012 09:36:27 am

Angie does have a funny way of looking at life! I bought my car because I got tired of filling my truck up twice a week. Now the truck is ONLY used to pull the trailer. January was a slow month so I didn't need to top off my tank. The next six months will be different, I am sure!

Mia

1/31/2012 01:19:29 am

Is your board for both horses? I pay that for just one.
The shoeing gets me. I couldn't afford it and had them pulled. $200 every 8 weeks was killing me.

With board and farrier alone, I pay $440/month (trim for $40). Lessons are $50 a pop, so that's another $200 a month. I NEED more money!!!!! Hahaha XD

Karen

1/31/2012 09:39:03 am

The expenses listed are for both horses. My horses get shod every 5 - 6 weeks, so the $220 is for nearly every month. Once or twice a year I get a break because the 5 - 6 weeks will span an entire month. Woohoo! i think we all need more money. :0)

Val

1/31/2012 08:55:59 am

Just looking at the Board/Feed/Stall Care section, I think that you are getting a very good deal. That's for two horses on full care?

I pay about $530/month for one (excluding vet, tack, supplies, and fun stuff). New Jersey is not cheap, but Mr. Harley also eats the most expensive feed at the animal supply shop. Lucky boy. ;)

Karen

1/31/2012 09:41:35 am

Yep ... board is for two horses and includes full care. It's actually on the slightly higher end for Bakersfield. You can go quite a bit higher, but for the average board, it's a bit high. I was paying $185 each at Silverado, now I pay $200 each. When you multiply everything times two, it adds up quickly. Yours sounds high though.

Yozo's Mom

1/31/2012 02:47:47 pm

What program are you using? I used to track my spending in Excel, but got a new computer without Office... really should have re-started the obsessive tracking again this January, as it has been many months since I've bothered. Anyways, Bakersfield is definitely one of the cheapest places in California to live and to keep a horse. I'm sure you knew that already. I pay a pretty cheap board for Northern California at Horse Quarters at $240 a month. It is a VERY large dirt paddock. I pay $115 every 6 weeks for trim x4 and shoes x2. I also only use my truck for hauling and only put gas in it when I use it. I didn't haul at all in January, but I did pay a $350 truck payment and approx $40 to insure the truck. I also couldn't help but buy a few stall mats and bags of shavings to give Yozo a dry place to stand during the muddy days, so another $80 at Tractor Supply. Plus $80 for 2 riding lessons, so for me that's $905 for January for me!

Karen

1/31/2012 09:38:28 pm

I use Quicken for Mac.

I hadn't thought about vehicle insurance, but since hubby pays that, I guess I can't really add it in as one of my expenditures. I think most people spend a lot more than they realize. If we add up all of the little things, like insurance, it turns out to be a pretty big number. I don't count my gas to the barn since it's too difficult to differentiate how much is for going to work and how much is for the barn!

In October, when Speedy got sick, I added almost 1,000 to my regular spending. That's what actually motivated me to see how much I really spend. I "know" what I spend monthly, I've been a Quicken user for at least 15 years, but I've never added the actual amount over the course of an entire year. I want to know what all of the extras and emergencies are costing me as well.

Based on feedback, it seems that my board bill is lower than most. We'll see how it goes as show season gets going which will definitely boost my overall spending (premiums and gas).

About the
Writer & Rider

I am a lifetime rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010.
Welcome to my dressage journey.

Photo by Lori Ovanessian

Email Karen

About Speedy G

Speedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. We're currently schooling Third Level in preparation for the 2019 show season. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.

August 2018

About Izzy

Izzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are schooling the dressage basics. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.

March 2019

Bakersfield Dressage approved!

National Awards

USDF Second Level Rider Performance Award - 2018
USDF First Level Rider Performance Award - 2015
USDF Training Level Rider Performance Award - 2013

State Awards

CDS Ruby Rider Award - 2018
CDS Second Level Horse Performance Award - 2018

Ruby Rider Award, 2018

2019 Show Season

Show Rating
(***) CDS/USDF/USEF
(*) CDS
(s) Schooling
(c) Clinic
(t) Ride-a-Test Clinic
(Q) Must Qualify

2019 Pending …

5/11-12/19 - Cavaletti Clinic (c)
5/26/19 - TMC (*)
6/15-16/19 - El Sueno (***)
6/22-23/19 - SCEC (***)
6/23/19 - TMC (*)
7/13-14/19 - El Sueno (***)
7/28/19 - TMC (*)
8/10/19 - RAAC (Q) (***)
8/25/19 - TMC (*)
10/26-27/19 SCEC (***)

2019 Completed …

Qualifying Scores for 2019

Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Scores
Third Level Scores:
Score 1:
Score 2:
Score 3:

CDS Championship Third Level Scores:
Score 1:
Score 2:
Score 3:
Score 4:
Score 5:

Working Towards:

CDS Sapphire Rider Award
Third Level:
Third Level:
Fourth Level:
Fourth Level:

USDF Bronze Medal
First Level - 70.179%
First Level - 72.600%
Second Level - 62.879%
Second Level - 61.970%
Third Level -
Third Level -