As a horse breeder, I’m often asked how expensive a horse is. Unfortunately, most people are thinking of the ‘purchase price’ when they ask, rather than the ‘ownership cost’. In general, horses are more expensive to own than to buy, a fact that most first-time buyers don’t really understand.

This ignorance is in part the fault of people working in the horse business as breeders, dealers or trainers. After all, if a potential client is unsure if they can afford to buy a horse, telling them that owning it is even more expensive is a good way to lose the potential sale. Of course, some sellers are honest enough to explain this, but far from all.