Very rarely do people talk about the actually cost of horse ownership (or animals in general). Actually I should rephrase that...it is talked about, but only to be stated that it is expensive. But so many times it is asked what a horse is worth...so what is that deciding factor. Well simply put a horse is worth what the owner claims it is and based on what the current market is. But that is ever changing there for a horses worth is forever changing. A $10,000 horse may only be worth $1,000 the next time it is put on the market depending on what it can do. And so often the care the horse receives is based off it's worth to the owner at the time.
I saw a picture the other day that said something to effect of: The value of a horse is decided on the whim of a person. That is so very true. I can't say that enough. All 5 of my horses are living proof of that. Race horses are living proof of that. A horse can be worth thousands one day and nothing a short amount of time later. So what is the true value or worth of any given horse, to me that is all decided by the owner. I can tell you my horses are worth way more to me than what I paid for them. So many people often decide how much they are willing to spend by how much the horse costs or it is sometimes judged by how much the horse can do for the owner.
My main riding horse Pixie was just diagnosed with acute laminitis. Actually she is now passed the acute part and on the the healing phase, however she will not see grass for the rest of summer. Regardless, for the last week she has been in a little dry lot run next to a horse that got a very bad case of laminitis this summer. The poor horse could barely stand to get into the trailer. Now a month or so out she is getting better and better daily. All thanks to the wonderful barn staff, not because of her owners. She is still in a safe location and the barn staff has done everything they can for her. She should be fine and recover, but not because of the owners. They did the bare minimum they could stating they couldn't afford more. That is not a valid reason! You own the animal you are obligated to get them what they need regardless. If you can't make that commitment then don't own an animal, plain and simple.
Many people ask me how I afford all my animals, and the answer is very very carefully. We are super cheap when it comes to things for ourselves, lol. I give up a lot to own my animals, but it is because I want to. I made that commitment to them when they came home with us. Like yesterday Pixie went to the vet to have x-rays and nerve blocks done so I can figure out a treatment plan for her. Is the 1st of the month a good time for me? No, no it is not since I also have to write a $930 check for board. However, I don't get to pick and choose when my animals get hurt and she needed to have this done. I just don't understand how there could be owners out there that don't feel they need to treat their sick/ hurting animal. I understand money isn't grown on trees, lol, I get that, but I also know that a living breathing animal that can hurt and feel pain as much as us is relying on us. If you don't want to spend the money, then don't buy an animal in the first place.
Here is the breakdown of cost to maintain my 5 horses:
What I paid for each one: Based on this alone my horses are not worth a lot to the average person.
Pixie- $500 adoption fee
Jess- $2800
Willow- $500
Navi- $150
Char- $0
Monthly costs to maintain them: Board, meds, etc...
Pixie- $175 (Board), $20( supplements starting soon,) $40+($80-120 every 8 weeks for special shoes)
Jess- $175 (Board), $80 (supplement), $30 (fee for daily feeding of supplements), $28.50 (shot for arthritis), $40 (shoes, its $80 every 8 weeks)
Willow- $175 (Board), $35 every other month for trims
Navi- $175 (Board), $35 every other month for trims, ? replacement fly masks when ever she loses them.
Char- $175 (Board), ?? trimming by farrier what ever he can do.
Total- Roughly $ 1,198.50 a month ( To be perfectly transparent here that is more than I make in two weeks) So don't tell me that you cannot afford proper care for your horse! Don't own them if you don't want to spend the money...plain and simple.
This does not include vet bills, those are just icing on the cake, lol.
That being said, I wouldn't have it any other way. My horses are my escape, my relief from the crazy world. I have them so I don't have to have a therapist :)
