During a break at the recent Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event in April, I sat down with Jennifer Brocker, Vice President of Client Marketing, Veterinary/Pet Care, CareCredit, and Kate Hayes, Vice President Equine Expansion, CareCredit. The company recently surveyed horse owners on the expected versus actual costs of horse care, and the results were pretty surprising.  

The study revealed that while 83 percent of horse owners believe they’re financially prepared, actual costs can be three to four times higher than expected—especially when unexpected veterinary needs arise, such as colic or orthopedic injuries that can cost up to $10,000. 

Horse Illustrated: Can you tell us what the new Equine Lifetime of Care Study means for equine vets and horse owners, and why many underestimate the long-term financial commitment of owning a horse?  

Jennifer Brocker: We originally did our Lifetime of Care Study for companion animals (dogs and cats). And then we decided we needed the same kind of information for equine veterinarians and horse owners, so they have a better understanding of how much money they spend over the lifetime of a horse. The way we saw it was, you’re helping prepare them for what’s to come. And since cost of care is one of the biggest barriers for horse ownership or pet ownership, we felt it was important knowing in advance and being educated on the ways that you can be prepared financially over the lifetime of your animal. We also thought it was important that veterinarians have a view into that as well.  

Kate Hayes: It’s such a great tool to educate and empower clinics and practices and veterinarians, but then also on the flip side, like Jen said, to educate horse owners. Because whether people rescue a horse or get into riding for the first time, they know what a riding lesson costs, but they don’t know what the full expense of owning a horse costs. This [study] is a great tool to empower and to educate practices and clinics because this gives them information to pass on to their clients. 

HI: What are some strategies equine vets are using to navigate rising costs, including tools to reduce financial friction with clients, while maintaining high-quality care?  

Brocker: The strategy a lot of equine veterinarians use is, “If you can’t pay me today, I provide the care, and you can pay me later,” which leaves the veterinarian chasing the money. So we can train the veterinarians to say, “I want to take care of your horse, but that requires financial responsibility. Here are the solutions that we have in our practice to help you be ready.” The horse owner needs to understand that the veterinarian must be paid just like their board bill or hay bill is paid.  

Hayes: We’re a partner with them and their business to help that shift. Regardless of what type of veterinarian you are, it’s cost that’s the biggest point of friction between you and your clients. If you talk about it from the beginning, that moment of friction is reduced, so the unexpected medical moment doesn’t also come with an unexpected financial crisis.  

HI: How is CareCredit partnering with equine clinics nationwide to improve access to care while supporting sustainable practice growth? 

Brocker: We’re partnering up with [equine vet practices/clinics] on various levels. First, helping educate their team. How do you have a comfortable financial conversation with a horse owner? If you don’t talk about it and you’re not comfortable talking about it, that in and of itself is a barrier. So we have a lot of training and education to help the veterinary team not be afraid to bring it up, helping them with proactive confidence in that financial moment where everybody’s really emotional.  

The other thing [CareCredit is doing to help equine vet clinics] is we’ve created an all-digital financial experience, so regardless of whether you’re in the clinic or you’re out at the barn, you can apply for CareCredit, get approved, and pay—all from your phone. We’ve always been available in equine practices, but when we first went into it, our payment experience didn’t fit their model. Now they can get paid anywhere, anytime. 

Hayes: If you look at our partnerships on a bigger scale with the AAEP (American Association of Equine Practitioners), being an educational partner for them allows us a platform. Education is the key word here. It supports the sustainability of the profession by providing resources that are specific to their workflows, because the ultimate goal is what’s best for the horse and what’s best for the horse owner. If we can help remove some of the barriers that are between a horse owner getting the treatment for their horse, then that’s what we’re here for.  

We also partner with universities. The future veterinarian is also very important to us, so by the time that they’re in practice, that financial conversation isn’t as quite as challenging. It’s tough being a veterinary student—there’s a lot of information thrown at you, so of course the business side isn’t always top of mind. By supporting the universities and organizations that support the future veterinarian, it allows us a platform to be able to educate and help them before they’re actually in practice.  

HI: What is CareCredit?  

Hayes: CareCredit is a health and wellness credit card that horse owners can use for all types of veterinary services, treatments, and diagnostics.* It’s a great fit for the equine profession because instead of invoicing after service has been completed, this gives you the opportunity to pay upfront—the veterinarian is able to capture payment in full up front, but the horse owner has 6, 12, 18 months of interest-free [time to make the payments].

*Subject to credit approval 

Brocker: I think one of the best things about CareCredit is once you have the credit card, you are financially ready for whatever happens, whether it’s wellness or unexpected or surgery. And you can use it for whatever animal you have at the veterinarian. It is truly your family credit card for life’s unexpected expenses.  

View the entire Equine Lifetime of Care Study here. 

To learn more or apply for a CareCredit card, visit www.carecredit.com.  

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Good horse owners try to do the best they can for their horses—often to a fault. But what happens when a good owner finds themselves in a potentially perilous financial situation when their horse has an emergency?

In the past, some of these horses would have been relinquished to adoption or rescue organizations or even sent through auctions out of sheer desperation as the owner tried to give the horse a shot at getting the care they could not afford.

Now, however, thanks to a grant program jointly administered by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), The Foundation for the Horse (AAEP’s charitable arm), and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), owners have other options to get their horses the care they need.

The Vet Direct Safety Net Program was created with one goal in mind: To help keep owned horses in homes. The program does this by providing owners with a stipend of up to $600 to assist with a horse’s emergent welfare need. The funds are available on a per-horse—not per-owner—basis, allowing owners to receive even more assistance should they find themselves with multiple horses in need.

Timing is Everything

Lizz Ficara of Louisville, Ky., has always taken impeccable care of her horses. In 2023, Ficara had major back surgery that prevented her from working as an equine dental tech. Like most horses, Ficara’s Quarter Horse gelding, Tony, had incredible timing (sarcasm intended) and needed emergent medical care while she was out of work and funds were short. But for Ficara, foregoing his care wasn’t an option.

She began searching for programs or grants she could apply for to help offset the medical bills her horse was about to incur. During one conversation, the Vet Direct Safety Net program was mentioned, and she began coordinating efforts between the program and her veterinarian so funding would be available to her horse—and to other horses in similar situations.

Medical Attention Needed

While Ficara was out of work, Tony had developed open, oozing sores on three of his four pasterns. He had significant granulation tissue that was incredibly painful and itchy. After trying to resolve it herself with myriad salves and creams, Ficara called her vet, as Tony was clearly uncomfortable and the wounds were not healing.

Sarah Grigoleit, DVM, of Kentucky Equine Hospital in Simpsonville, Ky., diagnosed Tony with significant suspected summer sores on three of his four legs. A parasitic disease linked to the life cycles of stomach worms, summer sores are caused by larvae deposited in areas where they cannot complete their life cycle (often around the nose, lips or genitals), causing inflammation and ulceration where they are laid—in Tony’s case, on his legs.

