Many people love the idea of owning a horse, and while they understand it’s not an inexpensive undertaking, few realize how demanding (and costly) caring for a horse can actually be.

One of the primary expenses is feeding the horse. Depending on how much grass is in your pasture, a horse will eat between half a bale and a full bale of hay each day. Grain is relatively affordable, but hay can be pricey, costing between $3.50 and $5.00 a bale. The price will be further impacted by weather and growing conditions for that year’s crop. If you buy a lot of hay up front, you can lock in on a good rate, but it’s No prescription cialis a big chunk of money to spend all at once. And while no one should be surprised, based on how much horses eat, many horse owners are astonished at the amount of urine and manure their horse produces–about forty pounds per day. So in addition to paying for the cost to feed the horse, you’ll have to clean up the mess it makes afterward.

Speaking of cleaning, if you’re boarding the horse in your own stable, you’ll need all of the equipment to sufficiently care for the animal: pitchfork, bedding, automatic watering device or bucket (with ten gallons of water available at all times), manger, fly repellent, blankets, brushes and other grooming gear, the list goes on. Of course, you’ll also need equipment to ride the horse–saddle, bridle, horse shoes, etc. And don’t forget the actual housing. Most horses need at least a 12 foot by 12 foot stall with a decently sized paddock.

Now for the kickers. On top of one or two yearly visits to the vet for check-ups and vaccinations, if your horse gets sick, you’ll need to pay for additional medical treatment. This is never cheap, especially if you can’t take your animal to the doctor. He or she will have to come to the horse, adding to the bill. Dental care is another necessary expense. Younger horses should be checked by a dentist every six months; older horses, at least once a year. And don’t forget worming! There are a variety of worms and therefore a variety of worming treatments; your horse will likely be on a worming schedule every six weeks (and you’ll need to apply ointment to your horse daily). On top of this, you’ve got to pay a blacksmith/ farrier and perhaps a trainer. Plus, you’ll need to keep some money in reserve in case there is an emergency.

Is owning a horse worth it? To some people, the people who can afford it, yes. But think twice before you decide to buy one. It’s a lot of work–and a lot of money.

Author Bio: (http://www.horsesweats.com/) HorseSweats is a whole new creation Cialis Professional in wearable cialis natural href=”http://www.horsesweats.com/”>equestrian equipment.

Category: Business
Keywords: equestrian equipment, horse blanket, horse coolers