Horse prices around the world!

[hxgx]

My husband and I are beginning to entertain the idea of moving out of southwest Ohio where we are now. We aren't sure where or when or if it will even happen, but we've looked at Austin, TX, Denver, CO, Tucson, AZ, North Carolina (no specific town, really), and I tried to talk him into Ocala, FL, but I don't think he's going for it. I've also

Comments

Rhode Island

[k7point5]

Well, you're right that the East Coast is going to be a LOT more expensive than $350 for full care. Right now I pay $225 for rough board at a barn with a small indoor, no hot water, and teeny tiny paddocks. I am responsible for buying all of my hay/grain/bedding. I estimate that I spend around $450 a month in total. Full board at my barn is $525. My horse gets shoes on all four feet (basic steel shoes with nothing special) and that runs me $140, though there are farriers in this area that will do all four for $100-120.

The barn down the street is this barn: http://www.heritageequestriancenter.com/

They are a fancy hunter barn and have an indoor, two outdoors, and big grassy paddocks. I believe their full board is $800 but it may have gone up to $850. Lessons there are $50 for 1/2 hour private(!!!!!!).

In Massachusetts especially in the area of SmartPak you're looking at at least $700 for full board, and that will go up depending on the amenities the barn offers. Land is at a premium in this part of the country and you will pay top dollar for a barn if it has an indoor AND substantial turnout. I have heard rumours that SP subsidizes a portion of the cost of their employees board.

Re: Rhode Island

[hxgx]

Thanks for the reply!

My husband really likes Boston, so he's pushing for a move close to there (and I have some family in Kingston), but I keep trying to tell him that it will double our rent and likely triple the horse board! He's a teacher, so it's not like we're rolling in dough over here. And I really hate winter on top of that, so maybe we can find somewhere CHEAP and WARM. ;)

And SmartPak does list the subsidized board as part of their perks, but it's for testing and reviewing products, and I imagine that everyone that works there is competing for a chance at that, but who knows!

Re: Rhode Island

[buymeaclue]

You could probably find a similar situation in eastern MA to what you have now for about twice what you're paying now on board. Probably less if you're comfy with (and lucky in) finding a backyard situation without an indoor, but you're probably going to want the indoor (and if you're looking at non-backyard barns, they're going to have one). Sky's the limit, obviously, and the commute is going to be a drag if you live in Boston (although the rent gets cheaper the farther out you go--you're still looking at an increase from OH numbers, but depending on what you need and where you need it, you can manipulate that a bit). But the point is, while you can pay $1,500/month for Boston-area board, you certainly don't have to.