Unfortunately, summer sores are notoriously stubborn to heal. Treatment often requires a veterinarian to debride the wound multiple times, as well as administer ivermectin, corticosteroids and topical products. In addition, Tony had to have his legs wrapped to keep them as clean as possible.

Getting the Funding

In total, Tony received three months of at-home treatment for his legs, including bi-weekly granulation debridement treatment that was essential to his healing and well-being. All the vet visits added up in a hurry, and Ficara was thankful for the financial breathing room Vet Direct funding offered her.

“The program funding was not hard to access,” says Ficara. “The only caveat was that my vet—or someone with her clinic—had to be a current AAEP member. As long as one vet is a member, the whole clinic has access to Vet Direct funds for their clients.”

Though veterinarians are often enrolled in the program first and then offer it to their clients in need, in this case, Ficara reached out to the Vet Direct team directly and encouraged her vet clinic to become enrolled.

Her persistence and insistence that the program could assist not only horse owners but the clinic itself by helping to offset open invoices will no doubt have positive ramifications for years to come.

Today, Tony is summer sore-free and enjoying his life, and Ficara is looking forward to the day when she’s comfortable enough to ride again.

“I am deeply thankful for the Vet Direct Safety Net Program,” she says. “The funding applied toward my invoices was incredible and allowed me a bit of peace of mind during an already stressful time. We all love our horses and want to do the best for them. The Vet Direct program allowed me to continue to offer Tony the type of care he was used to receiving even though I was in a tough spot financially.”

Further Reading
◆ How Equine Safety Net Programs Are Making a Difference
◆ Horse Safety Net Programs Helping Horses and Owners in Need

This article about the Vet Direct Safety Net Program appeared in the May 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Unfortunately, much of what happens in life is out of our control. Insurance can’t prevent bad things from happening, but it offers a financial buffer when they do.

Here, we’ll review the most common equine policies, what they entail, and different circumstances to consider.

Most Common Equine Insurance Policies

Restricted Perils

Also called Specified or Named Perils, Restriced Perils is the least expensive option and covers only what is listed in the policy, such as death by wind, fire and/or smoke, lightning, collision, or overturn in vehicular transit. Depending on the company, it may include theft.

Full Mortality

A full mortality insurance policy covers death due to any cause, except for willful neglect or destruction. It covers the insured horse in the event that he dies or must be humanely destroyed due to illness, accident, injury, disease, fire, smoke, lightning or theft.

Think of Restricted Perils and Full Mortality policies as “life insurance.”

Major Medical

Major Medical protects the horse owner against covered medical, veterinary, and surgical costs up to a specified amount per policy year.

Surgical

This policy reimburses for covered surgical expenses up to a specified amount per policy year. Surgical coverage applies to necessary procedures performed under general anesthesia, not elective surgeries, like castration.

Colic

This equine insurance policy reimburses for a medical or surgical colic.

Major Medical, Surgical and Colic endorsements aren’t available on their own, but can be added to a Full Mortality policy. Think of these policies as “health insurance.”

Equine Insurance Policy Details

“Full Mortality is the base policy, and then you can add to it,” says Rhonda Mack, an agent in the Ocala, Fla., office of EPIC Insurance, a nationwide company.

“Most insurance companies include a colic surgery endorsement with Full Mortality, but you can add additional coverage on top of that,” says Mack, noting that some companies allow “stacking” of endorsements.

A colic endorsement has a $10,000 limit and will reimburse the owner for medical or surgical colic expenses for an insured horse.

Major Medical typically covers issues like lameness, gastric ulcers, eye injuries, clinic costs, MRIs, et cetera, plus surgical costs, such as colic surgery. Some insurance companies include acupuncture and chiropractic in their Major Medical policy, but coverage varies with each company, so read your policy carefully.

The decision to purchase equine insurance is both financial and emotional.

“It’s based on your comfort level and what you worry about happening to your horse,” says Mack. “If your horse is facing a $12,000 colic surgery and you have to make a decision based on if you can afford it or not, insurance can give you peace of mind, knowing you have help with veterinary expenses.”

Horse Value

The premium for Full Mortality coverage is determined by the price you paid for the horse and his use (pleasure, show, racing, or breeding). If you bred the horse, your insurance agent can help determine a value based on stud fee, bloodlines, sales averages, et cetera.

“Most carriers now require a minimum Full Mortality insurance amount of $15,000 to be eligible for Major Medical,” says Mack.

The following examples are based on December 2023 policy prices.

An 8-year-old dressage horse insured for $25,000 under Full Mortality with a $10,000 major medical policy would have an annual premium of approximately $1,375.

A 10-year-old Quarter Horse trail horse insured for $5,500 with a $10,000 surgical endorsement and $5,000 free colic surgery would have an annual premium of approximately $350.

Reimbursement

Major Medical already includes surgical expenses up to a specified amount. For a relatively low price (usually under $200), owners can add a $10,000 surgical endorsement to their Full Mortality coverage.

Endorsements function by reimbursement, rather than paying the veterinarian directly. The horse owner pays the veterinarian and then turns in the invoices and veterinary report to be reimbursed for the covered expenses, less any deductible and copay.

For example, if the insured horse required a $9,000 colic surgery, after the deductible and co-pay are applied, the owner would be reimbursed about $8,000.

Horse Age

Age comes into play when insuring horses.

“After age 15, premiums get higher,” says Mack. “Most companies will insure to age 18, some to age 20. We consider all horses’ birthdays to be January 1, even if they’re born in June.”

Even though full mortality and surgical coverage aren’t usually available after age 20, Restricted Perils coverage is still offered.

Individual Horse Owner’s (IHO) Liability Coverage

Individual Horse Owner’s (IHO) liability coverage has nothing to do with the health of the horse. This policy protects the owner in the event their horse causes damage to a person or property.

“Equine liability is recommended,” says Mack. “Any time you own a horse, you have risk exposure.”

Coverage provides liability protection in many situations, such as if your horse gets loose at a show and injures someone.

You don’t need to own property to purchase this coverage, and it’s for those who don’t derive income from their horses. With IHO liability, the premium is based on the number of horses owned.

Mack says that an IHO liability policy with $1 million coverage covering a few horses generally costs less than $400 a year.

Many people mistakenly assume their personal homeowner’s policy extends to cover damage or injury caused by horses.

Insurance for Equine Businesses

People who own breeding and training farms or boarding stables should have a commercial liability or farm package policy, which includes the residence on the property as well as equine owner’s liability coverage. Care, custody & control is another option if you board horses you don’t own.

Let’s say your horse breaks through the fence and ends up on the road, causing an auto accident. If there is damage to the car and/or an injury or death of the car’s occupant(s), a resulting claim would not be covered under most homeowner’s policies.

However, if found negligent, it would be covered under a commercial farm owner’s policy or IHO liability policy. (Equine liability policies also cover defense costs).

