“How much does a horse cost?” This is the question that interested friends and acquaintances keep asking me, but who don’t know much about horses. Unfortunately there is no concrete answer to this question. Everything is possible between given and priceless, depending on what kind of horse you want. Anyone looking to buy a horse should first ask themselves what they want to do with the horse. Should it be a recreational horse or should it go to tournaments? Jumping or dressage? Western or classic? Hunting horse, racing horse, carriage horse or side horse? To name just a few uses. Equestrian sport is very diverse and the horses are just as diverse.
Age and educational level play a role
Other criteria that also influence the question “How much does a horse cost?” Are the horse’s age, parentage and level of training. The younger and the less educated, the lower the price. The most expensive are well-trained horses with corresponding tournament successes up to 10 years of age. A horse reaches the peak of its performance between the ages of 10 and 12 (a race horse, however, already at the age of 3), after which the price slowly drops again. This applies to most warm-blooded animals, but it is certainly different with Arabs, Icelanders and other races, since these are later in development and are usually also longer-lived.
How much does a horse cost – how much can I spend
Your own wallet is also a decision criterion when buying a horse . Not everyone can or wants to spend 30,000 euros on a horse. Nevertheless, one should not save too much on the purchase price and rather spend a few euros more with a trustworthy breeder, where the horse was optimally kept and fed in its youth . Good rearing lays the foundation for a healthy horse with resilient bones. In the course of a horse’s life, the regular maintenance costs quickly overtake the purchase price. Veterinary costs in particular can get out of hand if the horse needs an operation or develops chronic diseases. That’s why you shouldn’t skimp on the purchase inspection.
I don’t mean to say that you can’t buy from the dealer. I bought a horse from a dealer once myself and I have nothing to complain about. The advantage is that, according to today’s legal situation, you have certain rights as a buyer if the horse shows defects that were not known before. The question “How much does a horse cost?” Remains without an answer. I recommend anyone looking to buy a horse to look at several horses to get a feel for the market and prices. At some point the horse suddenly stands in front of you, where it “clicks” and everything fits, just like with my horse and me.
