If you ever dreamed of having a horse of your own, then you can understand what the girl in this video is probably feeling. She’s just been given the incredibly awesome gift of a horse, and she clearly doesn’t know what to do at first. Her reaction is priceless, and we can’t help but be excited for her.
A horse is a huge gift to receive, and you can be guaranteed that the recipient is sure to remember that gift forever. And if you’re lucky enough to be able to afford to give someone a horse as a gift, that can be wonderful.
But before you think about giving someone a horse, you’ll want to make sure that they’re ready for a horse and that they can afford to keep one. Keeping a horse? It can be incredibly expensive. According to Equine.com, just the cost of boarding a cost can quickly add up. Pasture board can start at around $100 a month, and stable board situations typically begin around $500 a month and go up from there.
Additionally, a horse will need regular farrier care. Hoof trims start at around $30 every six weeks, but if a horse needs shoes, the cost can jump to $100. And don’t forget veterinary care. Routine veterinary care starts at around $300 per year, but if a horse gets sick or injured, the bills can quickly add up into the hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Remember, the cost of owning a horse doesn’t end with the horse’s purchase price. Horses live 20 years or more, and caring for them is a long-term commitment. Horses are expensive, and many of those expenses are for factors that your average person may not be aware of.
If giving someone a horse won’t work out, there are still plenty of ways to incorporate horses into a thoughtful gift. Think about giving that special person a gift certificate for riding lessons, paying for them to lease a horse for a few months, or giving them a gift certificate to a local tack shop.