How Much Does It Cost to Keep a Horse Each Month? Livery, Farrier, Vet and a Reserve

What a month of keeping a horse is made of

DEFRA's code of practice (2017) lists livery, feed, bedding, stable and pasture, worming, vet fees, farriery and tack; the British Horse Society (BHS) adds insurance, teeth checks and saddle fitting. The table sorts the lines by what drives them and how to cut them (WHW is World Horse Welfare); UK amounts are in a separate section below.

One-off costs are covered in How much does a horse cost, and the decision checklist in What you need before buying your first horse.

Livery: where the horse lives

DEFRA says livery costs vary significantly by type. The BHS distinguishes four common set-ups: with full livery yard staff do the daily work such as feeding, mucking out and turnout; with part livery you share the tasks with the yard; with DIY livery you rent the stable and grazing and do everything else yourself; with grass livery the horse lives in a field all year round. The BHS says prices depend on location, facilities and support (an arena, year-round turnout, hay and bedding included or not, extras) and advises asking what is included and what costs extra.

We found no official statistics on livery prices in Slovenia or Croatia. To show a range, on 29 September 2026 we took, from the yard pages we checked, six publicly posted price lists or offers that state a monthly livery price (two Slovenian, four Croatian); we do not name the yards. It is a sample of six postings, not a market survey or a recommendation.

Only one posting states its VAT basis: its prices (including the €266 and €465 in the sample) are without VAT, and it charges hay, straw and shavings from a separate price list. Another says vet costs are not included. The remaining postings do not say whether VAT is included. One yard's two pages give different amounts (€300 and €350), so we took a range. A May 2025 article on a Ljubljana riding centre's website puts a month of boarding at €420–550; it is not a price list, so it is not in the sample. Get the price in writing, stating whether VAT is included, with the extras and the terms for changing it.

Forage, bedding and winter

If feed and bedding are not in the livery price, you pay for them separately. The BHS says hay and haylage prices vary with availability and the summer weather. How much forage a horse needs depends on the horse and its work, so we give no amounts (see What do horses eat), nor hay or straw prices for Slovenia or Croatia; ask the yard or supplier for a price per bale or tonne, in writing, stating whether VAT is included.

World Horse Welfare says care costs rise in winter and advises allowing for this if you take a horse on in summer; the RSPCA also mentions higher winter costs. To lower the bill the BHS points to a diet based on good-quality forage with a vitamin and mineral balancer (especially for horses in light work or carrying excess weight). Straw is often the cheapest bedding but unsuitable for some horses (respiratory problems, horses that eat their bed); rubber matting costs more up front and can reduce the bedding needed.

The farrier

For the UK the BHS says most horses need the farrier every four to six weeks if shod and six to eight if unshod; other sources differ (see How often does a horse need the farrier). From the BHS price per visit (table below), our arithmetic (52 weeks divided by the interval) gives at least about £65–108 a month for a shod horse with a full set (about €75–125) and about £16–29 for an unshod one (about €20–35). The BHS and RSPCA advise discussing options with the farrier (front shoes only, barefoot, refitting shoes) and not skipping visits, even for an unshod horse.

We found no Slovenian public farrier list. One Croatian farrier service's public list, valid from 1 January 2023 and excluding VAT, gives (viewed 29 September 2026) routine trimming €30 (a trim after more than four months €60), shoeing all four feet with materials €80 and front shoes with a hind trim €55. It is one dated example, not today's price.

Vet, teeth and worms

The BHS counts vaccination against equine flu and tetanus as routine vet care; some yards ask for more, for example against equine herpesvirus or strangles (see Vaccination and preventive care for horses). The BHS says teeth should be checked at least once a year, more often in young and older horses; other sources differ (see Horse teeth). Worm control should follow risk: the BHS warns that blanket worming increases resistance. Taking the horse to a clinic instead of paying for a call-out can save the visit fee.

The University of Zagreb Faculty of Veterinary Medicine publishes its clinics' price list on its current price-list page (PDF dated 14 November 2024, viewed 29 September 2026; the list does not say whether VAT is included): examination of a horse level I €30 and level II €40 (the levels are not defined), dental correction in a horse €34 (material €25 listed separately), quantitative faecal egg count (FLOTAC) €10 and the vaccine Proteqflu+Te €18 (listed among medicines, so not necessarily the whole cost of a vaccination visit). The same list raises prices for examinations and other services by 50% between 6 pm and 8 am and after 11 am on Sundays and public holidays. This is a university clinic's list, not a benchmark for private practices: for pre-purchase vetting the BHS says costs vary by vet practice, location and the vet's experience. We found no price list on the horse clinic page of the Ljubljana veterinary faculty (viewed 29 September 2026). Find a vet who treats horses in the directory and ask for a written estimate.

