The cost of boarding averages $400 to $500 per month but can go as high as $1,200 to $2,500 in metropolitan areas. Services such as mucking out stalls, feeding and turning out your horse to pasture may not be included in the price. For those lucky enough to own sufficient land, there are still costs to consider.

How many acres do you need to board a horse?

If you are attempting to figure the carrying capacity of land for a horse, then a good rule of thumb is 1-1/2 to 2 acres of open intensely managed land per horse. Two acres, if managed properly, should provide adequate forage in the form of pasture and/or hay ground.

Do you need permission to have horses on your land?

If you use the field to house, graze and exercise the horses will you need to seek planning permission? The short answer is yes. Planning permission will be required where there is a ‘material change’ in the use of the land from agriculture to the keeping of horses for leisure purposes.

How much does it cost to keep a horse on your own land?

Responses to a horse-ownership survey from the University of Maine found that the average annual cost of horse ownership is $3,876 per horse, while the median cost is $2,419. That puts the average monthly expense anywhere from $200 to $325 – on par with a car payment.

Is it bad to board your horse?

If you don’t own a horse property, boarding is probably your only option, unless you have friends or family who live on a farm and wouldn’t mind having an extra horse around. If you can keep your horse at home, you may prefer caring for him yourself.

Can I have a horse on 5 acres?

It is very common for 10+ horses to be kept on 5 acres because the soil is sandy and the grass provides little more than entertainment value.

Do you need a licence to run a livery yard?

Livery stables that simply house and care for other people’s horses do not need a licence. But you may need to get a licence if, for example, you offer a working livery arrangement whereby, in return for a reduced livery fee, you: hire out your customers’ horses for hacking.

Can a horse live in my backyard?

The short answer is yes; generally, you can keep your horse on your property. However, it will be a big responsibility to have a horse in your backyard since you’ll be thinking about food, pasture, and stabling among other things.