I didn't make my categories quite the same as the previous year, but close enough for comparison.
Supplements and health care (meds, ointments, creams): $1,522.04
- Almost $100 of that was spent on various sized jars of Krudzapper. #noregrets
Farrier: $555
- God bless my fucking farrier. All year long, we never went two cycles in a row without changing Bobby's shoeing. Since she does almost the entire barn she's out all the time anyway, but she never once charged me every time she stopped in on her way to somewhere else to check in, or Bobby lost a shoe, or I needed her to hoof test, or wanted an opinion after Vet was out, or every time I had her consult with whoever I was working with at the time. Bobby's laminitis treatment and outside consult she brought in? I never saw a bill. She knew we were at the end, and even when I tried pushing money into her hand, she refused to accept it.
Lessons: $1,130
- Hopefully to resume next month or March at the latest!
Board: $1,325
- I quartered this from what I paid last year by picking up more barn chores. It's worth it to afford more lessons, shows, etc. At least that's what I tell myself as I drive 30mph through a blizzard in 10* to take care of 22 horses.
Vet: $3,058.61
- $1,000 of that was the Cornell trip, and that doesn't include close to another $1,000 a bunch of crazy fucking bloggers raised for Bobby's last bills. Love you crazy fucking bloggers! Much like Farrier, Vet really tried to work with me to keep costs down, and we did a lot of phone calls and emails so she didn't have to keep coming out every time something with Bobby's leg changed.
Shows: $848.51
- This makes me twitch since I only attended one and one-third shows this year, and that hunter show only cost me $109. Enjoy your fucking donations, USDF and USEA!
Tack/Gear: $4,697.31
- Um, whoops? I think I did Tack Ho Nation proud. That includes my Stubben dressage saddle I bought in the spring that ended up not working at all for my sasquatch legs (Still for sale!!), and 2/3 of the cost of my fancy new County dressage saddle. Worth....it....? Look away, Hubby. Just look away.
Miscellaneous (memberships, registrations, repairs, etc): $918.74
- My truck got new brakes in the spring which was a good chunk of that.
Overall total: $14,055.21
- Only about a $2,300 difference than last year. See, not bad at all! Oh, wait. I also bought a horse. Might need to work on that 2018 budget a little bit.....
How'd you guys do? More expenses than usual, or were you able to keep your wallet under wraps? Anyone else want to share their poor life choices?
I don't keep track at all because it would make me cry. Maybe I should make that a 2018 resolution? Hahaha.
ReplyDeleteI want to see real tack ho expenditures. Someone's got to step up!
DeleteBut if I don't put concrete numbers on it, my husband is much less likely to murder me 😂
DeleteAimee, where you at?!
DeleteDude I hardly remember tack I've purchase. 0/10 there is not some mythical chart out there where I actually track it.
Delete;-) Maybe I'll put one together this year, just for you.
That is between me and my bank account. The bank account is losing ;)
DeleteWe were pretty close to each other on the Tack/Supplies category if I throw out my trailer. Gulp. Also how the fuck do you get truck brakes AND association memberships for $918?! My 1/2 ton pickup also got new brakes all around this year and it was like $830 or something.
ReplyDeleteBecause it went to a local garage that Hubby's plant does ten trillion dollars worth of business with so he's nice to us on prices. Also though PRETTY SURE they're going to need to get tweaked again this spring because I'm still not happy with them. Fuck that guy.
DeleteWell that makes me feel slightly better. I thought about having my car-head roommate do them and the parts were still like $700, so I just gave up and accepted that trucks are expensive animals.
DeleteOof, that's painful. I'm taking it to the Dodge dealer this spring to get it fully checked over because I just haven't been completely happy with this dude (except for his prices obviously) so I guess I better brace myself.
DeleteDang girl! Horse man, can they just stop!
ReplyDeleteI could have bought a custom jump saddle with those vet bills, but nooooo.
DeleteOur tack and supplies cost is $80 different. Clearly, I've got some tack ho tendencies as well! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm telling this to Hubby so he knows it's a real horse girl problem. #cantstopwontstop
DeleteWell... at least I didn't show as much so... that saved money? Except then I also bought a horse soooooooooooo ... oops?
ReplyDeleteBut he's a long term investment so it doesn't count. I mean, I don't think purchase price should even go on the expenses list at all!
DeleteMy board this year was a hell of a lot more than my board last year (thanks to moving) but I didn't have a horse all year this year or last year and I did start working more to cover the costs, so I think I'm probably about even
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine how much board is out there!
DeleteOh man I am NOT a tack ho, I spent $108 on tack all year. I can't remember what I bought... I am going to have to replace his bridle this year or next so I'm preparing myself for that!
