I have a bit of a bone to pick with the websites and resources out there attempting (albeit with good intentions) to answer the question “how much does a horse costs?”

This is a BURNING question for so many people exploring the idea of buying a horse, but the well-meaning posts that detail dollar figures can actually be misleading for many people.

Indulge me with an analogy.

What if I asked you how much does it cost to buy a house?

It’s impossible to answer or give an appropriate figure. You’d have to reply with a few questions of your own. You’d have to ask;

• How big is the house your going to buy? 1 bedroom? 5 bedrooms? [needs]
• Are you buying your starter home? Your forever family home? Or your 2^nd home / vacation property? [circumstance]
• Are you buying in New York City? In Minnesota or on Vancouver Island? [market]

Point is, the answer to the original question is…. It depends.

The same goes for the question all first-time horse buyers want to know “so, what does a horse actually cost?”

The only way to answer that question is with a list of other questions. How you answer those questions, combined with your goals and intention for said horse + where you’re buying, keeping and training this horse will all be factors in the associated costs. That said…There are a few universal truths;

1. You can find incredible horses in every single price range #truth
2. You get what you pay for (most of the time). So if your budget is conservative, prepare to double down in time and effort.
3. No horse is immune to risk. Every single one of them can get sick, can get injured, can have trauma, can have performance issues and other complications. So you can factor in the expenses to mitigate those risk into the costs of horse ownership (insurance, high performance supplements, body work, regular maintenance, professional training etc.)

Buying the right horse is all about navigating the balance between the truths and the risks. To minimize your risk, it’s imperative that you work with a professional to help you. Professionals bring expertise and experience to the table that allows them to evaluate a horse’s suitability for a rider’s skill level, goals, and intended performance. They can spot red flags and potential issues that a novice buyer might miss, helping to avoid costly mistakes and emotional setbacks.

Additionally, professionals have established networks within the equestrian community, which means access to a broader selection of quality horses and a better chance of finding the perfect match.

I write about the benefits of working with a professional in my book So You’re Going To Buy A Horse, and I talk about the important difference between a riding instructor and a professional coach in this blog post.

Finally, if you are exploring the idea of getting into horse ownership, one of the most important things to recognize is the difference between the costs of buying a horse vs the cost of owning one.

In this blog post Understanding Horse Ownership: Monthly vs. Maintenance Expenses, I go through all the related expenses you should be prepared for.

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