Should You Own a Horse? Time, Costs, Livery and Trying It First

Time: Every Day, Whatever the Weather

A horse needs checking, feeding and watering every day, including holidays, sick days and the coldest morning of the year. Most owners visit at least twice a day. On top of that come mucking out, poo-picking the field, grooming, exercise, and waiting in for the farrier.

Riding is the fun part, but it is a small slice of the hours. If your weeks are already full, full livery (board) can take on the daily care, at a price. Ask yourself who will look after the horse when you are away or ill.

Costs, in Bands

Prices vary hugely between countries and regions, so here are the bands instead of figures:

• Buying the horse is often the smallest cost over its lifetime.
• Keeping it (livery or land, hay, bedding, feed) is the big, steady cost, and rises in winter.
• Routine care: farrier every few weeks, dental checks, vaccinations and worm testing.
• Tack and blankets: a saddle fitted to the horse, bridle, blankets (rugs), grooming kit.
• The unexpected: vet bills can be large. Most owners take out horse insurance or keep a savings fund; our insurance or savings fund guide compares them.

Get local quotes for livery, hay and the farrier before you buy. They tell you more than any national average.

Where Will It Live? Livery and Board Explained

Few people keep a horse in their own backyard. Most use a livery yard (called a boarding barn in the US). The common types:

• Full livery (full board): the yard does all the daily care. You ride and pay the bill.
• Part livery (partial board): staff do some of the jobs, such as turnout and feeding, and you do the rest.
• DIY livery (self-care board): you rent a stable and grazing and do everything yourself.
• Grass livery (pasture board): grazing only, for horses that live out.

Visit several yards, look at the fencing, water, shelter and how the horses look, and ask what is included. In the UK, British Equestrian suggests choosing a yard approved by the British Horse Society. Keeping a horse on your own land needs enough grazing, shelter and company: see grazing and pasture management, and check local planning or zoning rules for stables.

Your Horse Needs Friends

Horses are herd animals. A horse kept alone is not a happy horse, however much you visit. At a livery yard this is usually easy; on your own land, plan for at least two equines. Read why horses need company.

Try Before You Buy: Lessons, Sharing and Loaning

• Lessons at a good riding school teach riding and basic care. Ask about stable management courses too.
• Sharing (part loan): you ride and help with a horse on agreed days and share some costs, while the owner keeps overall responsibility.
• Loaning (full loan): the horse lives with you or at your yard and you take on its care and costs, while the owner still owns it.

The British Horse Society strongly recommends a written loan agreement, whether you are the owner or the borrower. It should say where the horse lives, who pays for what, who makes vet decisions, what happens if things change, and how the loan ends. Our buying a horse guide covers loan agreements and the pre-purchase vetting.

Your Support Team

Line these up before the horse arrives: an equine vet, a farrier, a dental technician or vet for teeth, a saddle fitter, and ideally an instructor. Ask your vet about vaccinations and a worming plan.

Vaccinations, worming and medicines: see your vet or a pet supply store with trained staff. They can tell you what your horse needs where you live.