How much does it cost to buy and keep a horse?

Buying a horse can be incredibly exciting, but it’s important to understand the costs involved before taking that next step. While the upfront price of a horse can vary widely, the ongoing cost of horse ownership is often where the biggest financial commitment lies.

From livery and feed to farriery, insurance, healthcare, and equipment, there are several regular expenses to plan for. In this guide, we’ll explore how much it costs to buy and keep a horse in the UK, including the types of costs you may need to budget for.

Typical horse ownership costs can include:

• Buying a horse
• Livery
• Feed and forage
• Bedding
• Insurance
• Farriery
• Regular healthcare
• Equipment

Buying a horse

The upfront cost of buying a horse can vary hugely in the UK, from a few hundred pounds for a companion horse or young project, to tens of thousands for an experienced competition horse.

Factors that can influence the price of a horse include:

• Breeding
• Age
• Training level
• Competition record
• Temperament
• Health history
• Height, type, and breed
• Whether they’re intended for hacking, riding club activities, showing, eventing, or another discipline

As a rough guide, horse prices in the UK may look like this:

Type of horse	Example UK price range
Unbacked youngster or project horse	£800–£3,000
Leisure or happy hacker horse	£3,000–£8,000
Experienced all-rounder	£5,000–£15,000
Pony Club or competition pony	£8,000–£20,000+
Established competition horse	£15,000–£50,000+

 

Buying a pony

Ponies can sometimes cost less to buy than horses, but that isn’t always the case. A safe, experienced child’s pony can be in high demand and may cost more than expected.

The ongoing costs of keeping a pony may be slightly lower than keeping a large horse, especially when it comes to feed, forage, bedding, and some equipment. However, ponies still need regular farrier visits, dentistry, vaccinations, worming, insurance, and appropriate care.

Find out more about the difference between a horse and a pony here.

Livery

Livery, which can include the boarding, feeding, and care of a horse at an equestrian facility or stable for a recurring fee, is likely to be one of the biggest regular horse care costs.

The amount you pay depends on where you live, the type of yard, the facilities available, and how much day-to-day care is included.

Common livery types include:

Grass livery

Grass livery usually means your horse lives out in a field, with access to grazing and sometimes a field shelter. It may not include daily care, feeding, rug changes, or bringing in.

This is often one of the cheaper options, but it may not suit every horse, especially those who need stabling, careful weight management, or extra support through winter.

DIY livery

DIY livery means you rent a stable or grazing space but provide most of the care yourself. This usually includes mucking out, feeding, turnout, bringing in, and arranging appointments.

It can be more affordable, but it’s also time-intensive. You’ll need to visit the yard once or twice a day, every day, unless you arrange help.

Part livery

Part livery includes some daily care from the yard. What’s included varies, but it may cover feeding, turnout, bringing in, and mucking out on certain days.

This can work well if you want to stay involved but need support around work, family, or travel.

Full livery

Full livery usually includes most day-to-day care, such as feeding, mucking out, turnout, bringing in, rug changes, and sometimes exercise. It’s usually the most expensive option, but it can be helpful for owners with limited time.

Monthly livery prices vary across the UK. Recent UK livery cost reporting shows wide variation by package and region, with full livery often significantly more expensive than DIY or grass livery.

As a rough guide, monthly costs may look like:

Livery type	Typical monthly cost
Grass livery	£150–£250
DIY livery	£150–£350
Part livery	£350–£700
Full livery	£600–£1,200+

 

Yards in the South of England are often more expensive than those in the North or Midlands, especially where land, staffing, and facilities cost more. Rural DIY yards may be cheaper, while yards with arenas, hacking, horse walkers, wash bays, and competition facilities may charge more.

To help manage costs, ask whether the yard offers flexible livery. For example, you may be able to pay for services only when needed, such as turnout, bringing in, holiday cover, or weekday care.

Feeding 

How much it costs to feed a horse depends on their size, workload, health, grazing, time of year, and whether forage is included in your livery.

For most horses, forage should be the majority of their diet. This includes grass, hay, or haylage. Many horses also need a balancer, chaff, or hard feed, while others may need specialist feed for weight gain, competition, laminitis risk, or older age.

A small pony in light work with good grazing may need very little hard feed. A large horse, poor doer, or competition horse may need considerably more forage and additional feed.

We suggest owners should be prepared to spend at least £60–£90 per month on hay for an average-sized horse, though this varies by location and quality.

How to manage feeding costs?

• Buying hay in bulk, if you have safe storage
• Using a qualified nutritionist or feed company helpline to avoid overfeeding
• Weighing feed and forage
• Making the most of grazing where appropriate
• Reviewing your horse’s diet as their workload changes

Always make dietary changes gradually and ask your vet or a qualified nutritionist for advice if your horse has health concerns.

