A horse costs money twice: once to buy, and then every month for as long as you have it. Here is a plain guide to both, for families moving up from a pony to their first horse.
The short answer
To buy: going by the price bands from the insurer Animal Friends, most horses that suit a family are advertised for roughly £3,000 to £15,000 (read October 2026). A quiet cob or happy hacker usually sits at the lower end. An experienced all-rounder costs more. Proven competition horses can be much more again.
To keep: the British Horse Society puts the basic yearly cost of keeping one horse at about £5,350. That is roughly £450 a month, before vet bills (read October 2026). The figure comes from a 2023 survey, so today's bills may be higher.
So over a few years, the cost of keeping a horse will almost always be far more than the price you paid for it. Plan for both.
What families pay to buy a horse
Pony Search does not yet have enough horse adverts to publish its own price figures, as we do in our pony price guide. So the figures below come from other UK sources. They are asking prices, not what horses actually sold for. Sale prices are not published, and many horses sell for a bit less than the asking price.
| Kind of horse | Rough asking price |
|---|---|
| Young, unbacked or "project" horse | about £800 – £3,000 |
| Leisure horse or happy hacker | about £3,000 – £8,000 |
| Experienced all-rounder | about £5,000 – £15,000 |
| Established competition horse | about £15,000 – £50,000 or more |
Ranges from Animal Friends Insurance, "How much does it cost to buy and keep a horse?" (page dated September 2026, read October 2026). The British Horse Society gives an average advertised price of about £3,750, based on Horsemart figures from 2024 (read October 2026). MoneySuperMarket says a typical horse costs about £3,000 to £4,000 (updated September 2026, read October 2026). All are asking prices, not sale prices.
Where do the horses families often want fit in?
- A sensible cob or happy hacker is usually in the leisure band. These horses are popular, so the good ones do not stay on the market long. Browse cobs and happy hackers.
- An older schoolmaster (an experienced horse that knows its job and can teach its rider) can be good value. The price often drops in the horse's later teens, because it has fewer working years left. That can make it a sensible first horse, as long as the vet is happy with it. See our guide to age and schoolmasters.
- A younger or greener horse (one with less training) costs less to buy. But you pay in other ways: lessons, help from a good trainer, and time. It is rarely the right choice for a teenager's first horse.
- Competition horses with a real record sit at the top end. The price reflects the results, not just the horse.
If this is your family's first horse, our first horse page is a good place to start.
What makes one horse dearer than another
- Age. Horses in their prime working years usually cost the most. Very young and older horses usually cost less.
- Schooling. A horse that has been well trained and does its job reliably is worth more than one that is still learning.
- Soundness. A horse with no known lameness or health problems costs more. A horse with a past injury may be cheaper, and may need more care.
- Temperament. Calm, easy to handle, easy to catch, load and shoe: these things push the price up, because they matter so much to families.
- Record. Real results at shows or competitions add value.
- Size and breed. Some types are in more demand than others. A well-made cob of the right height can be easier to sell than a much taller horse.
- Time of year. There tends to be more choice in spring. Some owners are keener to sell in autumn, before the winter hay bills start. It is not a rule, but it is worth knowing.
One-off costs when you buy
- Vetting. This is a check by a vet before you buy. The British Horse Society says a 2-stage vetting usually costs about £250 to £300, and a 5-stage vetting about £350 to £450 or more. The vet's travel is extra (read October 2026). Our vetting guide explains the stages.
- Transport home. The British Horse Society gives about £1.20 to £2.50 a mile for a professional transporter, with a minimum charge of roughly £50 to £150. Hiring a small horsebox to drive yourself is about £85 to £130 a day (read October 2026).
- Tack. Animal Friends gives about £500 to £3,000 or more for a saddle, and about £50 to £250 for a bridle (read October 2026). Good second-hand tack is fine, but always have the saddle fitted to the horse.
- Rugs. Animal Friends gives about £50 to £250 for a turnout rug and about £40 to £150 for a stable rug (read October 2026). Most horses need more than one.