Key Takeaway

If you decide to consider insurance coverage, don’t be afraid to talk to more than one provider, get multiple quotes, and ask plenty of questions.

In the end, your peace of mind is worth every penny.

This article about equine insurance policies appeared in the April 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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If you’re looking for a job working at a riding stable, you’re in luck. There are countless openings for stable help and qualified instructors across the country—it’s a job-seeker’s market right now due to working shortages affecting riding stables. The United States is not alone in its struggle to keep a full workforce; the UK’s Horse and Hound magazine reports that a number of riding schools have decreased offerings due to a shortage of workers, horses and funds. The recent headline: “Looking for Work? Canada’s Horse Industry Has Endless Opportunities” from the American Horse Publications newsgroup describes worker shortages in Canada.

But why the shortage? Can it be solved? And how will it affect the future sustainability of riding stables?

Shortage of Young Workers

Colleges with equine programs receive requests for graduates by riding stables. Marny Mansfield from SUNY Cobleskill indicates that “on the average, I receive one request a week for either barn help or a therapeutic horsemanship instructor. There is an unmet demand, since most of my students get swept up after their internship.”

The same has also been said by many equine vet practices looking for recent graduates to add to their staff. Younger people value their time and question if the longer hours and hard work of a stable or veterinarian job meets their need for work-life balance.

In addition to the decreased supply of workers, stable employers report a decrease in the knowledge and skill level of applicants. Where do potential workers obtain the needed knowledge and skill sets?

Years ago, many kids would be a “barn rat”—someone who would spend long hours working at a stable in exchange for saddle time. That option is less available today. Robin Brueckmann, dressage professional and a former barn rat, extolls the value of that immersive experience and points to the German saying, One only learns riding by sweeping.

Kids also gain equine knowledge and skills by participating in 4-H, Pony Club, camps, et cetera. If there are fewer qualified staff available, who will train the next generation?

Creative Solutions for Riding Stables

Equine Affaire in Massachusetts in November 2023 provided hope, however. A large number of youth were in attendance and clearly articulated that they wanted to continue to work with horses.

A few indicated that they would pursue a non-horse career to afford horses as a hobby. Teachers described equine classes that have been added to their high school curricula, along with kids participating in Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) riding programs.

Creativity is the key to possible solutions. Work-to-ride programming, like the old barn rat programs, are popular.

One such program is offered by Kim Gundersen at Equine Journey in Lakeville, Mass. The average age of kids in Gundersen’s program is 7 to 12—before they tend to lose interest or take up other activities.

Interestingly, there is a resurgence of adults over the age of 35 that participate in the work-to-ride program. Participants gain knowledge and skills, and Gundersen gains assistance in caring for the horses.

“The world is different now,” she says. “I don’t know where the teenagers are, but I wish they’d come back to the barn.”

Hours, Pay, and Benefits

Stable owners need to have business management skills to help make sound decisions. Kris Young of Touchstone Farm in Lyndeborough, N.H., says that flexibility is needed to meet the needs of workers.

To increase worker supply, the horse industry must promote why a position at a riding stable is a sound career choice. Kitty Stalsburg, executive director and instructor at High Hopes therapeutic riding center in Old Lyme, Conn., indicates that the horse industry tends to be myopic and needs to look outside of the box for solutions.

The pay scale also needs to be competitive. Stable owners must not overwork their staff. If four staff are required to run the stable, but only two are hired, the temptation to overwork and burn out the two is high.

Stable managers need to support their staff and provide additional incentives, such as benefits, time off, education, and other perks. Stable owners should be ready to step in and continue training employees to fill the knowledge gaps. Home-grown instructors can provide solutions.

Focusing on the benefits of the horse and human connection can be a powerful selling point. Following the work of organizations, such as Horses and Humans Research Foundation, which supports research and provides webinars about why horse connections are powerful, can provide sound, useful data.

Key Takeaway

With high overhead, lots of hard work, and a decreasing work force, there is a concern for the future of stables and horseback riding as we know it. So why work in this industry?

“I love the connection with the horses and how I feel around them, and I love sharing it with others,” says Gundersen.

A youngster puts it in more current terms: “A horse connection is chill!”

The working shortages across our riding stables are a troubling phenomenon, so put on your thinking cap to help our industry find creative solutions.

This article about the worker shortage affecting riding stables appeared in the March 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Since 1992, Laura Connaway of Connaway and Associates Equine Insurance Services, Inc. has been working with her team to bring a personalized touch to the horse insurance market, offering competitive coverage for horses, horse farms, and equine liability. As an insurance agent, the most important part of the role is to inform and educate clients so they understand the coverages that are available to suit their individual needs. Laura addresses several of the most commonly asked questions below.

When do I need to notify my insurance company of changes in my horse’s condition?

Your insurance carrier requires notification of any changes in the condition of your horse. It is a part of your insurance contract to notify the insurance carrier of any accidents, illnesses, injuries, diseases, lameness, or any time your horse receives non-routine care. Late reporting may impact your coverage under the policy and may affect your ability to make a successful claim. If you do not plan to file a claim, an incident-only report can be provided to fulfill your requirement to notify the insurance company of the change in condition.

Should I call my vet or my insurer first in case of a medical emergency?

In the event of a medical emergency, contact your veterinarian immediately and proceed with life-saving care. Next, contact your insurance carrier using the emergency phone number in your policy or listed on the ID cards provided by your agency. The carriers we work with all have 24/7 emergency numbers. Our agency also monitors the phone for emergencies and will assist our clients in the event of an after-hours emergency. It is important to provide insurance emergency contact information to your horse’s caregivers so they know who to contact in the event of an emergency.

I would like to change my horse’s insured value. How would I go about it?

In a horse mortality policy, Full Mortality is the base coverage; it reimburses you up to the insured value of the horse for death, theft, and authorized humane destruction. If you think the Full Mortality Value/Insured Value of your horse has changed during your policy period, contact your agent. If you would like to request an increase in the insured value due to show results or professional training, your agent will provide this information to the insurance underwriter for a value review. If the insurance underwriter agrees with your requested value, a policy endorsement will be issued to increase the Full Mortality limit in your policy. If you would like to request a decreased value, this can be done at any time. Value changes can be requested at any time during the policy period; contact your agent to discuss the process. The available medical options may change if the full mortality value is changed.

My horse has changed careers. Do I need to let my insurer know?

The “use” of your horse refers to the job or jobs your horse performs, such as show hunter, show jumper, dressage, eventing, barrel racing, trail riding, roping, driving, or breeding, to name a few. If you decide to switch disciplines or add additional disciplines to your horse’s résumé, then that means the “use” of your horse has changed. For example, if you start jumping your dressage horse, start eventing your show jumper, move your event horse up a level, or decide to breed your horse, the “use” of your horse has changed. The insurance carrier requires notification of a change or addition to your horse’s use. The available coverages and insurance carrier ratings vary by use. If a change in use is not reported to the insurance company, your coverage may be impacted in the event of a claim.