Bedding

If your horse is stabled, they’ll need a clean, dry and comfortable bed. Bedding helps absorb urine, supports rest, and can reduce the risk of sores or discomfort.

Common bedding options include:

• Straw
• Wood shavings
• Wood pellets
• Paper or cardboard bedding
• Hemp or flax bedding

Straw is typically the most budget-friendly option, costing around £4 to £7 per small square bale, though it may not suit horses with respiratory issues or those who tend to eat their bedding. Wood shavings (£7 to £12 per bale) and wood or straw pellets (£6.50 to £10 per 15kg–20kg bag) are much more absorbent and dust-free, but your ongoing costs will depend on how wet or messy your horse is.

Rubber stable mats can significantly reduce the amount of bedding you need to use, but they come with a higher upfront cost. Standard mats usually cost £35 to £50 each, meaning it will cost around £210 to £300+ to fully floor a typical 12ft x 12ft stable. They will also need regular cleaning and disinfecting, though many owners find they pay for themselves within the first year or two by cutting down on weekly bedding bills.

Most owners remove droppings daily and take out wet bedding regularly. A full muck-out or deeper clean may be needed weekly, depending on your bedding system and your horse’s habits.

Insurance

Horse insurance can help with unexpected vet bills and other costs, depending on the policy you choose. The price you pay will depend on factors such as your horse’s age, value, breed, use, location, and level of cover.

Different levels of horse insurance may include:

• Accident-only cover
• Time limited cover
• Vet fee cover
• Death, theft, or straying cover
• Public liability cover
• Personal accident cover
• Saddlery and tack cover

The cost of horse insurance will depend on the risk insured, the cover chosen, and activity level being undertaken. 

Animal Friends Time Limited Horse Insurance covers horses aged 12 months to 40 years. It includes vet fee cover for accidents and illnesses for up to 12 months or until the vet fee limit is reached.

Cover for if your horse dies and if your horse injures someone or damages their property is included as standard. 

Farriery 

Your horse’s hooves need regular care, whether they’re barefoot or shod. Most horses need to see a farrier every six to eight weeks, though some may need more frequent visits.

Typical farriery services include:

Service	Typical cost
Barefoot trim	£35–£60
Front shoes	£55–£90
Full set of shoes	£85-£150
Remedial or corrective shoeing	£130-£220

 

Remedial shoeing, lost shoes, difficult handling, travel charges, or specialist materials may increase the cost.

Healthcare

Routine healthcare is an essential part of horse ownership. Even a healthy horse needs regular care throughout the year.

Costs may include:

• Annual vaccinations
• Dental checks and rasping
• Worm egg counts and wormers
• Vet call-outs
• Physio or bodywork
• Weight management support
• Treatment for illness or injury

Flu and tetanus vaccinations can cost around £48, routine dentistry with sedation around £89, and vet visits around £50–£60, though costs vary between practices and regions.

Routine horse healthcare costs can add up, so it’s sensible to set aside money each month rather than waiting for annual appointments.

Common horse illnesses and issues that may lead to extra costs include colic, lameness, wounds, skin conditions, respiratory problems, and laminitis. Emergency treatment can become expensive quickly, which is one reason many owners consider insurance.

Learn more about your horse’s health here. 

Equipment

Horse equipment costs can be easy to underestimate, especially when you’re setting up for the first time.

You may need:

Equipment	Typical UK price range
Saddle	£500–£3,000+
Saddle fitting appointment	£40–£100
Bridle	£50–£250
Headcollar and lead rope	£15–£50
Turnout rug	£50–£250
Stable rug	£40–£150
Fly rug or fly mask	£20–£120
Grooming kit	£30–£100
Riding hat	£70–£300+
Riding boots	£60–£250
Body protector	£100–£300

 

Horse costs breakdown

Here’s a rough example of what it might cost to keep a horse in the UK: 

Cost	Monthly estimate	Annual estimate
Livery	£150–£1,200+	£1,800–£14,400+
Feed and forage	£80–£250	£960–£3,000
Bedding	£40–£150	£480–£1,800
Insurance	£20–£100+	£240–£1,200+
Farriery	£20–£110	£230–£1,300
Routine healthcare	£25–£100	£300–£1,200
Equipment and maintenance	£25–£150	£300–£1,800
Total	£360–£2,060+	£4,310–£24,700+

 

These figures are only estimates. Your actual costs will depend on your horse, where you live, the livery package you choose, and whether unexpected vet bills or repairs crop up.

Owning a horse is a big commitment, but careful budgeting can help you feel more prepared. By understanding the likely costs before buying, you’ll be in a stronger position to give your horse the care they need throughout their life.