ReplyDeleteThat. Is. Epic.
DeleteI seriously wish I could work off some of board for discount. I mean in temperatures like this I don't miss it, but that is an amazing savings.
ReplyDeleteI'm so so so grateful I get to do it. It gives me so much more freedom to get to play around a little bit.
DeleteI kept careful notes of every single expense and was only $2k above my budget amount (which did not include shows, unexpected vet visits, and a new saddle) so I'm considering it a win! Adore posts like this, thanks so much for sharing with us!!
ReplyDeleteThat's not bad at all!
DeleteFrankly I am afraid to look....
ReplyDeleteI always am too, but it never turns out to be as bad as I think. Maybe I just have low expectations. :P
DeleteOh god I am curious now but I don't want to look. Ugh. Perhaps 2018 can be the year of the budgeting.
ReplyDeleteI really need to get behind that as a goal.
DeleteInteresting! I kind of don't want to know for myself... my husband told me the approximate figure of the total cost of my horse board over the past 5 years and I almost threw up.
ReplyDeleteGo no further than board then because I feel like that has the potential to be the cheapest thing for a lot of people lol
DeleteMy numbers are super depressing and I can’t publish or even mentally calculate the total combined. 🤢 I can’t believe how much more expensive it is here than your neck of the woods. Just Annie’s one adventure to the vet was 4k... Luna spent another 1k herself easily and that’s not even normal trips or the small mishaps throughout the year. I work so my horses can live their posh lifestyle 😂😭
ReplyDeleteYou could move to the land of Snow and Wind and afford about fifteen more horses with your savings up here!
DeleteI can't even begin to track these things or I'd wind up in the fetal position breathing into a paper bag. Especially given what Badger is costing me by living in Florida for more than half the year. Spoiled little brat. But I'm majorly impressed that your number wasn't insanely higher with all the vet work and shoeing and what not with Bobby!
ReplyDeleteBadger's board AKA your boot obsession. I'm not fooled! :P
DeleteHahaha! No joke, Badger's last shoeing (glue on front shoes, barefoot behind) cost me $425. That's what I paid for my Fama boots! I cried a little when that bill came two days after the $1100 vet bill. I'll be eating Ramen exclusively when I get home.
DeleteYeah Stacie is the real champion here.
DeleteOkay, I spent $12K on my horse expenses this year and was thinking I was some kind of freak and that was an insane amount. Now I feel like a normal person!
ReplyDeleteThat's practically free with three horses!
Deletehahahahhaah im definitely not doing this
ReplyDeletei don't think i want to know.
its a bigger number than that though.
High fives for vet work and new horses! Or not. Don't high five that.
Deleteugh yea i'm not doing this either.... $555 for farriery? i easily spent that in like, three or four cycles. and considering there was a point in the year where charlie was on a goddamn two week cycle.... ugh. and not working off board plus spending half of the year at a hoity toity h/j barn meant .... a pretty big chunk of change. also there was that whole thing with splint surgery, tho somehow i think charlie's number there did manage to squeak in below yours. but christ these animals are expensive :( thank god we love them tho???
ReplyDeleteCharlie just wants to make sure you get the full realm of horse expenses out of the way for your first horse. He says you're welcome.
DeleteI'm so impressed that you farrier work was only $555!!! Even with generosity, that's still awesome.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid to add up what I spent last year. I added it up in 2014 I think and it was something like $15,000. I am positively terrified to add it up this year, but I am considering keeping track to keep me honest about needs/wants!
Being a fancy prancer is expensive!
DeleteWhat's the saying - without my pony my wallet would be full, but my heart would be empty. I live too near NYC - horse costs are astronomical - I don't want to know the full year end total - ignorance is bliss .. sometimes.
ReplyDeleteOh god, I bet that's painful!
Delete2017 lameness vet bills probably balances out the show bills I would have had during that time, so here's the ballpark of where I landed. $8,400 board, $1000 farrier, $1,600 smartpaks, $400 regular vet. Extra $2,000 for vet lameness issues. $600 tack. $50 truck battery. $2500 shows/clinics/gas/hotel. $1500 mounted archery equipment and costuming. So, $18,050 for the year.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I forgot lessons. Add $600.
DeleteLOL what's another $600 here and there?
DeleteI don't even bother to keep track LOL! We do track the oxen expenses for our taxes, and my husband is always like Jesus, we spent so much on them! And I'm like yeah, sure! and secretly thinking how cheap cattle are compared to horses.....Just look away, hubby, is RIGHT! LOL! #tackhonation right with ya
ReplyDeleteHa! Just keep playing that angle and he'll never have to know...