I’m buying a new horse — how does that affect its insurance coverage?

In order to insure a horse, you must have an insurable interest. If you purchase a new horse in full and you are the only owner, you are the only party with a financial interest/insurable interest in the horse, and you need to take out an insurance policy in your name (or the name of the entity that owns the horse). The seller (if paid in full) no longer has an insurable interest in the horse, and any insurance on the horse carried by the seller ceases when the horse is sold. All parties with a financial interest in the horse must be disclosed in the insurance application (for example, owner, co-owner, lessee, loss payee, etc.). If the ownership interest in a horse changes at any time during the policy period, you need to notify your agent.

A few examples of changes in ownership include adding a co-owner, changing the ownership from an individual’s name to an LLC, or leasing your horse. The insurance carrier requires notification of any ownership changes at the time of the change or lease.

What happens if my horse is stolen or needs to be put down?

In the event of your horse’s theft or death, report the loss immediately to your insurance carrier. In cases of theft or vehicular involvement, such as a car accident, contact the police. Do not have your horse euthanized without authorization from your insurance carrier. If your horse is found deceased, report the death immediately. A necropsy will likely be required if the horse is euthanized or is found deceased. It is important to advise your horse’s caretaker of these loss notification procedures.

This article about horse insurance is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Most of us have had an endless dialogue running through our minds about what that “right thing” is, and finally decided upon a course of action. Seems like that should alleviate any lingering doubts and put our minds at ease, right? Not always.

The bottom line for most horse owners is the welfare of the horse, yet some of us have a difficult time seeing past our own emotions enough to define what constitutes a good life for a horse.

Costly Vet Bills

All horse owners cross their fingers and hope they will never face a vet bill deeper than their pockets. We know the high probability of our horse getting a costly injury, colic scare, or disease, yet we rarely set aside money to cover a medical worst-case scenario. Then when disaster strikes or an injury requires long-term veterinary care, we find ourselves between the proverbial rock and a hard place.

A horse’s age, health history, prognosis for the current problem, and treatment expense become key determining factors when deciding on the next step. Sometimes the cost of treatment far exceeds an owner’s ability to pay.

Well-intentioned owners may extend the life of an old horse long past the time it should be humanely euthanized, or delay veterinary treatment because of their own inability to face facts. For them, anticipating grief takes precedence over the animal they can’t bear to part with.

Veterinarians are often on the front lines of this type of indecision, and usually help owners by recommending what would be in the best interest of the horse. This can be the clarifying information horse owners need to get past their emotional hesitations. Far too many distraught owners throw caution to the wind and take on substantial debt with no guarantee of a positive outcome.

If the horse is young with a survivable injury, someone may be willing to take on the cost of treatment in exchange for transfer of ownership. Many horses with a career-ending injury for one activity are often suitable for another less physically demanding one, or can live out their lives as companion animals.

If not already overcrowded, many horse rescue organizations are willing to go the extra mile for a horse with a good chance of survival and utility. They may have enough staff and volunteers to support longer recoveries.

If efforts to re-home your horse fail, humane euthanasia is always an option, yet it’s no simple solution, even when fully justified. Owners may find themselves on the defensive with family and friends who don’t understand why such a drastic measure is necessary.

Acceptance comes from knowing all other options have been considered. Animals don’t ponder the future the way we do, thus a life filled with pain is never preferable to a peaceful passing.

Firing Professional Help

Some of us see our horse trainer, riding instructor, and farrier more often than many relatives, and form long-term relationships that seem more like friendships than business acquaintances.

Occasionally, problems arise and you may need to terminate their services. You can take action and feel comfortable with your decision; explain your reasons for the change and keep the conversation from becoming personal.

Dismissing someone is much easier if you feel certain you are doing the right thing for your horse and word it that way.

Selling Your Horse to Save Money

Money is at the root of most horse/owner splits. A family that suddenly loses half of their income due to loss of a job or divorce must make financial sacrifices that cut straight to the heart.

Because horse ownership makes a big dent in everyone’s budget, it is often the most obvious expense to eliminate. Owners who board their horses can sometimes bargain for reduced fees by working as stable help, but boarding stable owners may already have the hired help they need.

Sadly, selling your horse may be the best resolution even though it’s the most emotionally painful. If you’re lucky, you may find a new owner who is amenable to your continuing involvement with your horse by share boarding, where you pay an agreed-upon amount to allow you several days per week of access to your horse. This can be a win-win arrangement with two riders keeping the horse fit and reducing expenses for the new owner.

Most sales, however, require you to cut ties with your horse when the buyer’s trailer heads down the driveway. A goodbye pet on the nose for a horse you’d prefer to keep is crushing.

If you do plan to share-board, always create a written agreement signed by both participants to avoid misunderstandings. Also, make sure boarding stable managers approve of this type of arrangement at their barn. Rules, regulations, and insurance coverage are all factors to understand and agree to before day one of a new share-board arrangement.

Editor’s Note: New grants and programs are helping horse owners faced with sudden financial difficulties so they can safely relinquish or even keep their horse. Learn more about equine safety net programs.

When Health Intervenes

Consider yourself lucky if you’ve never had to alter your riding activities due to your horse’s health or your own. Many competitors have had their dreams crushed the moment their horse took one bad step.

Disappointment is an understatement when you must withdraw from a competition that required years of training. Clearly, the welfare of the horse is paramount and the correct course of action usually obvious, yet emotional fallout is unavoidable.

Your own health may fail due to an accident, illness, surgery, pregnancy, or age-related issue that causes a diminished ability to ride or work safely with horses. Your body dictates what it can and cannot do, and riding may become beyond your physical capabilities.

This is a bitter pill to swallow for most of us, especially if we must rehome a beloved horse. The best way to soften the pain is to find a new owner who will care for your horse as lovingly as you do.

Filling the Horse Void

Owning a horse is not the only way to enjoy a life with them. Leasing or share-boarding provides a great opportunity for you to stay in the game. You’ll still incur costs, but far fewer than being responsible for all of them.

If riding is out of the question, volunteering at local rescue operations or teaching the basics to those new to horses are options. Sharing your experience and skills with others is often the healing salve for those who would feel lost without a connection to horses.

This article about a horse owner’s most difficult decisions appeared in the September 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Shortly after bringing her horse home to her Florida farm from a nearby boarding barn, Helen Yakin-Palmer looked up from her desk to find her mare, Cera, peering at her through the office window.

“It was a wonderful surprise,” Yakin-Palmer recalls. “It’s the upside of keeping a horse at home.”

In fact, it’s what some horse owners—especially prospective ones—dream about. But keeping a horse at home is not as simple as it seems. And keeping one anywhere—whether a farm or a boarding barn—is not an inexpensive proposition. Either way, providing for its needs makes all the difference between a horse that is thriving and one in danger of becoming a welfare statistic, whether he is a performance horse, a trail horse or a companion equine.

