WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SPEND?

Adds up, doesn't it? I'm just as sorry about the total as you are. But, this bit of figuring does point up the importance of making sound decisions before opening the barn door to let a horse in.

The bottom line is this. If you cannot realisticly afford the total annual operating costs, don't put some poor horse in prison on a bread and water diet. You might consider an alternate, such as forming a club to share the costs and the horse. On the other hand, if your budget is enough to pay top dollar, consider buying two grade horses instead of one registered. It's so much more fun to go riding with a partner. Horses like company too.