i currently own 4 horses and they cost me ruffly about 8,000 pounds a year if they dont need new tack. But i also pay alot for good feed/farrier to come =]
^Horses are expensive. After buying the horse initially, you need to pay monthly board if you do not have the land set up. Depends where you board, that often ranges from $100 to $1000 (most tend to stick to several hundred). With board, the feed may be included or they may want you to provide the feed yourself.
Feed also varies greatly but for 3 very active thoroughbreds I was feeding them a $50 round bale of alfalfa hay at a little less then every 2 weeks during the winter. If you buy square bales they cost more but the quality can often be better and you can portion control easier. If the horse is a hard keeper, so the weight is difficult to keep on, you will also want to be buying them grain and that adds up as well. For me, I never have to feed them during the summer since they are in a huge pasture. If you plan on feeding them via pasture they will need at least an acre per horse or the grass will not have time to grow back.
Then you pay for farrier to come out every few months, sometimes more, to clip their hooves and shoe them if needed. It varies greatly price wise. Cheapest I've got it done was $40 a horse but I've also payed $200.
Then their is the vet. Their yearly shots don't really cost much. Maybe 100 a horse. If you have training to give them yourself then I would recommend it, since you are able to buy some of their vaccinations straight from the vet. However, some of the vaccines, legally, can only be given by the vet. Farm visits tend to raise the price greatly but some vets will let you bring the horse to them. Besides the yearly exam, if you ever need to have your horse checked by a vet, expect a few hundred dollars at least. Some horses, like humans, never need to visit the vet. Others seem to need it monthly.
Oh, dude, of course you don't pay vet bills when you loan a horse. That's like asking if you pay for someone else's pizza when they borrow your car. It's their responsibility, not yours. Just make sure they return the horse in one piece, unlike that pizza that always comes back missing a slice.
There are no hard and fast rules for leasing a horse. The parties involved can work it any way they want.
If you take care of the horse on the day that it has to give birth, but you don't pay for the birthing, the mare will lose the foal and you will lose a karma point. If you do not take care of the horse, it will not age and therefore will not lose the foal until you take care of it. If you do not have enough money for the birthing, you can just leave the horse alone until you raise enough money.
The diet of a Rocky Mountain horse will not be any different than a horse of another breed. This is because they may be different breeds, but they are the same species and eat the same things. Hard feeds (Grains and manufactured feeds) are added in by humans when the horses caloric and nutritional needs cannot be met by hay or grass alone. this typically occurs when the horse is in work, pregnant, growing, or a hard keeper.
no they are just like any other horse. they just have spots. it actually can be easier because the dirt doesn't show as much and you don't have to worry about cleaning (but always clean your horse)
Well, you should have enough to pay for the horse, the horse's expenses such as feed, hay, shavings, veterinary care, farrier care, worming, coggins, tack, buckets, all your supplies, boarding expenses if you don't have your own place, and a way to transport your horse! So, a lot.
A horse hander is someone that takes care of the horse.
there are many books out there on horse care, but i do recommend: -Grooming Horses -Horse facts and Trivia -Injury-free Horse
a horse that can be hard to handle or a green horse
They are not hard to take care of.:)
Dont care
usually 1,000 to 6,000$ sometimes the horse will go for more, it depends on the horses' skill level. It requires a lot of responsibility to care for a horse. They need to have attention and care every day. They should always be provided with water, food, and shelter. Should ride almost every day; three days a week at least.