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.  

The post What Does a Lifetime of Horse Care Cost? appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

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!

The post A Horse Owner’s Most Difficult Decisions appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

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!

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