Your Costs May Vary

Annual horsekeeping expenses vary widely. Here’s a rough look at the major expenses and what they’ll cost per year on the low end and high end for the cost of owning a horse.

Overall Horse Ownership Cost

“The No. 1 reason why horses go into rescue or are sold is because people realize that they can’t afford them,” says Nicole Maubert-Walukewicz, founder of the Palmetto Equine Awareness and Rescue League (PEARL) in Anderson, S.C.

As most horse owners know, the cost of keeping the horse is usually greater than the cost of purchasing it.

“The cost of the horse is going to be the least expenditure an owner is going to make,” says Amy McLean, Ph.D., equine lecturer (PSOE) in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of California. “You are going to spend more taking care of it.”

So how much can owners expect to spend on horsekeeping? Calculating costs can be complicated. While some expenses, such as basic veterinary and farrier fees, are relatively consistent over time, others vary from state to state, region to region and year to year, such as feed and hay.

Horse Ownership Cost: Horse Feed

According to the Unwanted Horse Coalition, (UHC) a horse’s dietary requirements depend on its breed, activity level and age. For example, horses with extensive training and show schedules generally require more feed and forage than horses that are only occasionally under saddle or are not ridden at all. Likewise, older horses may need to eat more just to maintain good body condition.

Generally, a healthy horse should consume at least 1.5 percent of his body weight in forage daily. For some owners, that means making sure the horse has lots of grazing time on pasture, supplemented by high-quality hay. But hay costs vary depending on your location, the volume of the local hay crop, and how far the hay must be transported. As a result, the cost of hay is higher in California than it is in the Midwest, for example.

“Hay is a large and regionally-produced crop that is shipped long distances, so problems in some areas won’t necessarily impact price,” says Daniel H. Putnam, Ph.D., extension agronomist and forage specialist in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis.

In Florida, Yakin-Palmer pays $13.50 to $15.50 per bale for hay. Meanwhile, trainer Clarissa Cupolo recalls buying hay annually by the ton.

“In New Jersey, we had to buy hay by the ton,” says Cupolo. “We would pay $2,000 for hay to feed six horses for a whole year.”

Horses’ diets can also include feed, either commercially manufactured or locally milled. Those costs can vary too, depending on where the feed is milled and where ingredients are grown.

A 50-pound bag of commercially formulated equine feed runs anywhere from $15 to $35; the average stabled horse eats 5 to 15 pounds per day. Don’t forget to add onto this the cost of any supplements you feed, which can vary widely.

Horse Ownership Cost: Hoof Care and Veterinary Expenses

Aside from meeting their horses’ dietary needs, owners must also provide routine veterinary and other professional care to keep their animals healthy. In general, those costs do not fluctuate much from month to month or year to year. Nevertheless, having a plan to finance these costs is critical.

For example, veterinarians generally charge $25 to $75 for a basic farm call, which covers the cost of the veterinarian traveling to the horse’s location. Frequently the owners of horses kept at boarding barns split farm call costs when all the horses residing at the barn receive vaccinations at the same time.

Once the veterinarian has arrived, routine vaccinations, including rabies, tetanus, West Nile, EEE and WEE, range from $75 to $150, according to Jennifer Williams, Ph.D., executive director and founder of the Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society and author of How To Start and Run A Rescue. While some vaccinations are administered annually, booster inoculations represent an additional cost, and an additional farm visit.

General health care costs should also include $50 to $150 for annual teeth floating. Additional dental work generally adds a cost of $100 or more depending upon what the horse needs.

But veterinarians are not the only professionals that help keep a horse healthy. All horses require routine farrier care every four to eight weeks, whether they are shod or not. Cost for trimming a barefoot horse may range between $25 and $40 ($150 to $240 annually), Williams says. Routine farrier care for shod horses ranges between $50 and $150 per visit, or $300 to $1,200 annually, she says.

“If your horse is lame or develops problems with his feet, he may need more frequent farrier work or the assistance of a specialist, which will cost much more,” she points out.

Horse Ownership Cost: Unexpected Vet Emergencies

But even if owners budget for the best routine care, all horses are at risk for injury or illness. When that happens, an emergency farm visit can cost as much as $100 before the veterinarian even begins to treat the animal’s condition. More serious treatment can require transporting the horse to an equine clinic, or even surgery.

That’s something Yakin-Palmer learned when Cera required surgery after a severe colic episode.

“The bill was $15,000 in veterinary, hospital and aftercare costs,” she says. “That’s why people should have an emergency fund for their horses if they can.”

Insurance policies are also available. One type is directly through veterinary equine practices, where owners pay an annual fee that covers routine services, such as vaccinations and farm calls, as well as for reduced “deductibles” for surgeries and other major services.

Other policies are available through equine health and liability insurance. Some supplement companies, such as SmartPak and Platinum Performance, offer a program to cover the costs of colic surgery with a qualifying order and routine wellness care from your vet.

Costs of Boarding vs. Home Horsekeeping

Some novice owners believe that horsekeeping costs will be lower if the animal is kept at home as opposed to being boarded at a local barn. But that’s not always the case, says McLean. Owners who intend to keep their horses at home must factor real estate costs into the horsekeeping equation and balance it against that of boarding.

“For example, real estate costs can be $700,000 to $1 million for 2 acres if you want your own horse facility,” California-based McLean points out. “But boarding costs can run between $400 to $700 for full board, depending on the facility. Barns where Olympic-level horses are boarded can run between $1,200 and $1,500 a month.”

The cost of basic services, such as stall cleaning, turnout, hay and feeding are typically included with full-care board.

At some facilities, blanketing and holding a horse for a farrier or veterinarian is also included, says Clarissa Cupolo, owner of Gemini Performance Horses in Florida. Owners must still pay their own bills for these services, however. Elsewhere, horse handling is passed on to owners at an hourly or per-service rate.

Still, boarding a horse may be most cost-effective for some owners.

“For example, if you have to travel for work, you may want to board your horses,” says McLean. “Also, you have to factor in the cost of your hours feeding your horses, cleaning their stalls, turning them out, et cetera.”

These facts are not lost on Yakin- Palmer, who boarded both her horses before she brought them home.

“Keeping your horses at home is certainly limiting,” she says. “You have to have a flexible schedule, and you have to be there. I work at home so my schedule is flexible, but I can’t just take a vacation; my vacation is being with my horses.”

Ultimately, each owner must decide how to calculate—and afford—the cost of horse ownership. To do that, Maubert-Walukewicz advises prospective owners to gather opinions from local horse owners before they purchase a horse.

“Find out what the costs are [in your area], what kind of work is involved, and what they think of keeping a horse at home versus boarding it,” she says.

For her, the choice was simple.

