How much does it generally cost to buy and keep a horse?

As of 2015, the cost of buying and maintaining one healthy horse for a year is at least $6,400, according the a University of Minnesota Horse Extension office. There are many factors that can affect the total cost dramatically.

The average price of buying a horse is $1,500 to $3,000, although this figure can range from free to tens of thousands of dollars more, depending on the horse purchased. After the initial purchase, varying amounts of money can be spent on boarding, food, equipment, supplies and farrier service. Medical and dental care can add thousands of dollars a year to the cost of horse ownership. Horse and rider training is an additional optional expense.