UK figures for comparison

To compare the structure of costs, not to give Slovenian or Croatian amounts, we cite figures from the BHS page (reviewed 7 July 2026). The page cites the BETA 2023 National Equestrian Survey for livery, feed, bedding and the yearly total, and "2026 industry averages" for worm control; for farrier, dental and saddle-fitter prices it names no source (BHS 2026 in the table). All are averages that vary widely across the UK. We converted pounds at the European Central Bank reference rate of 28 September 2026 (€1 = £0.85785) and rounded euros to the nearest €5 (from €1,000 to the nearest €100; "over" amounts rounded down).

Insurance

DEFRA says an owner should consider insuring a horse against unexpected health problems; for public liability cover see What you need before buying your first horse. A UK study (Wilson, Mair and Freeman, Equine Veterinary Journal, 2025) asked five insurers in January 2024 for quotes for a standard case (a 14-year-old Welsh Section D gelding 15.1 hh, that is 15 hands 1 inch, about 155 cm): monthly premiums were £42.76 to £97.23 and the maximum veterinary-fee cover £5,000–7,500 (converted in the hidden-costs table below).

We found no public premium tables for Slovenia or Croatia. Sava Insurance Company says on its page for sport and leisure horses that it adjusts premiums to use, age, breed, living conditions and health status; Croatia Insurance Company (Croatia osiguranje) says the monthly premium for animals is calculated separately for each species and that you get a price by requesting a quote. These are insurers' own pages, cited only for how premiums are set, not for prices.

Tack and repairs

The BHS counts a torn rug and tack that needs repairing among the unexpected costs, and advises checking saddle fit every six months because a horse's shape changes through the year; a UK saddle fitter costs £40–100 a visit (see the table).

Hidden costs: emergencies and a reserve

An emergency can bring a very large single bill. A UK study (Wilson et al., 2025; 18 hospitals, 248 colic cases) reported the 2023/24 costs in the table. Of 122 surgical cases, 111 (91%) had bills above £5,000 and 62 (50.8%) above £7,500, often more than the maximum vet-fee cover the study's insurers offered.

The study gives means (the euthanasia figure is a median) with a range; its authors list small case numbers and UK-only data as limitations; we found no data for Slovenia or Croatia. DEFRA warns that the full costs of euthanasia and carcase disposal are rarely covered by insurance. The BHS suggests that without insurance you consider a monthly savings pot, and that with insurance you check what the policy covers, since some treatments, such as colic surgery, may exceed policy limits.

Cutting costs without cutting welfare

The BHS warns of false economies: skipping farrier visits, dental checks, saddle fitting or vaccination can harm the horse and lead to bigger bills. World Horse Welfare lists vet care, vaccination, regular hoof care, risk-based parasite control and dental checks as things not to skimp on. Owners on a yard can order bedding, feed or hay together, split delivery charges and book shared vet and farrier appointments (BHS); the RSPCA says suppliers often give lower prices on larger deliveries and advises sharing transport.

Choosing a set-up and building a budget

DEFRA advises a prospective owner to budget from their own circumstances and work out whether ongoing costs are affordable and how many horses, if any, they can afford.

Frequently asked questions

What does full livery mean?

According to the BHS, with full livery the yard staff do the daily work, such as feeding, mucking out and turnout, and exercise may be included. The BHS advises checking that staff also work at weekends and asking what is included and what costs extra.

Do I need insurance for a horse?

DEFRA's code of practice (2017) says an owner should consider insurance against unexpected health problems and have suitable public liability cover; the BHS strongly advises public liability cover, even for a retired or companion horse. These sources do not say whether insurance is compulsory where you live; ask the yard and an insurer, and read the exclusions.

How much more does a horse cost in winter than in summer?

We found no figure for Slovenia or Croatia. Two UK sources (World Horse Welfare, RSPCA) say care costs rise in winter, so ask the yard in writing whether hay and bedding stay in the price through winter and when the price can change.

Can I share the cost of a horse with another rider?

Yes, according to the BHS a sharer can contribute to costs and help with care. The BHS advises a clear written agreement and checking that the sharer has public liability insurance; World Horse Welfare adds that the arrangement should put the horse's welfare, consistent management and the suitability of riders first.