- Passport. When you buy, you must update the horse's passport. MoneySuperMarket says this costs about £15 to £45, and must be done within 30 days (read October 2026).
What a horse costs each month
Livery (where the horse lives) is nearly always the biggest bill. Our livery guide explains the different types.
| Cost | Rough figure | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Grass livery (lives out, you do the work) | about £80 – £200 | a month |
| DIY livery (stable and field, you do the work) | about £120 – £300 | a month |
| Part or full livery (the yard does some or all of the work) | about £400 – £1,000 or more | a month |
| Hard feed | about £36 – £60 | a month |
| Bedding | about £45 | a month, on average |
| Farrier: trim with no shoes | about £30 – £40 | every 6 to 8 weeks |
| Farrier: full set of shoes | about £90 – £100 or more | every 4 to 6 weeks |
| Worming and worm tests | about £50 – £150 | a year |
| Horse dentist | about £50 – £60 | a visit |
| Flu and tetanus jabs | about £50 – £60, plus the vet's visit fee | a visit, usually yearly |
| Insurance | about £20 – £100 or more | a month |
Livery, feed, bedding, farrier, worming and dentist figures from the British Horse Society horse cost guide (last reviewed July 2026, read October 2026). Jabs from MoneySuperMarket (updated September 2026, read October 2026). Insurance range from Animal Friends Insurance (read October 2026). Prices vary a lot across the UK.
Hay is on top of hard feed, and it is a big cost in winter. Animal Friends suggests at least about £60 to £90 a month for an average horse (read October 2026). How much you need depends on the horse, the grazing and the weather.
Vet bills are the cost that catches people out. MoneySuperMarket reports figures from the insurer The Insurance Emporium showing an average claim for colic of about £1,200, for July 2025 to June 2026 (read October 2026). This is why most owners insure. Our insurance guide explains what cover to look for.
How a horse compares with a pony
If you have kept a pony, a horse will feel familiar. But most things cost a bit more. Our first pony costs guide has the pony figures, so you can compare.
- More feed. A bigger animal eats more hay. A hardy native pony may live mostly on grass in summer. Many horses need more help, especially in winter.
- Bigger kit. Rugs, saddles and bridles in horse sizes usually cost more. A child's pony saddle will not fit a horse.
- Often higher insurance. The premium mostly follows how much the horse is insured for and what you do with it. Horses are often worth more than ponies, so they often cost more to insure.
- Check the livery price. A horse needs a bigger stable and more grazing than a small pony, so ask the yard whether it charges more for one.
Honest ways to spend less
- Choose the livery you can keep up. Part livery costs more than DIY. But it can be cheaper than paying for help when DIY becomes too much.
- Share. Some owners have a sharer who rides a few days a week and pays towards the costs. It helps the budget and the horse gets more work.
- Loan instead of buying. On a loan you don't pay to buy the horse, but you usually pay all the keep. See horses for loan and our guide to loan, share or buy.
- Buy good second-hand kit. Rugs and tack second-hand are fine. A riding hat is not: always buy it new.
- Pick a good-doer if it suits you. A cob that does well on less feed can cost less to keep. But watch its weight, as good-doers can get fat quickly.
Don't save money on the farrier, the vet, the dentist or the vetting. Those savings tend to cost more later.
Warning signs of a too-cheap horse
A low price can be honest. The owner may need a quick sale, or may care more about a good home than the money. But ask why the price is low before you get excited. Be careful if:
- the price is far below similar horses, and the seller can't say why;
- the seller won't allow a vetting, or wants you to decide in a hurry;
- the horse is already tacked up and worked when you arrive, so you can't see it fresh;
- the advert is vague about age, height or past injuries;
- you are asked to pay a deposit before you have seen the horse.
Our guides to scams and red flags and spotting a doped horse or pony cover these in more detail. The same checks apply to horses.
Ready to look?
Once you know your budget for buying and for keeping, have a look at the family horses for sale on Pony Search. The section is for horses from 14.3hh to 17.2hh, the next step up for pony families.