The real cost of owning a horse in Australia and NZ

The purchase price is often the smallest part of owning a horse. Feed, hoof care, vet and dental care, agistment and gear add up every month, for many years. Agriculture Victoria warns that keeping a horse is expensive and asks would-be owners to check they can afford feed even when pasture runs short (Agriculture Victoria – basic horse care).

This guide breaks down the main costs so you can build your own budget. Prices vary a lot by region, season and the horse itself, so use local quotes rather than national averages wherever you can.

A published starting point

The RSPCA Knowledgebase gives an example of monthly upkeep costs for a horse or pony. Its figures were last updated in 2021, so treat them as a rough guide and expect current prices to be higher in many areas (RSPCA Knowledgebase):

Item	RSPCA example (per month)
Farrier (every 6–8 weeks)	$50–$80
Feed (when not on grass alone)	$200–$400
Worming	$15
Vet care (vaccines, wound care etc.)	$100
Annual dentistry	$10
Agistment	$120–$300

Adding up the RSPCA's own figures gives roughly $495 to $905 a month, or about $5,940 to $10,860 a year. That's our arithmetic on their ranges, not an RSPCA estimate, and it doesn't include gear, insurance, lessons, competitions, transport or emergencies.

2026 price check: what some sellers list today

To show how prices compare with the RSPCA's 2021 figures, we checked publicly listed prices from Australian and New Zealand sellers on 18 October 2026. Prices were sampled from public listings in October 2026. Each row is one seller's listed price, not an average, and naming a seller is not an endorsement or recommendation. Prices change often and vary by region, quality and season, so check your local suppliers. Australian prices are in AUD and New Zealand prices in NZD.

Item	Where	Listed price	Source (checked 18 Oct 2026)
Bag of feed: Hygain All Rounder, 20 kg	AU	$24.95 (on sale at $23.70 when checked)	Baroona Produce & Pet Supplies
Bag of feed: NRM Horse & Pony Pellets, 20 kg	NZ	$35.45	Farmlands
Bale of hay: lucerne small square / oaten small square	AU	$32.30 / $24.70	Sunbury Hay
Bale of hay: conventional meadow hay, delivered	NZ	$17.00	Highfields Farm
Farrier: barefoot trim, four feet / trim and shoe, four feet	AU	$87.00 + GST / $257.63 + GST	Wesley Stewart Farrier Services
Farrier: trim / full set of new shoes	NZ	$70.00 / $220.00 (GST inclusive)	Gavin Welsh Farriery
Agistment: communal to shelter paddock, per horse per week	AU	$40–$55 (GST inclusive)	Bellerive Horse & Pony Agistment, Batesford, Vic
Grazing: DIY grazing for a horse, per week	NZ	$80	Wilson Equestrian, Otago
Worming dose: Equimax Elevation paste, 23.1 mL	AU	$24.95 (regular price $33.00)	Herdz
Worming dose: Equimax LV paste	NZ	$36.95 (GST inclusive)	Living Rural

We haven't included insurance. The insurers we checked quote individually, based on the horse's value, age, use and the cover you choose, and don't publish a standard premium. Get quotes for your own horse.

Brand names are examples of what's on the shelf, not recommendations. Choose feed to suit your horse (see how much to feed a horse), and check the right wormer and dose with your vet (see horse worming).

Ongoing costs in detail

Keeping the horse: land or agistment

If you don't own suitable land, you'll pay agistment. Costs depend on location and service level – from bare paddock to full care. See our agistment guide for what's included at each level, and compare agistment near you on horse.work.

If you do own land, budget for fencing repairs, water infrastructure, pasture improvement, weed control, slashing and shelter maintenance. See paddock management.

Feed

Feed is often the biggest variable cost. A rough daily planning figure from Agriculture Victoria is 1.7% of body weight in dry feed – about 8.5 kg a day for a 500 kg horse (Agriculture Victoria – feed requirements). How much of that you need to buy depends on your pasture.

To estimate your own feed bill:

1. Work out your horse's daily needs (see how much to feed a horse).
2. Estimate how much the paddock supplies through the year – usually less in winter and in dry summers.
3. Price local hay and any hard feed, then multiply out per month.

Plan for dry years. Drought and the "green drought" of short winter pasture can push hay prices up and increase how much you need (Agriculture Victoria – winter care). Also budget for a salt or mineral lick and any supplements your vet recommends. Find feed stores near you on horse.work.

Hoof care

Victoria's Code of Practice says shod horses should be inspected at least every six weeks for replacement or adjustment of shoes (Code of Practice). Barefoot horses still need regular trims. Shoeing costs considerably more than trimming, and remedial shoeing more again. Find a farrier near you.

