A New Paradigm in the Horse Business
a horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!
Shakespeare; King Richard III (5.4.10-17)
King Richard III, with the loss of his destrier (armored war horse), was left to fight on foot. His
cry, one of Shakespeare’s most memorable lines, used to bode well of the noble horse.
How times have changed! The horse’s role for work or war is long gone. What’s left of
Shakespeare is now an ironic quote. The noble man and his horse, in most people’s minds,
is ancient history cast in stone or bronze.
Obviously, owning a horse can no longer be justified as an economic force multiplier. Instead,
the horse is simply what it has always been, an empowerment to its rider, and a fullness of its
creation. It is also a far better time for a horse, for only those who love them, own them.
Why afford to breed, raise, stall, feed, pasture, train, trailer, vet, trim, groom, equip and muck?
The answer is simple. Astride a horse one feels powerful, respected and elegant while reining
inherent danger. Typically, men seem to like the power and danger. Women seem to like the
companionship and control.
Indubitably, horses have a positive effect on the riders’ self-esteem, image and confidence that
cannot be overrated.
The cost of horsemanship
According to a Civil War Cavalry re-enactor recruitment poster, the minimum startup cost for
standard issue reproductions is around $2,100. Likewise, a rodeo queen would spend
thousands for studded costumes, custom boots, show saddle, sterling silver tack, hair and
makeup. By comparison, most casual riders spend a lot less for personal effects.
In addition, there is the cost of a truck, horse trailer and training. But by far, the largest expense
is the horse or horses. A horse can range from a $125 wild mustang adoption to million-dollar
racing thoroughbreds. The skew in cost is based on breeding, training and winnings. On the
other hand, horses for schooling or pleasure, and there are lots of them, can be had for well
under $10,000. It’s really not the acquisition cost, but rather the upkeep, maintenance and
retirement costs that distinguishes the horse owner from the masses. Horsemanship has
always been an expensive privilege. One that Giddy Up and Go wishes to rectify, thereby
offering the joy of equitation to all others.
The table below summarizes basic costs for each of 4 stages of horse ownership: Breed to
Foal, Foal to Ride, Riding and Retirement. Assume that full-care monthly board averages $400
a month. Of course, if one owned the pasture and facilities, did all the labor, etc., then there
would be less cash out. However, the costs are ever present. Perception of the costs would
certainly increase if labor and resources were properly amortized.
There is a lot of good will in the horse business.
Breed to Foal (12 months)
Stud Fee $ 1,000
Full Board for Mare 4,800
Pre and Post-natal Care, Farrier 1,800
Period cost 7,600 $ 7,600
Foal to Ride (72 months)*
Full Board 28,800
Training 6,000
Farrier, Vet & Insurance** 4,000
Tack and Groom 2,500
Period cost 41,300 41,300
Riding Stock (per year)
Full Board 4,800
Farrier, Vet & Insurance** 2,000
Training (30 min daily)*** 7,500
Tack and Groom 1,000
Annual cost (x 10 years) 15,300 153,000
Retirement (per year)
Pasture Board**** 1,200
Farrier and Vet***** 1,500
Annual cost (x 10 years) 2,700 27,000
Rendering or Cremation 1,000
Total Cost of Ownership of one Horse $229,900
Table 1: Cost of Ownership
* A horse is considered mature at 6 years old. Except for racing, many are trained under
saddle starting at 3 or 4 years of age
** $80 every 6wks for trim and shoes + vet checks & insurance
*** to keep fit and well reinforced in training that can be “undone” by inexperienced riders
**** open pasture with other horses
***** 8x$40 trim only, no shoes + increased vet costs
Sharing the Cost of Ownership
The essence of horse ownership is the ride. A good sound horse could be ridden for about 6
hours a day; given load weight, pace, food, water and rest. For example, the Pony Express
staged riders every 10 miles or so. This was thought to be the maximum distance a horse
could cover at full gallop. Cowboys on cattle drives would switch mounts if there was a lot of
work, but not at all if the going wasn't so rough. In today's endurance competitions, a horse and
rider cover at least 25 miles a day. The Portland Mounted Police draft-crosses, work 4 - 6 hours
a day with a load weight of up to 300 pounds, walking and standing on city streets.
Most horses nowadays are pasture pets. Their capacity to give rides go woefully unused. This
means that if a horse cost $400 a month for full board (plus some for vet and farrier costs) and
is ridden an hour a month, then the ride cost $400 per hour. Obviously, the more the horse is
ridden to capacity, the less each ride would cost.
So, therein lies the economics of a fractional ownership program. Lower the cost per ride by
increasing utilization of the horse. Amortize the make-ready and retirement costs over the
productive years and divide by the number of fractional owners.
Amortized Lifetime Cost per Productive Month
Let's break it down, shall we? Assume starting with a well-trained 6-yr old purchased for
$10,000 and 10-yr retirement amortized over 10 productive years (120 months):
6-yr old (w/ lots of training) $ 10,000
10 yrs working @ $15,300/yr 153,000
10 yrs retired @ $2,700/yr 27,000
Rendering or cremation 1,000
Total Cost $191,000
$191,000 / 120 months = $1,592 per month
The Fractional Ownership Plan
Sixteen fractional units at $120 a month covers the lifetime cost of raising and caring for a
horse. A person or family could own half a unit, one, two or more units. Each unit equals 360
points.
Per month, each unit (360 points) qualifies the owner to either (or combination of):
(1) a day with a horse, or
(2) 6 hours of prime time, or
(3) 12 hours of non-prime time.
Points can be accumulated for up to a year. For example, 43,200 points could be:
(1) 2 horses for a week-long camping trip.
(2) 3 horses and a pack mule for a 4-day hunting trip.
