Horses Are Expensive: April

5/1/2012

I know you'd rather hear about Sunday's show, but I feel compelled to continue with my monthly expense reports. I am horrified. Seriously. At this rate, I'll have spent in excess of $25,000 by the end of the year.

The expenses listed below are the totals that I spent for two horses. You might notice that there is no farrier bill in April. Thank goodness! The boys get done every five to six weeks which just happened to cover a time frame that skipped the month of April. Have no fear. The money was still spent. My bill to BVH is what accounted for a big chunk of this month's money drain. Here's to a cheaper May!

Judy

5/1/2012 12:17:44 am

But the fun factor, stress relief, companionship, excercise......priceless!!!

Karen

5/1/2012 02:01:38 am

I guess if I joined a gym with a trainer and went to a therapist EVERY day, it might be the same money spent. You're right in that the cost is worth it, but where oh where can I cut back?!

Kelly RGF link

5/1/2012 05:15:49 am

Gasp ... $360 for dental work, vaccinations and a FEC per horse? That seems high! I guess nothing is cheap in horses but I've got to get Leo's teeth done soon (he'll need to be sedated) and I hope my bill's a bit lower ... yikes.

What are the vaccinations you give over there? One thing that's nice about living in NZ is that we don't have a lot of the diseases. Strangles and tetanus are the commonly given ones here.

Karen

5/1/2012 08:26:30 am

Kelly - my vet charges around $120 for a standard dental plus another $70 or so for the tranquilizer. It's definitely not cheap. I do both horses each year because I know how important good dental care is. I just plan for a big bill each March/April.

The Fecals are $25 each and I do at least two a year for each horse, and often three.

The USA is so big with such varying climates, vegetation, and animal species that the core vaccines for California are surely different than in other parts of the country. For example, my vet doesn't see the need for rabies, although it is quite common to give in the east. "Our" core vaccines include Eastern & Western Encephalomyelitis, West Nile Virus (transmitted by mosquitos and quite often lethal here), Tetanus, and Rhinopneumonitis (herpes). I don't give the strangles vaccine as my horses have either had it already or been exposed to it. Speedy G was vaccinated against strangles through his four year old year, but then I opted to drop it from his regimen.

I'll be very curious to know what your vet/dentist charges for a dental occlusal equilibration, the newest term for floating (!). I will say that even though BVH is pricey, the work is being done by trained veterinarians and they are SERIOUS about proper dental care. I figure their expertise is worth the price. Besides, they let me "help" and watch as closely as I want to. Dr. Tolley even lets me wear the head lamp and do my own check by hand to see if he's "missed" any spots. Again, the money is worth it!

Kelly RGF link

5/2/2012 05:08:44 am

I'll let you know when I get Leo's dental occlusal equilibration (!) for sure.

I'd love if you did a blog post about the different diseases you're vaccinating for ... I have no idea what they are (except for tetanus of course). Though I guess most of your other readers would know, being from the States.

Karen

5/2/2012 12:23:55 pm

I'll try to work on something about the vaccinations. There are so many choices here that no one is ever "right" in what they give. Someone else will always disagree!

AareneX link

5/1/2012 06:40:09 am

I really try not to know how much they cost...but I'll be doing a "cost" post soon in regards to the spay surgery. HINT: spay is not cheap.

sigh.

Karen

5/1/2012 08:12:59 am

I am very curious to know what THAT cost. It looks as though Fiddle is healing well. Can't wait to hear that she's back under saddle! :0)

Hay-Net link

5/2/2012 03:50:58 am

Brilliant blog! Why not come and post it at Haynet an Equine Social Blogging network? We have blogs from all over the world in all things equestrian. Be great to have you there! Come and visit http://hay-net.co.uk/

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Not-So-Speedy Dressage