How much does it cost to care for a horse in California?

<3dressage<3: How much does it cost to care for a horse in California?
I know all horses are different and you can’t just assume one cost for all horses……..but I want a rough estimate. Assume that this horse is extremely healthy and does not require extra vet visits apart from the regular periodic ones. This horse eats an average amount of food. He is also barefoot, he needs to get them trimmed, but I know how to do that myself and I don’t have to pay for it.

So how much would it cost to keep him in California?
Sorry guys, I meant the central coast…

Answers and Views:

Answer by captnmoo
A lot! Boarding ranges from $ 100-350+ depending on if you clean your own stalls, if you need it blanketed, turned out, etc.. The average cost for boarding on the Central Coast is $ 175 for a covered 24×24 paddock and $ 200-300 for a stall with a run. Hay ranges from $ 13-18 per bale (for alfalfa) depending on the time of year, the economy, and gas prices. A horse eats on average, 1 bale per horse per week.. So you can roughly assume that you will be paying about $ 300 a month if you buy your own hay unless you find a stable that feeds their own.

Answer by keepumguessin
Right now I pay $ 650 every month including the farrier and vet visits.

Answer by kat
I live in the Bay Area, and for now, the costs are pretty astronomical :/. Board ranges anywhere from 400-650 a month for full-care, vet and farrier visits vary. The price of bales have gone up as well.

Answer by Horse Junkie
What part of California? California doesn’t have one price. LOL

It’s a big state and has THOUSANDS of barns.

As you can tell by the answers you are getting already….some one thinks it’s astronomical. I don’t agree…because of my area. Board can be found for less.

The cost can be $ 175 to pasture board your horse in one area or $ 600 or more to stall board in another area.

There’s tack and all the immediate essentials: an easy $ 2000 right at the start.

Will you be riding western? English? will you be taking lessons? Will this horse need to be fully trained? Will you be competing? or just trail and joy riding?

There are TOO many variables. I can pay one price and someone next door pays another.

There is no such thing as “on average” not here or anywhere else (I live in Calif)

Vet care can be $ 200 for teeth once a year more or less. plus dewormers every other month,

feed can be $ 20 a bale or so.

grain….if the horse actually needs it….

what kind of horse will you have? the smaller the horse, the less it’ll eat, the larger, the more it’ll eat.

honestly, if you have to ask this question, you may not be ready to buy a horse. someone who is confident in their finances, won’t be asking this question, but rather, will simply figure out expenses for their own area (with research) and buy the horse.

YOUR area will be different than any one elses. Do the research. Go to the local barns. Ask around in person. You’ll get some realistic answers that way.