If you rescue them from a shelter, a good horse can be as low as $500. I've seen shelter horses of all ages and that have a full range of training. I also would like a horse when I get my own place. Of course it would have to be older, a companion not a riding horse for me. My main question is kind of morbid, but since I'm into rescueing older animals its an important question. What do you do with a large animal's body when it dies? I know that my friend's cows go to a mink farm, but I couldn't handle sending a beloved pet there.