Buying a horse is a deeply personal decision. The best horse for you is going to be highly dependent on what you plan to use it for, what riding style you prefer, size or temperament preferences, and a multitude of other factors. There’s a lot to consider
when choosing the right horse for you, but most likely, the largest consideration should be the price. How much does a riding horse cost, and what do you get based on these prices?
How Much Does a Horse Cost?
There are several more considerations on how much to spend on your new equine companion than could ever fit on this list. With that said, these are the top factors that may go into a horse’s initial purchase, and what may or may not be worth the price to you.
Purpose
Acquiring a horse can be for a multitude of reasons, but for the sake of time, let’s just assume that purpose is to be ridden. Determining that the horse’s purpose is to be ridden honestly doesn’t narrow down the average cost by much, as the experience level of the rider is going to be a major factor. Even with the rider’s experience level known, the purpose of the horse and what activities the animal will participate in matter just as much.
Within the horseback riding world, there are dozens of activities to choose from. One of those activities can just be a hobby. You can expect to pay around $3,000 for a middle aged or older horse with at least some riding experience, although they might need some additional training from you. If you’re looking for a more specialized horse, let’s say for jumping, you can expect a price of at least $10,000.
Breed
The actual breed of the horse may or may not matter to you, but it can certainly be the difference between a reasonable or a hefty price tag. Keeping in mind that horses in
general are not a budget-friendly activity, especially when owning one, if you care more about temperament and experience than the actual breed of the horse, you will be able to find much more affordable options on the market.
It’s also worth noting that within the breed of a horse also comes the considerations of bloodlines. If you are completely set on getting a Thoroughbred for example, you may be able to find one for cheap, but not well-bred. If you are in search of a pure, well-bred Thoroughbred, it will almost certainly come from an incredible line of horses, which boosts the price tag even more. You could expect to pay anywhere from $15,000 to well over $100,000 for a top of the line Thoroughbred regardless of age or training.
Training
This is arguably the most important factor to consider when purchasing a horse. While bloodlines and breeds can boost price tags to the moon, a well trained horse is a highly sought after quality and in high demand. Training your own horse can certainly be easier on your wallet, you could easily find an untrained horse of any age for a few hundred bucks and invest the time in training them yourself.
However, if you lack the expertise to keep yourself safe when doing so, it’s highly recommended you pay the extra money to hire a horse trainer to do it for you, or just purchase a well trained horse ready for you. For example, let’s say you want to purchase a horse already trained and completely safe, even for children or beginner riders. A horse already made into a gentle giant can cost anywhere from $3,000-$5,000, not factoring in the horse’s age.
Age
This is also an incredibly important factor to consider when purchasing a horse. This is also a highly debatable topic depending on your riding style. For example, in English equestrian culture, most competition horses are considered at their peak when they are between 8-14 years of age. On the other hand, in Western equestrian culture, the peak age for say a rodeo competition horse is between 12-18 years old.
Simply speaking, the younger or older the horse, the lower the price tag on average. Factors such as bloodline, breed, and training will cause significant variety, but this is a general rule of thumb when shopping for horses on the market. A young, untrained or minimally trained horse, assuming they are of an average breed and bloodline, can easily be found for around $500 to $2,000. An old but well trained, kid friendly horse over the age of 18 or so can be found for anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000.
Riding Activity Preferences
This last section is certainly a determining factor in the price of a horse. On the Western side of things, quarter horses are for the most part the most common choice. Don’t get me wrong, these can come with a hefty price tag too, with an average price of $5,000, but nothing like in English culture. If you’re looking for a competitive dressage horse, regardless of training or bloodline, you could easily spend $10,000 or more for the horse alone prior to any training or caretaking.
Conclusion
Choosing to get your own riding horse is an exciting endeavor, but it can be difficult to determine your budget needed for the purchase of a horse and the care it will need afterwards. Your experience level as well as your new equine friend’s will likely be the largest factor in determining how much you need to spend, but once you find that perfect match, every penny will be worth it. If you are ever lost or confused on if a horse is a good price and what considerations you need to contemplate, any horse riding instructor, veterinarian, or horse trainer would be more than happy to help you with your selection.
Sources
How Much Do Horses Cost?Your Horse Farm https://yourhorsefarm.com › how-much-do-horses-cost
