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Susie T
Silver Member
257 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 5:46:48 PM
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Hi - any of you who read my earlier post - New to Endurance - will know that I am a Mum who is looking into getting a horse, and whilst researching arabs, came across Endurance riding. In my previous posts I explained that I didn't have a horse yet, and would have to chat up my husband! Well, I settled him down with a beer and a foot massage, and he has cautiously agreed to the idea. But, like all annoying men he is concerned with the practicalities and a major one being the costs involved. We have figured out that we could afford around 2 - 3,000 for the horse, but it is the ongoing costs that I am very out of touch with. In that case could any of you give me some idea of costs of keeping a horse, particularly with a view to doing endurance riding? Obviously stabling and grazing is dependent on my local area and what is available, and I will plan to have my horse live out most of the year, just stabled for the worst of the winter months. But other regular costs, I assume, will be supplementary feed, farrier, vet bills (I would get insurance to cover any major illnesses etc) that need to be considered. I'm sorry to ask such basic question, but I don't even know how much a bale of hay costs now! Any of you that have not lost the will to live after reading this very long post, I would be so grateful for any advice / own experiences that you can provide. Be realistic! I can always shave a few pounds off when I relay the info to my un-suspecting hubby!  Thank you - you have all been great so far! Susie x
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Susie T
Silver Member
257 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 5:53:59 PM
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Sorry -  it might help if I said that I would only be looking at doing pleasure rides intially, and then maybe progressing on to novice rides - but I don't see me doing Endurance riding for Great Britain any time soon! Susie |
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Joto
Gold Member
855 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 6:20:24 PM
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much depends on how far you are willing to travel to enter rides. If you goto EGB web site you will find the costs of membership and entry fees. You will need to find out how much MPG your owing vehicle or horsebox does and add this to costs.then theres things like bacon butties,drinks,extras at the venue for yourself and crew. The horse may need shoeing more frequently than normal, say a new set every 5 weeks.If you stay over night at venues theres stabling or coralling fees and tents or B&B for yourself. So, you have your normal horse keeping costs plus these extras.
week to week costs vary depending on locality. its best to go round and ask local stables how much they charge. near to me stabling and grazing is £20 to £25 a week basic DIY, shavings are expensive £7 a bale at present,hay about £2.50 a bale, shoes £60,feed averaging £8 a bag.then theres annual vet fees and dentist. I reckon to keep a hack a month is approx £250 a month plus competition costs and insurance and transport costs. |
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ali bali
Gold Member
Scotland
641 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 7:40:02 PM
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I budget £275 a month to keep my two but have my own grazing and stabling. Am very much on a tight budget! When I had one horse I was at DIY livery and budgeted £250 which just about covered the livery and day to day expenses and new rugs etc when kit wore out. Shoes are a huge part of my expenses as one of mine is a heavy horse so takes twice as long and four times as much metal as a 'normal' horse! Costs do seem to vary widely all over the country for all types of things. I must remember the beer and foot massage approach, it seems very effective!  Good luck with you horse hunt. Alison |
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Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 8:25:51 PM
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Don't forget extra insurance (if you compete competively) - and even basic insurance which is not cheap; plus worming, innoculations and supplements which you will surely get advised to use! Suitable tack and riding clothes should be taken into consideration and if you got into it seriously in future years you'd be wanting specialist training equipment too - like heart rate monitors, nice-to-haves such as GPS system etc.
But you can make a fabulous start by having an Arab and working up through pleasure rides. You never know, your OH might be as keen as you if you reward him as well as you're doing now!
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Roseanne |
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Nicki
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
149 Posts |
Posted - 22 Feb 2009 : 10:19:35 PM
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Hi there, I started off on a really small budget and it has increased in proportion to the number of horses and amount of showing/endurance I've done. When I kept 2 horses and kept them out, it was just hay in the winter, and minimal amounts of feed (currently approx 8 pounds a bag), and shoes every 6 to 8 weeks (currently approx 60 pounds for a set), and I kept one mare bare foot until she was doing significant mileage. My worst cost at that time was hiring transport as I didnt have a tow bar or car that could tow and had to hire a small lorry. Then I managed to get a company car 4x4 with tow bar !! but couldnt afford a trailor. Finally got the trailor - and I was Off !! But dont forget the cost of the trailor, the insurance, or the maintenance.
