There is more to owning a horse than just buying it. Horse ownership is a big responsibility and you cannot take it lightly. Horses need continuous attention, care and exercise, which sometimes you have to spend your money on. Other things should also be considered before you take such responsibility.

When buying a horse, determine first your goal, or what you want and what you want to do. This will help you estimate the budget for owning and taking care of the horse. What do you want a horse for? Is it for trail riding, performing, horse showing, etc.?

You must also consider the fact that your first horse will most likely not be your last, as with most riders. For a first horse, you must find that which is safe to train with. A starter horse must be able to help you, or your child, learn horsemanship skills. Then as your interest or your childs interest grow, you can consider switching to a more aggressive or competitive one.

Do not buy an untrained horse. It will only add to your expenses as it may require for you to hire a horse trainer. Untrained horse can also be dangerous. It can delay your learning as well because training a horse can take months.

It is always recommended to buy older and experienced horse because horses can be ridden well into their senior years. The cost for older, retired and gentle trail horses is $1,000 or so. Younger horses can cost higher than older horses, while top level show horses can cost over six figures.

The cost of the horse is only the beginning of your expenditure. There will be more after taking your horse home. You may spend money for your horses lodging, basic equestrian tack, veterinary check up, etc.

A large percentage of your budget will go to your horses lodging. Lodging will not be a problem if you have enough land where you can put a stall for your horse and have a place for it to walk around. But if you dont, the only thing you can do is to find a barn where you can board your horse. Boarding that includes only the stall for your horse can cost $200 a month.

You can also ask for a full boarding for your horse, which can cost from $400 to $600 per month. In a full boarding, the stall, the cost of the feed and bedding, and the manual labor to perform the daily tasks are all included in the payment.

Other factors that you should also consider are hiring professional instructor for you or your child, your horses grooming, purchasing equestrian tack, and veterinary care. Continuous horse and horse riding education will help you and your child avoid problems with the horse. You have to buy equestrian tack that you will need as well as spend on your horse grooming to keep your horse sound. Regular veterinary check-ups and vaccination for your horse is also necessary to keep it healthy.

Tags: Horses