I thought I’d come out ahead financially by deciding not to have kids. No college funds, no sports team uniforms, no toys or video games. Now that I’ve become a horse owner, though, I’m not so sure.
I may not save for a college fund, but I spend an arm and a leg on lessons and clinics. I may not shell out for sports uniforms, but my riding gear overflows in the tack room. I may not buy toys and video games, but I find myself restocking treats every month.
Equestrian life is expensive to say the least. But how expensive exactly?
(If you haven’t read my earlier article about this process, How Much Does it Cost to Own a Horse?, hop over there first for background.)
Starting this month, I’ll provide a quick summary for Savvy Horsewoman readers who want to continue following my budgeting journey.
You can read my full October 2019 horse expense report here.
How I Did This Month
As a reminder, my goal is to keep monthly horse expenses under $1,000 after adjustments (e.g. trades).
In October, my horse expense was $1,517.41 BEFORE adjustments.
The chart below shows monthly expenses from January – October 2019. These numbers represent the total dollar VALUE of my equestrian expenses.
It does not factor in any trades for products or services. In other words, if I didn’t trade for anything, this is how much money I’d be paying each month.
The next chart adjusts monthly expenses to account for the situations when I’m able to trade for products and services.
These adjusted numbers are what I actually PAID OUT to support my horse habit each month.
In October, my horse expense was $582.41 AFTER adjustments.
Get 7 Ways to Barter for Horse Expenses when you sign up for Horse Rookie’s email list.
The chart below shows my monthly expenses (value) by spending category.
See the average horse cost by state to get a sense of typical expenses in your area.
See all the details in my full October 2019 horse expense report.
See all of my 2019 horse expense reports.
Nicole from Horse Rookie
After 25+ years in the saddle, I bought my first horse at 33. I love practicing dressage, eventing, stadium jumping, reining, trail riding, and cow work with my Quarter Horse in Montana, USA.
I started HorseRookie.com, an educational website, to help equestrians of all levels (especially rookies) answer common questions, make informed decisions, and have more fun with their horses.
Read the blog, join our email list, connect with us on Pinterest, or follow us on Instagram.