“I spend about $4,800 a year on keeping my horses at home,” she says. “I’m the one feeding them, taking care of them, and interacting with them every day, so I know them much better than I would if they were boarded. But even if the cost is equal, that choice is not for everybody. Whatever you choose, you have to do what’s best for the horse.”

This article about the cost of horse ownership originally appeared in Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post What is the Cost of Horse Ownership? appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Instead of cruising along on autopilot, take a minute to walk through your barn chores and see them with fresh eyes. You’ll find ways to save money—as well as time!—with a few simple one-time tweaks to your current system.

Below are our top gizmos that will save you big over the long run.

15 Equestrian Hacks Amid Inflation

1. Cushion From the Cold

Make winter watering easier with insulated buckets and tanks. While tank and bucket heaters are nice, a single tank heater can increase your electricity bill by $30 a month!

For those of us living in northern states, insulated bucket holders, either purchased or homemade, make barn life easier. A little bit of insulation means no more swinging a rubber mallet at the side of the bucket to break up the ice every day.

Large, outdoor tanks can be set inside a heavily insulated box with a piece of floating hard insulation on the water surface. My 100-gallon tank in Maine stays amazingly ice-free most days in the winter. There are no extra electricity expenses (perfect for dealing with inflation!) and no extension cords crisscrossing the farm.

2. Magnetic Tool Strip

A hammer, leather punch, screwdriver, or knife: How many times do you find yourself needing to quickly grab a tool but end up digging around for long stretches to find one? You may have even given up and thrown money away on a replacement simply because you couldn’t find it when you needed it.

For less than $25, you can purchase a three-pack of heavy-duty magnetic strips. Designed to hold heavy metal objects, they can be mounted on the walls in the tack room or feed room to keep the tools you use most at hand.

3. Invest and Save

My best tool investment was a portable air compressor; small ones start at $100. Air compressors are worth their weight in gold, especially if you add up all the tires at your farm. Tallying up my truck, horse trailer, hay trailer, lawn mower, tractor, utility trailer and wheelbarrows, I have 26 tires on the farm, and at least one of them always needs air.

4. Cord Control

Keep your barn aisle neat with a wall-mounted extension cord reel. These cord reels keep power at the ready, yet neatly put away when not in use. This way, you don’t need to go looking through the tack room for the last place you saw an extension cord or deal with tangled, twisted cords, and you won’t have dangerous tripping hazards in the barn aisle.

5. Collect Rainwater

Here in the U.S., we have some regions that are desperate for rain, while others are wishing it would stop. Whatever the situation, we rarely take advantage of harnessing this natural resource.

Rainwater can easily fill your troughs, and you don’t need a fancy system. If you have buildings with metal roofs, just add a gutter and downspout directed to the water tank.

Numerous websites can help you calculate how much water can be collected based on the size of your roof and the amount of rainfall you receive. For example, my small run-in shed has a 24-square-foot by 16-square-foot roof. That’s 55,296 square inches. Multiply this by a 1-inch rainfall, and I can collect 55,296 cubic inches of water. Divide that by 231 (the number of cubic inches in a gallon), and the result is 239 gallons of water—not bad for a small run-in shed! This is actually more water than my trough can hold.

If you have horses in remote pastures with run-in sheds, you can add a storage tank to collect the water and a float valve to let it automatically fill the tank when the level drops.

Think about the time you save not having to lug water or drag out hoses as often, not to mention savings on your water bill. You can find plans online for building a simple rain barrel or a more complicated rainwater-catchment system.

6. In Hot Water

For less than $250, you can have hot water on demand in a system that is so portable, you can even take it to shows or to trail rides.

These portable systems can easily save you money over a permanent fixture (which runs at least $600-$1,000) if you’re not using it every day.

7. Clean Up Your Act

Washers and dryers at the barn are luxury items, but it sure is nice to not have to drag hairy blankets and sopping-wet towels into the house or off to the laundromat.

Thankfully, you don’t have to buy new, expensive machines to wash smelly blankets. My appliance repairman advised me to shop for used washers circa early 2000s; he said they last forever and repairs are inexpensive. Perfect for dealing with saddle pads and blankets! Check online classifieds like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for used washers and dryers near you.

8. Take Note

For less than $10, you can turn any wall in your barn into a chalkboard. With some chalkboard paint and a few strokes of a paintbrush, you can create a fun board for writing notes, phone numbers and feeding schedules.

Compared to the cost and hassle of buying and mounting a dry-erase white board with markers that can dry up or permanently stick to the board, this old-school system won’t let you down.

9. Simplify Cross-tying

Get your cross-ties out of the aisles and put them in your stalls. Many barns now have cross-tie hardware in the stalls, or they designate the wash stall as a grooming area.

By eliminating cross-ties in the main barn aisle, there is less debris that needs to be continually swept up, and you’ll have more room for others to navigate around the barn when bringing horses in or out. You also don’t have horses in the way when doing routine barn chores like mucking or feeding.

10. Reinventing the Wheelbarrow

When it comes to wheelbarrows, the design hasn’t changed in the past 100 years. You have your basic choices of a single- or dual-wheeled (I prefer the single because it turns corners easier), and plastic versus metal tray.

Until recently, you could only find basic wood stump handles that seem to be designed for ridiculously large hands. Finally, someone realized actual handles would go a long way toward making the wheelbarrow better. Even when fully loaded, this type doesn’t feel like a runaway train when going downhill because I can keep a firm grip on the handles.

11. Bright Ideas

If you’re guilty of leaving on lights after you’ve left the bathroom, tack room or feed room, install motion sensors and watch your electricity bill go down. This, combined with energy-efficient LED lights, is a money and aggravation saver. Exterior lighting on motion sensors also saves money. You may hear that motion sensors are unreliable, but if they are set up correctly, they work great. I’ve used them on my farm for more than 25 years.

No power in an outbuilding? A battery- or solar-operated motion-sensor LED light is the answer. The one in my hay barn has been operating on the same set of batteries for seven years.

12. Shelve It

Roll those grain bins out of the way. Shop for used kitchen cabinets with slide-out bases, or just add a countertop and mount your grain bins on barrel dollies, then roll them under the counter. You’ll wonder what you did without this additional work and storage space until now.

Metal trash cans are 100 percent rodent-proof, and being able to move them around allows you to keep the floors swept clean.

13. Open-Door Policy

Another old-school idea is to put solid board rails in doorways when barn doors are open. Fit the boards into slots so they can be dropped down easily for people, yet keep a loose horse from leaving the barn.

Good ventilation is key to your horses’ health, and these board rails will allow you to leave the doors open, even if you own an escape artist.

14. Save on Salt

Instead of buying small salt bricks or spools, buy a 50-pound block and place it in a corner of the stall. It will keep your horse happy and provide a source of salt for more than a year.

On a pound-per-pound basis, you will save $40 or more a year. As a side benefit, many horses that chew up the smaller bricks will just lick the larger block.