Dental care

Victoria's Code recommends teeth be checked at least once a year by a suitably skilled person, and more often for young, stable-fed and older horses (Code of Practice). Sedation, if needed, adds to the cost. See horse dental care. Find an equine dentist near you.

Routine vet care

Budget for:

• Vaccinations. Victoria's Code recommends routine tetanus vaccination and talking to your vet about others (Code of Practice). In Hendra-risk areas, your vet may also recommend Hendra vaccination. See horse vaccinations.
• Parasite control. The 2025 Australian guidelines recommend faecal egg counts and targeted worming rather than calendar dosing (Australian Veterinary Journal, 2025). Budget for FEC tests as well as wormers. The RSPCA's $15 a month figure assumed worming every 6–8 weeks, which is no longer recommended for adult horses – see horse worming.
• Annual health checks, especially for older horses.

Gear and its upkeep

Agriculture Victoria lists the gear you'll need: saddle, saddle blanket, bridle, grooming gear, feed and water containers, and riding clothes including a suitable helmet and boots (Agriculture Victoria). Add:

• Rugs (often more than one) and repairs – see horse rug types
• Headcollars, lead ropes, boots and a first-aid kit
• Regular saddle-fit checks as the horse changes shape – see saddle fitting

Find saddleries near you on horse.work.

Bedding

If your horse is stabled or yarded, budget for bedding – see horse bedding types.

Lessons, clubs and competitions

Agriculture Victoria includes the cost of Pony Club membership or riding lessons in its list of things to budget for (Agriculture Victoria). Competition entries, memberships, registrations and travel add up quickly.

One-off and set-up costs

• Purchase price and a pre-purchase vet exam – see buying a horse
• Transport to bring the horse home
• Initial gear
• A PIC for the property where the horse is kept, where required by your state
• A float and tow vehicle, if you plan to travel – plus registration, servicing and insurance. See horse float safety checks.

The costs people forget

Emergencies

Colic surgery, a serious wound, or laminitis can cost thousands of dollars at short notice. Decide in advance how you'd pay – savings, a credit buffer or insurance – and what you'd do if treatment wasn't affordable. Talk to your vet about this before an emergency, not during one. See horse colic and laminitis.

Insurance

Options can include public liability, mortality and veterinary cover. Read exclusions carefully – pre-existing conditions are often excluded. Compare insurance and finance providers on horse.work.

Your time

Horses need checking every day. Agriculture Victoria says a horse should be checked at least daily (basic horse care), and the RSPCA notes agisting can mean travelling every day, sometimes twice (RSPCA). If you go away, you'll need to pay or arrange for someone to care for the horse.

Old age and end of life

Horses often live well into their twenties or beyond. Older horses can need more feed, dental care and vet attention, and you'll eventually face end-of-life costs. See older horse care and end-of-life care.

Building your budget: a simple method

1. List every cost above that applies to you.
2. Get local prices – agistment, hay, farrier, dentist, vet call-out and vaccination.
3. Convert to monthly – for example, a farrier visit every six weeks is about 8.7 visits a year.
4. Add an emergency buffer, or the cost of insurance.
5. Plan for a bad year – when you have to buy most of your feed.
6. Review every six months.

Ways to reduce costs (without cutting corners on welfare)

• Look after your pasture so you buy less hay.
• Use faecal egg counts so you only worm horses that need it.
• Buy hay in bulk in season if you have dry storage.
• Share float trips and farrier visits with neighbours.
• Consider sharing or leasing a horse before buying, as the RSPCA suggests (RSPCA).

Never save money by skipping hoof care, dental checks, or a vet visit when your horse is unwell.

FAQ

How much does it cost to keep a horse per month?

Adding the RSPCA's 2021 example ranges gives roughly $495 to $905 a month, before gear, insurance, competitions or emergencies (RSPCA). Your costs depend heavily on agistment and feed in your area.

What is the biggest cost of owning a horse?

Usually feed and agistment. In dry years, buying hay can become the largest cost.

Is it cheaper to keep a horse on your own land?

Often, but land comes with its own costs – fencing, water, pasture, weed control and your time.

Do I need horse insurance?

It's optional, but consider how you'd pay for a major emergency. Public liability cover is worth considering if your horse could cause damage or injury.

How often does a horse need the farrier?

Victoria's Code says shod horses should be inspected at least every six weeks (Code of Practice). The RSPCA's example uses every 6–8 weeks (RSPCA).