Now I am more heavily involved in endurance and you do have to allow for the extra petrol, not just for the rides but for training too. If you are lucky and have good hacking near by then this will save on petrol, and if off road, could be a bonus on shoe life too. Or, if you are lucky you might find a horse that goes well bare foot on the terrain and distances that you want to do. I kept my current gelding barefoot up to 40 to 50 km, but then he needed shoes because his feet were wearing and there was more road work in what I what I was doing.
As the distances crept up so have my expenses, eg more entry fees both pleasure and competitive so I could ride more often, which meant more petrol and more shoes ! and also feeding starts to get more involved - I think a normal healthy fit horse can happily do 40km without much extra, but then I was really into supplements, feeding oils, maybe specialist endurance foods, electrolytes/salt etc which is a combination of time and money. Butmy horse is not a good doer - take this into account to. A poor doer needs more rugging, maybe stabling, and more food !
When I got my first horse I was really lucky that she came with saddles, bridles, headcollars, rugs - stable, turn out, sweat sheet etc etc lots of lovely rugs, this was a HUGE bonus, also I got her on loan and this was fabulous for both her owner and myself, and I was privileged for it to become a life time loan and had her papers handed to me (the real gift of a lifetime). Have you considered a loan horse, especially with the current economy many people are looking for super caring loving homes for some fabulous horses. Maybe they might also be able to contribute a little bit still to their costs, like maybe for the horse insurance ?
My horses originally lived out and roughed it, and were very happy. As I say I seem to have got older and now the horses get more pampered the colder I get ! and are living in and rugged and supplemented up to the nines. But it is realistic to have a happy hack and do pleasure rides and do it on a basic budget. Just dont forget your insurance will be a cost, and there will be an excess and you must allow for this, and for the fact that some things just are not covered - my vet bills seem to have a funny way of always being excluded from the policy. I had a colt with a testicle that didnt drop, and was told he would either die of a tumour or have a 50/50 chance of a successful surgery (hospitialistion) to geld him, off he went and thank god survived. The insurance claim was rejected because gelding for any reason was said to be "cosmetic" !
Good luck, and I'm sorry for all the waffle, I hope it might help.
Good on you for doing all your homework too. Its a very responsible approach. There are loads more qualified people on the site who can help you too, so dont be afraid to keep posting
All the very best of luck. |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2009 : 08:15:58 AM
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I budget to spend £5,000 a year on keeping, shoeing, entry fees, membership. Vets bills have been about £400 per year so far (so I now dont bother insuring for these Nut as you say - they never seem to be reclaimable anyway!) Then there is all the 'stuff' you end up buying which isnt really included in the budget that is equipment for him, clothing for me. I do spend noticeably less on other 'stuff' though, so no gym membership and I keep sparkly going-out clothes to a minimum - they look stupid with jodpurs anyway . I dont budget for petrol as the yard isnt very far away. I DON'T do it on a tight budget as Spider is on part livery (I couldnt cope with DIY as I have children and a business to run)
As Nicki says - remember to budget for trailer and car to pull it if you dont already have one. |
   
West Sussex |
Edited by - Arachnid on 23 Feb 2009 08:17:42 AM |
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Nicki
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
149 Posts |
Posted - 23 Feb 2009 : 1:59:44 PM
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| Oh Arachnid, is THAT where I'm going wrong ..... I thought the sparkly going out clothes combined with filthy stable gear was a real fashion statement, particularly if I can persuade OH to help in the warmer months and he looks just FAB in shorts & wellies !! |
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Rozy Rider
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4545 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2009 : 9:37:23 PM
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I work my costs out in £10 per week, ie: £10 for food, £10 for Hay, £10 for Bedding, £10 for shoes,& then your livery costs Stable & grazing. and any other charges where your horse is kept. you've also got wormers/testing,tooth/dental.+ insurance & any veterinary.
The EGB membership comes in at £45 +(£20 joining fee for the first year) + horse registration at £12 per year, then + entries £15 foe a PR & £28 for 50km or less CR, and a climbing scale. + transport costs. etc.etc.
I keep my two hoprses at home so I don't pay any livery, on my own DIY. still end up paying the £10 + £10 + £10 + £10 for each horse in the winter, might save a bit in the summer time.
