2. Necessary Routine Care
There are three main areas of routine horse care that you will have to take into account, whether your horse is stabled at home or boarded out.
Hoof Care
A blacksmith or farrier must trim, or trim and shoe your horse’s hooves every five to eight weeks. (During periods of rain and good pasture growth, five to six weeks is normal in some areas of the United States; in the winter months when hoof growth slows, every six to eight weeks can be adequate, depending on the horse.) Each foot needs to be trimmed properly, removing excess toe and balancing the hoof. Shoes need to provide ample support and be left wide enough to accommodate hoof growth and expansion until the next appointment with the farrier.
The cost of a trim ranges from $20 to $30, trim and two front shoes from $50 to $75, and trim and four shoes from $75 to $150 (larger horses may cost more). If your horse needs extra hoof care and special shoes or procedures performed, expect to pay more.
This is the one area of care I never skimp. The old saying, “No hoof, no horse” is one that is very true.
Veterinary Care
Typically, a riding horse will require two visits a year from a veterinarian for routine medical care, which includes vaccinations for rabies, tetanus, Potomac Horse Fever, West Nile Virus, rhinopneumonitis, equine influenza, strangles (Streptococcus), and Eastern and Western encephalomyelitis. Depending on where you live, your veterinarian may recommend additional vaccinations, such as Venezuelan encephalomyelitis. Some of these shots are given once a year, and others are repeated in six months to ensure immunity. The veterinarian may also draw blood to perform a Coggins test for Equine Infectious Anemia♦.
A horse’s teeth should be checked once a year. Floating, which is the filing and shaping of the teeth by a veterinarian or qualified equine dental practitioner, takes off sharp points that may occur from aging and the horse’s grinding and chewing food. Sharp points can make the horse uncomfortable, interfere with the function of the bit, and hinder proper digestion.
Combined, the annual visit and follow-up for vaccination boosters, tooth floating, and Coggins test can cost between $200 and $400. Most equine veterinarians are mobile and come to your farm or stable. The travel charge or trip fee ranges from $15 to $50, becoming higher the farther they travel.
SO YOU KNOW…
♦ Equine Infectious Anemia—also known as “swamp fever”—is a highly contagious and potentially fatal, blood-borne viral disease.
Worming
Horses need to be wormed (or “dewormed”) at least every eight weeks. Alternating types of wormers (different “classes”) helps to prevent parasites from developing resistance to the medications. There are numerous brands of paste wormer on the market; however, it is important to compare the ingredients and note which parasites will be affected. A paste wormer costs between $6 and $13 in most tack and feed stores or livestock supply catalogs.
3. Feeding and Supplementation
Commercial pelleted grains and sweet feed usually cost between $7 and $15 per 50-pound bag. Hay ranges from $3 to $9 per 55-pound bale, and one horse can consume 100 or more bales a year, depending on climate and the quality of your pasture. When you board out all feed and hay is usually included in your board fee. Supplements are an additional cost and depend on the individual horse. Typically, a pleasure horse that gets a quality commercial grain mixture, plenty of hay, and a mineral salt block will not need extra vitamins and minerals, though he may need one or more hoof or joint supplements. (Your veterinarian will help you determine your horse’s extra needs.) For example, I have an older horse that needs joint supplementation; a six-month supply of Cosequin® costs $150 to $220 depending on where purchased.
4. Supplies, Tack, and Accessories
Having a horse means lots of “stuff”! The very basic beginner’s kit may include, but is not limited to, the following:
Rubber curry comb
Hoof pick with brush
Hard brush, medium brush, and soft brush
Regular human hair brush (for manes and tails)
Large-toothed comb
Sweat scraper and shedding blade
Cheap towels
Plastic tote
Hoof conditioner
Shampoo, conditioner, and hair polish
Fly spray
Liniment
Wound dressing
Wonder Dust®
Epsom® salt
Gauze and wrap
Clippers
Halter and cotton leads
Turnout blanket
Splint boots and bell boots
Shipping boots
This kit will cost $300 to $400, depending on brands and vendors chosen. Equine supply catalogs are good places to start (see Resources, p. 218).
Saddles and other pieces of tack are riding discipline-specific and require “shopping around” for the best prices. The saddle has to fit both the horse and the rider, so enlist the help of your instructor, your veterinarian, and your local tack shop owner to find a saddle that suits for a reasonable price. For example, an average good quality hunt seat saddle will cost $600 to $1200. Add stirrups and stirrup leathers, an English bridle, snaffle bit, girth, and saddle pad to complete your basic turnout for another $200 to $400, depending on brands. A Western trail or pleasure saddle will cost $300 to $450 for synthetic and $800 to $1500 for traditional leather (silver-detailed, roping, and barrel racing saddles are more expensive.) Add a bridle, tom-thumb or regular snaffle, breastplate, girth, and saddle pad to complete your ensemble for another $250 to $500.
5. Riding Instruction
For a child and a novice, adult horse owner, I recommend regular riding instruction. Bet Poarch, a trainer♦ and instructor♦ who specializes in hunters and jumpers with over 40 years of teaching experience, says she often receives a phone call from a man who wants to buy a horse for his wife, or a parent a pony for a child. Frequently, they ask about riding lessons beforehand. Ms. Poarch tells them, “I would not buy a horse without taking riding lessons first, anymore than I would go to
