A straight account of what a horse costs – both to buy and to keep, month by month. Livery, forage, farrier, insurance, and the contingency fund you ought to have for the unexpected.
Knowing what a horse costs is not about taking the edge off the dream – it is about making it last. Work the figures before you buy, and you can give the horse a secure life without putting yourself under strain. Here we cover both the one-off cost of buying and what it actually costs to keep a horse month by month, with honest figures for Swedish conditions.
The purchase price itself varies enormously with breed, age, schooling and record. An older, established companion or hacking horse can start from around 20 000 kronor, while a well-schooled competition horse can fetch well over 300 000 kronor. But the purchase is only the beginning – factor in everything you need to get started.
Most horse owners in Sweden spend between 4 000 and 6 000 kronor a month on their horse, and the full range is roughly 3 000 to 9 000 kronor depending on where you live and how the horse is kept. That can come to over 100 000 kronor a year. The largest fixed costs are livery and forage, followed by insurance and the farrier.
| Cost | Typical range per month |
|---|---|
| Livery / stable rent | 2 000–6 000 kr |
| Forage and bedding* | 700–1 500 kr |
| Farrier (spread across the month) | 500–1 200 kr |
| Insurance (excluding mortality cover) | 200–800 kr |
| Preventive care (vaccinations, dentistry, worming) | 150–300 kr |
On top of that come training, competing and transport for those who want them – costs that can mount up, but that you control yourself. The farrier usually comes every 6–8 weeks, and a full set of shoes typically costs 1 400–2 000 kronor a visit.
Livery is the item that varies most across the country. In the Stockholm area a stable place averages around 5 000–7 000 kronor a month, and in some yards it can reach 10 000 kronor. In parts of Norrland the same place can cost under 2 000 kronor. Uppsala and Skåne are among the more expensive regions too.
How you keep the horse matters just as much. Loose housing, where the horse lives out around the clock, is usually the cheapest. DIY livery – you rent the box and paddock but look after feed and bedding yourself – sits in the middle. Full livery, where the yard handles feeding, turnout and daily care, is the most expensive but the least labour-intensive.
Beyond the running costs, it is the sudden bills that really test a horse owner's finances. Emergency veterinary visits are the most common: colic that needs surgery can cost from a few thousand kronor to over 100 000 kronor, and a few days in an equine hospital can run up a steep bill very quickly. Lameness work-ups and back problems can also mean both veterinary treatment and new tack.
The key to secure horse-keeping is to count before, not after. Add up your fixed monthly costs, put in a line for the unexpected, and be honest with yourself about what your finances can carry over time – the horse is meant to stay with you for many years.
If you want to keep the horse's finances in order over time, you can use the Hästannons accounts and bookkeeping tools to track your costs month by month – especially useful if you have several horses or run a business.
Most horse owners in Sweden spend between 4 000 and 6 000 kronor a month, and the full range is roughly 3 000–9 000 kronor depending on the region and how the horse is kept. The largest items are livery and forage, followed by insurance and the farrier. On top of that come any training, competing and transport.
The purchase price ranges from around 20 000 kronor for an older companion horse to over 300 000 kronor for a well-schooled competition horse. On top of the purchase come basic tack (5 000–50 000 kronor or more), a pre-purchase vetting and transport.
A common rule of thumb is 15 000–50 000 kronor per horse, enough to cover at least one major veterinary bill. Adjust the buffer for the horse's age and use, and for your insurance excess and cover – a colic operation can cost over 100 000 kronor.
Yes. Livery costs most in the Stockholm area, averaging around 5 000–7 000 kronor a month and sometimes reaching 10 000 kronor, with Uppsala and Skåne close behind. In parts of Norrland the same stable place can cost under 2 000 kronor a month.
It varies from yard to yard. Forage is often included, but not always. Full livery normally covers feeding, turnout and daily care, often with access to an indoor school and outdoor arena. On DIY livery you look after feed and bedding yourself, and loose housing is usually the cheapest option.
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