15. Nothing But Net

For years, I fed hay outside on the ground, but when horses had their fill, they wasted the remaining hay and trampled it into the dirt. (With today’s inflation-induced hay prices, this could easily add up to hundreds of dollars wasted per year.) Hanging hay nets reduces hay waste, but wrestling the hay into the nets each day is time consuming.

At a dressage farm that I visited, I noticed they had hay-net hoops. This was the best of both worlds—no more hay waste and no hassle putting the hay in the net.

Become an idea shopper! Hundreds of ideas like this abound at stables that you visit. Keep your eyes peeled and look for them. By sharing ideas and looking at the ways that other equestrians are doing things, we can all benefit—especially amid inflation.

Also Read: Beat Inflation at Horse Shows

This article about hacks for equestrians amid inflation appeared in the January/February 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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When a person encounters a speed bump like a financial crisis or health issue, it can be challenging to cope. But for horse owners, it’s even more difficult to manage these obstacles. Many don’t know where to turn for help, which puts their horses at risk. However, a growing number of resources are now available to assist horse owners having a hard time providing essential care for their horses. These safety net programs provide vital support that can help horses stay in their homes.

“The goal of a safety net is to be able to provide the support necessary to keep a horse in [his current] home when that’s in the best interest of the horse,” explains Emily Weiss, Ph.D., American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) vice-president of equine welfare.

“Ultimately, we want fewer horses coming into shelters and rescues,” says Weiss. “Elevating the visibility that these solutions exist can help keep those horses from neglect or having to come to a shelter and be relinquished.”

One key program working to do just that is the United Horse Coalition’s Equine Resource Database (UHCERD). Launched in 2020, this searchable online database of over 1,200 horse rescues, sanctuaries and shelters puts help a click away. Owners can search by state and by type of help needed, from hay and feed to euthanasia and disposal, as well as rehoming and other forms of assistance.

Horse health issues are a common setback where safety net services can make a difference. The Vet Direct Safety Net program managed by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and The Foundation for the Horse in partnership with the ASPCA was created to help horse owners in need pay for emergency vet care.

Horse rescues are also working hard to meet people where they are and to provide broader assistance beyond relinquishing and rehoming horses.

Helping Horse Owners

Recent numbers from the Equine Welfare Data Collective, a research program of the United Horse Coalition, focus on quantifying and understanding the horse rescue pipeline. They reveal that 77 percent of horses coming into rescues and shelters are surrendered by their owners or confiscated by law enforcement. Owner finances are the most common reason reported for surrender, followed by owner health.

“This reaffirms through data what we already knew anecdotally—that to make the biggest change for at-risk horses and stem the tide, we have to start at the source, and that is by helping horse owners who have fallen on hard times,” says Ashley Harkins, United Horse Coalition (UHC) director. “This is at the heart of what UHC does, and why the UHCERD exists—to promote responsible horse ownership and provide options for horse owners.”

To date, the UCH’s Equine Resource Database and Covid resource sites have had over 24,000 visitors.

“Through this database, we are able to give horse owners a vital lifeline and point them in the right direction to get the help they need before their horse ends up at risk,” says Harkins, noting that there are programs available in every part of the country. “If people need help, we can direct them to whatever resources they are in need of, or barring that, with the people who can help.”

In 2021, the ASPCA expanded their services in Oklahoma, establishing the Equine Transition and Adoption Center pilot program to provide compassionate help and free services for equines in need, including subsidized veterinary care when it’s best for the horse to stay at home with the owner; compassionate euthanasia if needed to prevent suffering; or safe relinquishment so the horse can receive care before being placed in a loving new home through adoption.

This variety of services offers flexibility to provide the solution that’s right for that horse and owner at that moment.

“If you can’t keep your horse, we can take him and help him get a home,” says Weiss. “Or we can work together to see what solutions there are to help you keep your horse home. We see that as the solution, to be able to support horses within a community. It becomes a community resource.”

Tom Persechino, director of equine welfare for the ASPCA, notes that most horse owners reaching out to the Equine Transition and Adoption Center in Oklahoma have been able to hold onto their horses with just that little bit of support—often as simple as basic nutrition advice, treating an infection, managing minor lameness, or getting a horse up to date on vaccinations and routine care.

“If we can help horse owners get over whatever that challenge is that they’re facing in the moment, if there’s a safety net program that can help them get past that, we’ve proven that they can keep their horses long-term, they can keep them healthy, and they very rarely need to return for services or seek to surrender or relinquish them.”

Of all the services offered through the program, access to affordable vet care has proven to be significant. Simply providing support for metabolic issues like Cushing’s disease or treating dental problems can make a dramatic difference in keeping a horse healthy at home.

“Folks have reached out when their horse is losing significant weight and they think something horrific has happened, when he is simply not able to chew his food,” says Weiss. “That’s an issue that is easily resolved.”

Vet Direct Safety Net

Vet emergencies cause financial stress for both owners in need and veterinarians who want to be able to help them and their horses.

Through the AAEP’s Vet Direct program, equine veterinarians who register to participate can provide up to $600 of veterinary services per animal to assist horse owners in need. This allows vets to identify and provide care for at-risk equines in their communities and offer relief to horse owners who are unable to afford veterinary care.

“Vet Direct was launched as a way to see if there were horses that could remain in the home rather than being surrendered when they faced a medical issue at a time when their owner needed some sort of help due to circumstances they were facing,” says Keith Kleine, AAEP director of industry relations.

The program has assisted owners who were experiencing financial difficulty due to things like medical issues (themselves or immediate family members), loss of job or income, or other temporary situations. But long-term, Kleine says, if they could get help with some practical veterinary care, they could keep their horses.

The Vet Direct Safety Net covers urgent vet care such as wound treatment, eye issues, neurologic problems, choke, and non-surgical colic care, as well as euthanasia and disposal if recovery is unlikely.

Since its inception in 2017, the Vet Direct program has helped many equines. This includes horses like Trixie, who got the help she needed to overcome an ongoing eye issue. A donkey named Perk would have been euthanized after a dog attack without the financial support of Vet Direct. Another horse, Sugar, was lame and in so much pain she could hardly walk. Thanks to funds from Vet Direct, radiographs helped with a diagnosis, and with foam pads and regular trims she was able to walk comfortably again.

Tracking this program over the last few years shows that most horses receiving treatment through Vet Direct remain safe and healthy in their homes, according to the ASPCA.

For those cases where euthanasia is recommended as the most humane option to alleviate pain and suffering, Vet Direct is also able to help with those costs.

“The number of horses that suffer simply because the owner can’t afford euthanasia and disposal is significant,” says Weiss. “A number of owners hold off because it’s difficult to talk about. Having a veterinarian come to you through this program to navigate that [situation] is incredibly helpful.”

Asking for Help

Rescues are trying to be more proactive by providing short-term assistance to owners who qualify and acting as a resource in times of need, says Harkins.