Sue |
Sue
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Susie T
Silver Member
257 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2009 : 7:33:00 PM
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Thanks to everyone who has replied! I have spoken to some people locally aswell, I think I maybe need to budget for around £250 per month to keep the horse including livery, feed, vet insurance, shoes etc, and then more for when I start to take part in Endurance rides (if I ever get that far...here's hoping!). I have today found some livery available in the village where I live, that I never knew about (doh!), that is very affordable, so it looks like I am a step nearer.. Just need to find the horse now ... am thinking of something 14 2 to 15 1 max, up to about 8 years of age, and I have always had mares in the past so feel more comfortable with them. Don't mind about the colour, just needs to be sound, snaffle mouth, forward going but excellent brakes, and 100% in traffic (the livery I have found is on a farm with tractors and lorries). If anyone knows of anything (arab).... budget is about £3,000. Still keen to hear more people's opinions on costs involved though, especially if you think I am wildly off the mark ! Thanks again! Susie |
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Gemma
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1802 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2009 : 8:32:46 PM
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You can do it a bit cheaper than that, but not much! As far as I can work out, what makes the difference is your livery charges, and feed.
My livery (grass livery - out 24/7 with ample grazing, plenty of shelters) is only £10 a week.
Marygold is a a VERY good do-er and doesn't need large volumes of feed. She only gets hard feed when we are working hard. She does get additional supplements (glucosamine & MSM) but other than that she's pretty easy to keep.
My budget for month to month basic keep is £150, and I usually come in around that mark.
What is expensive is the competing!!
Biggest is running a 4x4 and trailer rather than the small roller-skate on wheels that I had before. Then, as others have pointed out, there's entry fees, membership fees, etc.
For example, I did a training ride this weekend just gone. Total cost for a 26km ride? £55 (thank God my OH can't see this!), which consists of £15 entry fee and £40 in diesel for the round trip of 200 miles.
If you can find yourself a nice hardy horse who is pretty easy to keep, the month to month shouldn't be too bad. Then you have to work out how much you can afford to spend on playing.
Endurance doesn't cost much more than any other horsey discipline, and I personally think the entry fees are quite reasonable. For the same price for entering a couple of dressage classes which take, what, 5 miles each, I could take part in a 50km CR. I know which one I'd rather do! The biggest expense for me is the diesel spent driving to rides. Being stuck right out in East Kent, I have to travel to get to rides. It's definitely worth it though!
Hope that helps. |
 
Photo 2: West End Photography |
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kirsty
Gold Member
United Kingdom
713 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2009 : 8:40:08 PM
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Hi I think you have got the costs about right. I daren't work out what my horses as I've got seven cost me each year. Also like others have said it depends on the level you compete at. We are lucky in that we own our own yard and buy haylage etc in bulk. Endurance is cheap compared to other disciplines. My stallion is eventing as well and it is going to cost me £215 to register him and me as owner plus £74 inc start fee for his first pre novice. i just hope he gets some bookings to cover this extra cost.
good luck
Kirsty |
   eric g jones  |
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Susie T
Silver Member
257 Posts |
Posted - 26 Feb 2009 : 2:30:14 PM
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On a similar topic ... could you give me your views on what the basic equipment I would need for my horse would be (not including any special equipment that may be needed for endurance) eg what rugs, grooming kit, stable equipment etc? I have to factor all of this into the price aswell, and then chat my OH up even more. I have been looking at online saddlery stores so am beginning to get an idea of how much everything costs these days, but could do with a "must have" list of what I really need, as I am very hazy from my days of owning a horse when I was a teenager! Where would I be without you guys???!! 
PS I saw somewhere a "special rug for arabs" - do you think this is necessary? And if so, are there other arab-specific items I should be looking out for? |
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angelarab
Platinum Member
Wales
2876 Posts |
Posted - 12 Mar 2009 : 9:36:40 PM
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i say it cost me av£250mth to keep my gelding, and i can't see that changing much when he is broken.
£130 livery
£28 insuernec
£30 feed
£10put by for feet trim
plus those impulse extra buys like a glitter piped sadle cloth! wormers jabs entry fees trailer hire etc
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 "Until one has loved an animal, part of their soul remains unawakened."
www.northwalesarab.co.uk |
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Dot
Gold Member
England
669 Posts |
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arab
Bronze Member
84 Posts |
Posted - 28 Mar 2009 : 10:00:17 PM
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| as for rugs etc ., get yourself on ebay. you do not need special arab rugs, however i do find the masta'a are a good fit for my arabs. |
the arabian
beauty at its best |
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