How much is a bit for a horse?

Answer 1

Prices can differ to purchase a horse but it also cost even more money to have ownership of a horse. Good horses don't come cheap. It all depends on the animal's breeding, health, age, size, and ability. Expenses vary, depending on where you live, how you plan to house your horse and whether or not you'll be showing. The Whole Tab

If you add this all up, you might be surprised at how expensive it can be. The average costs would be about $11,000 per year. To recap, each year it would cost about $100 for clothes, $1,750 for riding, $7,500 for board, $250 for routine veterinary care, $300 for farrier care and $350 for mortality and medical insurance (for a horse valued at $5,000). It is clear that for the healthy horse, the board will be the biggest expense. If you're not going with "rough board," make sure you're getting all you can for that money and lay the expenses out so you can see the big picture before you commit.

Read this if you really are considering buying a horse.Boarding Your Horse If you have enough land, you may be able to keep your horse on your own property. Most people, however, board their horses at a barn. Some barns offer only a stall and pasture: You do the work, caring for the horse and cleaning out the stall. At a full-service barn, grooming, feeding and cleaning are all done for you, and the feed and hay are included in the price. Use of a horse trailer, turning your horse out, training, cleaning your tack or other services may also be included in the monthly fee. Depending on the location and the services offered, boarding costs usually range from $3,000 to $12,000 annually.

For example, in many parts of the country, $250 per month ($3,000 per year) will only pay for "rough board," i.e. taking care of the stalls and turnout yourself. For $660 per month ($8,000 per year), you can expect a place with an indoor arena and nice facilities.

With the addition of training, the sky is the limit, but $1,000 per month ($12,000 per year) is realistic. This board should also include access to an indoor arena, beautiful trails and/or other sophisticated services. Layup barns that provide a number of rehabilitative and exercise facilities can easily exceed $1,000 per month. Many barns charge item by item for additional services, such as blanketing, holding the horse for the vet, night checks, leg wraps, so make sure you know what these cost.

Veterinary Care

Veterinary costs usually run between $200 and $300 a year for routine care, providing the horse stays healthy. This pays for two annual vaccinations, the cost of de-worming every six to eight weeks, and having your horse's teeth floated (rasped) once a year.

It's interesting that equine vets, unlike their small animal counterparts, cannot usually perform a routine examination of every horse each time they give shots. This is due to the fact that there are so many horses to see on a routine vaccination/deworming/floating teeth day. Therefore, they are also not charging for this service as they do in small animals practice. So it is not possible to compare the routine costs between a horse and dog, for instance.

Two of the most common veterinary calls, colic and lameness, can bring you an additional $150 to $250 per visit, including minor medications. If the colic or lameness workup is extensive, be prepared to spend $750 to $1,000 easily. Better to get medical insurance because it only goes up from there for proper care of a serious problem.

Farrier Service

You'll have to pay a farrier to trim and reset the shoes on your horse's hooves every six to eight weeks. Expect to pay between $100 and $400 annually at a minimum. If there are new or corrective shoes to deal with, you might expect the farrier to charge more like $100 for each reset, and that starts to add up to $800 to $900 a year. Tack and Equipment

You'll need grooming equipment and tack: a saddle, a bridle and a saddle pad; other supplies may include a horse blanket if you live in a chilly climate. Tack and equipment will cost you $500 at the low end and all the way up to $10,000 or more at the high end. If you plan to show your horse, you could end up spending even more. Most competitive riders maintain at least two sets of tack: a moderately-priced bridle for everyday riding and a more expensive bridle for showing.

Riding Lessons

Plan on a riding lesson once a week from a reputable instructor throughout the first year - at least - that you own your horse. Some horsemen recommend starting lessons a year or two before you purchase your horse. Weekly lessons cost, on average, anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 a year. Of course, if you are taking intermittent lessons, for example, at the more advanced stage of dressage training, you may pay considerably more per lesson, but the annual amount will be about the same with a few exceptions.

Clothing

Plan to buy clothes specifically designed for riding. Riding gear can cost you $150 at the low end (for a pair of decent boots) to $5,000 or more if you plan on showing.

Insurance

You'll need mortality insurance - which pays when your horse dies - and medical insurance (to cover unexpected accidents or illnesses). Premium costs for mortality insurance usually run about four percent of the insured value of the horse, so if your horse is valued at $3,000, you would pay $120 annually. Medical insurance usually costs another $150 per year.

Answer 2

It all depends. For a brocken horse to do nothing but ride not looking at the breed in a place where horses are common anywhere from $2,000-$10,000 then if you start getting into show horses and pricy breeds it can get well over $100,000. Normaly unbrocken horses, and lame horses, and problem go for less but are unable to be riden. You want to thing about age, a $2,000 7 year old is going to be for a more experanced rider, but a $2,000 20 year old (that is not an ex-racer I can't stress that enough, for a first horse NEVER get something off the track.) may be a better fit, but will not be around as long. The best first horse for a any rider I would say would be a guelding 12 years and up, about $3,000-$5,000, sound, calm, wonderful temper, an easy keeper... etc. If a horse sounds to good to be true... it is. Yet, I would suggest spending alot of time helping out a local stable I spent 2 years working at a stable before I got my horse. The price of the horse should be of consern due to that being the cheapest part. Add another $1,500 for starting tack , brushes, halter, etc... about $150 every 6 weeks for shoeing, $300 a mouth for board, and anywhere from $20-$50,000 for vet fees. Then there is the time involved I work, go to school, train other horses, give riding lessons and still spend alest 3hours a day with my horse, but often up to 7 hours a day. You don't need to be there EVERY day, but 4-5 days a week is recommended to keep the horse calm.

Answer 3

Your saddle will probably be your most expensive tack. There are many different ways to go. You can find a good used saddle that will give you many years of use. There are 2 basic kinds of saddles, and those 2 kinds have many sub-catagories.

Western-There are many different kinds of western saddles. Pleasure, trail, show, cutting, roping, equitation, ect. They can be very fancy for shows that can be trimmed with silver. A good starter saddle for trail riding or pleasure riding is a good place to start. You may be able to find a good saddle for a few hundred dollars used or new you will be paying more, $600-$1200 for trail or pleasure saddles.

English-There are many variations on English style saddles also. Hunt seat, equitation, dressage, all-purpose, saddle-seat with a 3 or 4 inch 'cut-back'. You can find a good used saddle for a few hundred dollars, just like the western saddle, or you can buy new and it will cost you more. One important thing about an English style saddle, especially if you buy new, unlike the western saddle it may not include the leathers, irons and girth. These must be purchased separately unless you buy a 'package' deal. So ask lots of questions before you buy. The price of English saddles can also be expensive depending on the brand and type you purchase. My English saddle when new was $1500. You don't need to spend that much though. It's always a good idea to research the kind of saddle you want. Compare prices and get some advice from a friend or trainer that you trust.

The most important aspect of saddlery is to make sure you get a good fit for the horse's back and then your seat. A bad fitting saddle can hurt your horse's back and make him grumpy and dangerous to ride. So take your time and get a saddle that you and your horse can live with.

Answer 4

A horse bit will vary in cost based on the material it's made from, who made it, what type of bit it is, where you buy it from and other factors. But you should expect to pay at least $15 for a basic stainless steel bit, the price goes up from there.

Answer 5

5 dollars