I have been riding since I was 11, I work at a horse barn, and I still have never had my own. It really depends on where you live. If you live in the city or somewhere where most of the people who ride show in the top circuits, the average board per month is $400-$800. That includes basic food but not supplements or extras. If you live closer to the country and there is space to keep your horse outside, pasture board usually runs about $150-$300.
If you've found a place to keep your horse for free or cheap, you still need to feed it. During the summer they only need minimal hay if there is plenty of grazing area and you don't work the horse too hard. During the winter, they definitely need hay even if you don't ride. Hay is in short supply nowadays. A bale will run from $2 to $5, with the average coming to $3. Almost all of our horses also get grain.
Now, a horse will need to see the farrier for a hoof trim every 6-8 weeks. (Usually it's 6 in the summer and 8 in the winter months) Some horses need to be shod at least in the front hooves to stay sound. This can cost from $40 to $150 depending on the area, type of shoe, and particular farrier. Just trimming all four feet costs between $25 and $60 or so, that I know of.
There are a whole bunch of necessary things that also add up, like wormer, vet visits, shots, and coggins tests.
The equipment you will need can be found discounted and used for pretty cheap. That's something I'm pretty good at.Halters and lead ropes run from $10-$30, some saddles can be found for around $100 if you look hard, bridles for $40, girths for $20, saddle pads for $3 used if you go to a tack swap or horse show. (They usually run around $20)
So to sum it up, a hell of a lot of money, or I'd already have my own!
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