DeleteI am a Tack Ho failure. I spent $40 on a used bridle, $25 on a pad and $50 on stirrup leathers. Total: $115. But....I did get ansaddle for my birthday from the Hubby andnitnall comes out of the same account so maybe add another 1k?
ReplyDeleteThat's my type of Tack Ho goals tbh. I don't know how I spend so fucking much in that category every year when I feel like I buy nothing particularly exciting!
DeleteOmg, I'm in the midst of this same post and UGH. And I didn't even buy a horse.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait!
DeleteI'm terrified of calculating the costs. That probably means I should, but eek.
ReplyDeleteWhat doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right??
DeleteI used to be really good at tracking but I haven't in years. I've started a spreadsheet for this year, but I don't think I want to know. But I did add a column for income- I do some teaching, and I have two saddles for sale (and one to buy), so I'm hoping the income will offset dome expenses and it won't look so horrendous at the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteI actually sold a few big item things this year that helped offset the spending a little bit so...maybe not quite so painful? No. It still is. ;)
DeleteI calculated costs a few years ago and am just telling myself it's always like that. I liked that number and I don't want to know what it really is...especially with 3 horses now instead of two. Ignorance is bliss lol
ReplyDeleteSounds like a solid plan to me!
Deletehead in the sand over here. UGH I didnt spend THAT MUch thanks to my wash and wear horse and only showing unrecognized etc but if i ballparked it saddle and sally lessons monthly and emily lessons (NOt even including board etc) i am over the 6k mark just by ballparking. I will be over here in a fetal ball thanks muchly! :) HA HA HA PS Your farrier is an angel!! I spent 555 in less than 6 month and Remus only gets front shoes! OY VEY :)
ReplyDeleteFarrier charges $80 for fronts and I am always oh so grateful for it because I was paying almost $250 for fronts with pads in PA.
Deletewow...wait where do you live again??? LOL I pay 130 for two front shoes and back trim. SIGH.....
DeleteYeah, NOPE lol! $80 is for plain steel, Bobby's aluminum wedges were $100. I think the most I spent one cycle was just under $200 for one aluminum wedge, one plain steel, a leather pad, and a glue-on patch all in one go. She was like, "I hope that's not too expensive." Um no, take my money right this second I would have paid double!
DeleteYou're so brave to figure out your costs! I would rather just not know, I feel like I would cry for months if I figured it out.
ReplyDeleteI figure it's already been spent, it can't be too bad to look back.
DeleteOh Neat!! I kinda love this idea, but it scares me too.. lol!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I only spent $550 on the Farrier... It's usually like $250/8 weeks between mine and Hubby's horses....
She's the cheapest I've worked with, but she does a fantastic job!
DeleteI am SO not doing this. Ignorance is bliss.
ReplyDeleteThe cost of all that beautiful blond Haffy hair wafting about? Priceless.
DeleteI am not going to calculate my expenses. I would also cry. Possibly vomit. lol
ReplyDeleteJust think of it as a cleanse then? LOL
DeleteWow, interesting. How you spend only $555 in farrier for the year??? That's like 2.5 shoeings for Mo. Also, your annual board wouldn't cover 2 months board at my new place, oof. Good for you for finding ways to make it all work, I'm still looking for that as well.....
ReplyDeleteSo no, I will not add up my expenses from this year, but I do budget $12k for everything but shows....and Cosmo's $4,000 eyeball. So we'll just call it $16k and pretend it's accurate.
We had a girl from your area that moved to my barn at the same time as me who almost fell over and died when BM told her farrier costs.
DeleteHahahahahaha
ReplyDeleteYeah I do not do this. I ballparked a figure when I got my first horse as an adult and it was more like 12x board + farrier + basic vet and certainly did not include any tack or lessons and possibly I worked off part of my board?
Who knows.
Point is. I still throw that number out at a "rough annual figure" and am in the denial about the rest. Pretty sure Courage vet + buying a ZB + outfitting a ZB already surpassed my imaginary figure, not including board or farrier all year. Ha.
The cost of keeping ZB looking fabulous has no price point.
DeleteKudos to you for actually breaking it down and making it public. I'm not brave enough to actually *really* look at how much I spend per year on the ponies.
ReplyDeleteThis post plus reading through the comments just made me realize I should stop fantasizing about buying my lease horse, LOL! Reality check! Oh how quickly I forgot the expenses when I look into his new dark little eyes! My expenses are $510/month total for my lease and lessons and tack locker. I’m not showing rated this year because association dues are pure robbery. This reminds me I need to go get my mega millions ticket, ha!
ReplyDelete