The AAEP reminds horse owners that it’s important to ask for help before situations become dire. These organizations and programs are poised to help more horses if they are called upon before the animals are starving, says Kleine. Most importantly, there is no shame or judgment in asking for help. Vets, safety net administrators, and others involved in equine welfare recognize that hard times can happen to anyone.

“Asking for help is difficult, but it is incredibly admirable,” he says.

That’s why these programs exist—they want to provide assistance.

“When somebody raises their hand and says, ‘I’m having trouble and I want to do right by this horse and I need your help,’ that’s why we’re here,” says Weiss.

The post Horse Safety Net Programs Helping Horses and Owners in Need appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

No matter how much you enjoy riding away from home at shows or on trail rides, you probably cringe at the gas pump watching the total spiral ever higher when you have to fill up your tow vehicle. Tow vehicles aren’t known for their fuel efficiency, but there are things you can do to improve your gas mileage while hauling a horse trailer so you can pay less at the pump. Routine maintenance, attention to detail, and better driving habits will all lead to a trip that is a little lighter on your wallet.

Watch The Weight of Your Horse Trailer

One of the first things to consider is how much weight you’re loading onto your rig, which means you need to know what your trailer weighs when empty and loaded. The heavier a trailer is, the more it will cost in fuel to tow it.

Trailer weights are printed on the manufacturer’s statement of origin if you purchase your trailer new. Otherwise, it might be listed on a sticker inside the frame of the trailer. If all else fails, you can take your trailer to a public scale and weigh it. It’s best to do this both when the trailer is empty and fully loaded.

“What’s going to really kill your fuel mileage is if you’re asking too much of your tow vehicle,” says Shane Jensen, sales manager at Trails West Manufacturing in Preston, Idaho. “For instance, say a half-ton truck has a towing rating of 8,000 pounds from the bumper hitch. If you get a big three-horse, 8-foot wide trailer that is 7’6″ tall, it already weighs around 7,000 pounds. Put three horses in it, and it’s going to cost you.”

Even if you have a trailer well within your vehicle’s tow rating when loaded, anything you can do to lighten the load will improve your mileage somewhat, says Chad Toney, who owns The 20X Custom Shop LLC. His business, located in Elizabeth, Colo., does trailer repair and fabrication and sells towing accessories.

“The best ways to improve fuel mileage are to limit engine load and limit weight,” Toney says. “Weight is tough to manage, but if you’re chasing MPGs [miles per gallon], it’s worth leaving what you don’t need at home.”

Once you’ve calculated your vehicle and trailer’s tow weight correctly, you will need to make sure the trailer’s weight is distributed evenly on its axles. Too much weight on the tongue will cause it to weigh down the tow vehicle and ride more on the trailer’s front axle. This lowers fuel efficiency because the aerodynamics of the trailer are designed for level towing.

“If you’re really squatting down your tow vehicle, you should ask your dealership for a weight distributing hitch,” Jensen says. “What that does is distribute the weight off the back end [of the vehicle] and push it forward, so the front axle of the tow vehicle is helping handle the weight. On top of probably saving your fuel mileage, you’re safer [due to reduced sway and] you’ve got better steering stability.”

Slow Down to Improve Gas Mileage

Just like weight, speed is another factor that can cause a huge decrease in the gas mileage you get while hauling your horse trailer. When you’re on the road, it can be tempting to try to get there as quickly as possible, but that only leads to more money and time spent fueling up.

Alex Taft, a non-pro reiner who shows in limited-age events, hauled to 18 shows last year chasing National Reining Horse Association Rookie Year-End titles. She estimated she spent more than $2,000 on diesel while driving her rig, which consists of an F-250 and a two-horse gooseneck trailer.

“We got the best mileage when we drove on the highway at times of the day when traffic was at a minimum,” Taft says. “That way, we could keep our speed around 60-65 mph, which seemed to be where our MPGs improved the most. Anything over that, and you could almost watch the fuel needle drop as you drove.”

Toney agrees significant gains in mileage can be found by keeping your speed around 60 mph. Plus, your trailer’s tire speed rating, which tells you how fast you can run on the interstate, is likely in that range, too. This number won’t affect your gas mileage as much as it will prevent you from having a tire blow out, but anything you can do to help your horse trailer or tow vehicle run more efficiently should show mileage gains—and save your wallet.

“Speed really kills you on fuel mileage,” Jensen concurs. “You can get a higher speed rating on a higher ply tire, like a 14-ply or a 16-ply for the tires that go on big living quarter trailers, but you’re not going to push them over 70. If you stay within the rating, though, you will save fuel mileage and problems.”

Air Up Your Vehicle & Horse Trailer Tires

Just like your horse’s routine farrier care can affect his well-being, how you maintain your tires will improve or worsen your mileage and risk when towing. Under-inflated tires have more friction on the road, which lowers fuel efficiency and increases the likelihood of a flat.

“In most cases, we recommend you run your trailer tires at near [PSI] capacity or whatever the sidewall [of the] trailer tire states,” Jensen says. “The sidewall will state the maximum PSI, and our specification is to air them up to the max. It does help your fuel mileage when you’re aired up properly, but you’re also less likely to have blowouts.”

Regular tire maintenance and rotation is one of the best ways to make sure you’re getting maximum performance out of your rig.

“Correct size and weight-rated tires will help,” Toney adds. “Larger and heavier tires take more power and fuel to start and keep moving. I see a few folks that want to run 14-ply tires on smaller trailers, and that will probably affect mileage and brake wear negatively.”

Take Care of Your Vehicle

Weight, speed and tire maintenance can all help add MPGs, but when you’re not towing, the best thing you can do to boost mileage is maintain your vehicle in general. Towing adds stress to a vehicle, so parts can wear out quickly. When things aren’t in working order, your mileage tends to suffer.

“We make sure our oil changes are done when needed, rotate tires regularly and keep the air filters clean,” Taft says. “When you haul horses, you typically are in dusty areas. A clean air filter can make a huge difference in how your engine performs.”

The type of vehicle you drive will factor into what you spend on maintenance, which could diminish your fuel savings. Diesels usually cost more to purchase, fuel up, insure and maintain than gas vehicles. If you’re only pulling a small horse trailer, it might actually be cheaper to tow with a gasoline-powered vehicle.

“Modern gasoline trucks are closing the gap in towing with the diesel trucks,” Toney said. “Those with a two- to four-horse trailer, even a smaller living quarters, should be happy with the newer gas trucks. Diesels will continue to be preferred for hauling larger trailers, but for the average horse owner, it’s well worth a serious look at newer gas-powered trucks.”

At the end of the day, hauling horses is always going to come with costs. But if you’re mindful of how much you’re towing, lower your speed, and keep your equipment in good order, your savings at the pump will really add up given today’s fuel prices. Then you can keep trucking down the road, best friend in tow.

This article about improving gas mileage while towing a horse trailer appeared in the June 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Improve Your Gas Mileage While Pulling a Horse Trailer appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.