At the start, three horses graze peacefully on the grass. The screen splits into two halves: on the right, the grazing horses are shown, while the left introduces the video's theme, "Owning and Caring for a Horse."
Next, horses pull a cart, transitioning to images of people riding horses in different American states, such as Texas, California and Kentucky.
Horses have long been embedded in the fabric of America. Americans spend 39 billion dollars annually in the horse industry. The states with the most horses are Texas, California, Florida, Oklahoma, and Kentucky. There are 45 states with at least 20,000 resident horses and over one million in Texas alone! Why are so many people intent on owning a horse?
The split-screen returns, showing a man on a horse in a stable on the right, while on the left side, the heading "Owning a Horse" appears, followed by bullet points reading "They enjoy competition," "Horses improve quality of life," and "Relaxation and stress relief". Then, it shows a woman preparing a saddle for her horse.
The top three reasons Americans own a horse are: they enjoy competition, horses improve their quality of life, and for relaxation and stress relief. And you want to be one of those horse owners? Before taking on the responsibility of owning a horse, you should first consider the cost. The purchase price of the horse is the first, but not the only expense.
In another scene, a young boy sits atop a horse in a stable. The text below reads "$500 – Over $100,000," transitioning to a woman riding a horse in a garden.
Depending on the purpose, and the quality of the animal you require, prices for an individual animal can range from 500 dollars to over 100,000 dollars. For the purpose of this presentation, let’s assume 2,000 dollars will buy a horse to meet your needs.
Again, the screen divides, this time with a woman near a stable horse on the right side, and on the left, the costs of horse ownership are detailed: housing and fencing, clean water, quality feed, healthcare, track, equipment, grooming supplies, and trailers.
You will also need to consider housing and fencing, clean water and quality feed, health care, tack, equipment and grooming supplies, and a trailer for transportation.
Next, horses appear grazing on grass in the open field.
Let’s evaluate each category, keep in mind that costs vary between rural and urban areas, and geographic location in the country.
The screen displays horse bedding and utilities with an annual cost of $600, followed by images of horse feed boxes. Additional text appears, stating water and feed costs range from $100-$250/month.
The average horse owner spends about 15,000 dollars for a barn and fencing. Alternately, boarding a horse can range from 400 dollars a month up to 2,500 dollars a month in urban areas. Bedding and utilities cost about 600 dollars annually. Water and feed for a horse of 1,100 pounds will cost 100 to 250 dollars per month.
The scene transitions to horses drinking water and eating hay in a stable, then moves to them grazing in an open field.
Remember the horse will need 10 to 12 gallons of fresh, clean water and about 20 pounds of quality hay each day. If available, grazing on pasture will supply the roughage.
Horse grain is displayed on the floor, followed by images of a woman grooming her horse and working in the stable. Text details annual healthcare expenses, including vaccinations, parasite control, dental care, first aid, hoof care, and equipment, totaling $1,100/year. It also mentions manure disposal costs ranging from $0-$300/year.
Grain should be added to the diet if activity is increased.
Keeping your horse healthy is important. Budget for annual vaccinations at about 125 dollars per year, parasite control another 75 dollars, dental care about 100 dollars per year, and routine First Aid 200 dollars per year. Trimming hooves and shoeing the horse runs about 100 dollars every two months, for a total of about 600 dollars annually. The total annual health care expenses are about 1,100 dollars per year. Don’t forget to consider manure disposal ranging from zero to about 300 dollars per year.
An average horse will produce about 50 pounds of manure daily – that’s eight to ten tons every year!
A text box at the bottom of the screen indicates, “The cost of tack, equipment, and grooming supplies are $2650.”
One-time expenses for tack and equipment are another necessary investment for horse owners.
The screen changes to various horse-related items kept in stores, then to a woman riding her horse in a garden.
You will need a saddle, bridle and bit, halter and lead rope, brushes, mane and tail combs, buckets, a hoof pick, and other supplies. Visits to the vet or riding your horse in different locations will require transportation.
Horse trailers are shown, accompanied by text indicating an average expenditure of $8500, followed by images of small horse trailers.
The average expenditure for a trailer is about 8,500 dollars. But there are less expensive options.
In a slide titled "Costs of Owning a Horse," one-time expenditures and annual costs are detailed, totaling an average one-time cost of $28,150, and an average annual cost of $4,250, amounting to a total of $32,400.
So let’s add those categories up now! One-time initial costs include a horse, housing, trailer, equipment, and supplies. Annual average varying costs include bedding, utilities, feed, healthcare, and manure disposal.
By adding up these average expenses, the average initial cost is over 28,000 dollars. Then consider the average annual costs at over 4,000 dollars a year. Clearly, the cost of horse ownership is a major investment.
Lastly, scenes depict horses in a field, a horse owner with her horse, people riding a small cart pulled by two horses, and a woman removing a saddle from her horse.
With this basic information, you can check prices in your area, make a list of priorities, and create your own customized budget for owning a horse.
A horse is seen looking into a camera with wonder. It transitions to the images of men in official dresses riding the horses and waving their hands.
Horse ownership can be rewarding and beneficial in many ways, but prepare yourself with the knowledge to be a responsible horse owner.