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The Cost of Raising a FoalPreparing for the Expense Breeding a Horse RequiresRaising a foal often costs people much more than they expect; however a careful examination of all possible expenses can help owners be more prepared.
The cost of raising a foal can be staggering, and although the end result can be worth the trouble it is often much cheaper to buy a foal from another breeder rather than doing it yourself. Preparation and an understanding of the costs associated can make the breeding process less of a surprise with regards to cost. Pre-foaling costOne of the biggest expenses is the mare. To produce good foals breeders must start with a high quality mare. The prices here can vary immensely and do not always have to be extremely high. Generally the lowest cost for a good mare is about $5,000 but can also range all the way up to $100,000. Another initial cost is the stud fee which also has a huge range. There are also other fees associated with stud fees including boarding the mare at the barn where the stallion lives, veterinary fees which may include palpations, ultrasounds, artificial insemination, and drugs. A low estimate of cost for the stud fee and accompanying costs would be about $7,500. Costs of Caring for the Mare during PregnancyThe average gestation period for a horse is 11 months, which is a long time to care for the mare. The horse will need to be boarded, either at a facility or at home. Excluding a boarding fee the costs will include hay, grain, some form of mineral salt (generally a salt lick), vitamins, and veterinarian and farrier fees. A low estimate for this part of the process is around at least $5,000. However there could be complications with the pregnancy which could cause the cost to go up quite a bit. Foaling ExpensesIf this is the first foal for the horse owner the price is generally more than for experienced breeders. The initial cost of setting up a way to monitor the mare when she is getting ready to foal can be expensive. Other fees related to foaling include the veterinarian fees and the supplies needed for foaling. The cost here can be around $1,000, but can also be much less, as low as $200 for experienced breeders. Cost of caring for the FoalUntil the Foal has been weaned he will need extra feed, vaccines, dewormer in addition to veterinarian and farrier fees. This can run anywhere from $400 to $1,500, so the average cost of caring for the foal is about $600. After weaning if the foal is not sold there will be significant charges for feeding and housing the foal as well as ensuring that the horse gets the proper training. The Total Cost of Raising a FoalThe total that has been reached after all processes, excluding life after weaning is approximately $18,500. One more factor in the total is what happens with the mare. If she is resold or used again for another breeding then her initial cost or part of it can be subtracted. If however she is unusable or dies during the birth then her cost remains as part of the total. Although $18,500 seems like a lot of money it is important to remember that it is a conservative estimate and that with any complications the price could raise significantly. Source Hill, Cherry. Horsekeeping Almanac. New York, Storey Publishing. 2007
The copyright of the article The Cost of Raising a Foal in Horse Breeding is owned by Megan Worley. Permission to republish The Cost of Raising a Foal in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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