For more information e-mail us at info@giddyupandgo.org
Shakespeare; King Richard III (5.4.10-17)
King Richard III, with the loss of his destrier (armored war horse), was left to fight on foot. His
cry, one of Shakespeare’s most memorable lines, used to bode well of the noble horse.
How times have changed! The horse’s role for work or war is long gone. What’s left of
Shakespeare is now an ironic quote. The noble man and his horse, in most people’s minds,
is ancient history cast in stone or bronze.
Obviously, owning a horse can no longer be justified as an economic force multiplier. Instead,
the horse is simply what it has always been, an empowerment to its rider, and a fullness of its
creation. It is also a far better time for a horse, for only those who love them, own them.
Why afford to breed, raise, stall, feed, pasture, train, trailer, vet, trim, groom, equip and muck?
The answer is simple. Astride a horse one feels powerful, respected and elegant while reining
inherent danger. Typically, men seem to like the power and danger. Women seem to like the
companionship and control.
Indubitably, horses have a positive effect on the riders’ self-esteem, image and confidence that
cannot be overrated.
The cost of horsemanship
According to a Civil War Cavalry re-enactor recruitment poster, the minimum startup cost for
standard issue reproductions is around $2,100. Likewise, a rodeo queen would spend
thousands for studded costumes, custom boots, show saddle, sterling silver tack, hair and
makeup. By comparison, most casual riders spend a lot less for personal effects.
In addition, there is the cost of a truck, horse trailer and training. But by far, the largest expense
is the horse or horses. A horse can range from a $125 wild mustang adoption to million-dollar
racing thoroughbreds. The skew in cost is based on breeding, training and winnings. On the
other hand, horses for schooling or pleasure, and there are lots of them, can be had for well
under $10,000. It’s really not the acquisition cost, but rather the upkeep, maintenance and
retirement costs that distinguishes the horse owner from the masses. Horsemanship has
always been an expensive privilege. One that Giddy Up and Go wishes to rectify, thereby
offering the joy of equitation to all others.
The table below summarizes basic costs for each of 4 stages of horse ownership: Breed to
Foal, Foal to Ride, Riding and Retirement. Assume that full-care monthly board averages $400
a month. Of course, if one owned the pasture and facilities, did all the labor, etc., then there
would be less cash out. However, the costs are ever present. Perception of the costs would
certainly increase if labor and resources were properly amortized.
There is a lot of good will in the horse business.
Breed to Foal (12 months)
Stud Fee $ 1,000
Full Board for Mare 4,800
Pre and Post-natal Care, Farrier 1,800
Period cost 7,600 $ 7,600
Foal to Ride (72 months)*
Full Board 28,800
Training 6,000
Farrier, Vet & Insurance** 4,000
Tack and Groom 2,500
Period cost 41,300 41,300
Riding Stock (per year)
Full Board 4,800
Farrier, Vet & Insurance** 2,000
Training (30 min daily)*** 7,500
Tack and Groom 1,000
Annual cost (x 10 years) 15,300 153,000
Retirement (per year)
Pasture Board**** 1,200
Farrier and Vet***** 1,500
Annual cost (x 10 years) 2,700 27,000
Rendering or Cremation 1,000
Total Cost of Ownership of one Horse $229,900
Table 1: Cost of Ownership
* A horse is considered mature at 6 years old. Except for racing, many are trained under
saddle starting at 3 or 4 years of age
** $80 every 6wks for trim and shoes + vet checks & insurance
*** to keep fit and well reinforced in training that can be “undone” by inexperienced riders
**** open pasture with other horses
***** 8x$40 trim only, no shoes + increased vet costs
Sharing the Cost of Ownership
The essence of horse ownership is the ride. A good sound horse could be ridden for about 6
hours a day; given load weight, pace, food, water and rest. For example, the Pony Express
staged riders every 10 miles or so. This was thought to be the maximum distance a horse
could cover at full gallop. Cowboys on cattle drives would switch mounts if there was a lot of
work, but not at all if the going wasn't so rough. In today's endurance competitions, a horse and
rider cover at least 25 miles a day. The Portland Mounted Police draft-crosses, work 4 - 6 hours
a day with a load weight of up to 300 pounds, walking and standing on city streets.
Most horses nowadays are pasture pets. Their capacity to give rides go woefully unused. This
means that if a horse cost $400 a month for full board (plus some for vet and farrier costs) and
is ridden an hour a month, then the ride cost $400 per hour. Obviously, the more the horse is
ridden to capacity, the less each ride would cost.
So, therein lies the economics of a fractional ownership program. Lower the cost per ride by
increasing utilization of the horse. Amortize the make-ready and retirement costs over the
productive years and divide by the number of fractional owners.
Amortized Lifetime Cost per Productive Month
Let's break it down, shall we? Assume starting with a well-trained 6-yr old purchased for
$10,000 and 10-yr retirement amortized over 10 productive years (120 months):
6-yr old (w/ lots of training) $ 10,000
10 yrs working @ $15,300/yr 153,000
10 yrs retired @ $2,700/yr 27,000
Rendering or cremation 1,000
Total Cost $191,000
$191,000 / 120 months = $1,592 per month
The Fractional Ownership Plan
Sixteen fractional units at $120 a month covers the lifetime cost of raising and caring for a
horse. A person or family could own half a unit, one, two or more units. Each unit equals 360
points.
Per month, each unit (360 points) qualifies the owner to either (or combination of):
(1) a day with a horse, or
(2) 6 hours of prime time, or
(3) 12 hours of non-prime time.
Points can be accumulated for up to a year. For example, 43,200 points could be:
(1) 2 horses for a week-long camping trip.
(2) 3 horses and a pack mule for a 4-day hunting trip.
For more information e-mail us at info@giddyupandgo.org
The Plan
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