Prices will vary depending on where you live. More time will be spent hauling feed, hay and bedding. Fence and barn maintenance will use up several weekends a year. Weather will affect the amount of time needed. Winter will require ensuring that water is not frozen, ice has not built up in feet, and blankets are used when needed.
Hot conditions mean maintaining extra water buckets and controlling insects.
Emotional Commitment Many abuse cases result from children left to assume total responsibility of an animal. Parents who acquire a horse for minor children should have knowledge of proper horse care and must personally monitor the daily care and feeding of the horse. Horse ownership can give parents an opportunity to educate children about responsibility and commitment, but only when the parents commit to daily reinforcement of the lessons. This is something to think about before the situation arises. Horse care without an emotional commitment is just a lot of hard work.