THE ECONOMICS OF HORSE PRODUCTION

Norman Storey, B.Agr.Sc.

Teagasc, Equine Specialist Advisor
The breeding and production of sport horses in Ireland is often considered to be a hobby.
However it can be an expensive hobby.
Breeders must set goals and objectives. They must set standards against which efficiency can
be measured. Horse breeding can be a profitable enterprise but breeders must be aware of the
cost involved.
In this paper I will assess the minimum cost of breeding and producing horses. I must stress
that these are minimum costs and they can be considerably higher. I have divided the
production into a number of different time spans

The production of a weanling foal

From weanling to yearling
The young horse from yearling to three and a half years
Basic training (breaking)
The young competition horse

The Production of a Weanling Foal

The production of a weanling foal is the most expensive stage of breeding. These figures are
based on an April born foal.
Stud Fee

Stud fee will vary from 100 to over 4,000.

I have taken 350 as an average figure.

Stud Keep

20 days at stud at 7 per day 140

Farrier
Mare: Six trims at 17 each 102
Foal: Three trims at 15 each 45
Anthelminthics
Mare: Six doses at 15 each 90
Foal: One dose 15
Concentrates
Mare:
Pre-foaling 100 days at 2 kgs stud cubes per day @ 34c per kg = 68
Post foaling 25 kg 8.50
Foal: 25 kgs of foal pencils @ 42c per kg = 10.50

Hay

120 days at 0.75 bales per day equals 90 bales

To make one bale cost 90c (Teagasc Farm Management Data) 81

Straw

One and a half bales per day for 120 days

One bale costs 0.30c to bale 54

Veterinary

Vaccinations EHV x 3; Flu / tetanus

Registration
Scan
Total of six visits at 50 per visit 300

Registration

Irish Horse Board 45

Grazing

Fertiliser for one acre ** 35

Total
Weanling to Yearling
(November to March)

1,344
Farrier: Two visits @ 17 for trimming 34
Anthelminthics: Two doses @ 10 = 20
Concentrates: 2 kgs per day (weanling/yearling cubes) 126
Hay: 75 bales @ 0.90c = 68
Straw: 130 bales @ 0.30c = 39
Veterinary: Vaccinations (Flu / tetanus) 2 visits @50 each = 100

Total 387

Yearling to Three and a Half Year Old

The yearling to three and a half years old young horse is the cheapest stage of production. Unless they
are being produced for show or sale prior to breaking, young hoses can be maintained as store horses.
In fact, they will not suffer from developmental growth disorders when reared this way.

Yearling
Two
Year Old
Three
Year Old

*
**
***
****

Apr-Nov
Dec-Mar
Apr-Nov
Dec-Mar
Apr-Nov

Farrier
4x17= 68
2x17= 34
4x17= 68
2x17 = 34
4 x 17= 68

Anthelminthics
4x10= 40
2x10= 20
4x10= 40
2x10 = 20
4x10 = 40

Vaccinations
2x30 =60

Grass
35

Feed
92

Straw
39

Total
388

1x30= 30

35

92

39

358

1x30= 30

35

Vaccinations Flu/tetanus
Three bags of 10-10-20 per acre and lime
One bale haylage (430 kgs) feeds 6 two / three year olds for 3 days. One bale costs
14 to produce (Teagasc Farm Management Data), i.e. 0.77c per head per day.
One bale per day for four months at 0.30c per bale.

The cost of producing a young untrained horse to three and a half years of age is 2,650.
Basic Training
A six-week period of basic training (breaking) will cost 100 per week livery and 20 for
farrier, i.e. 620.
The Young Competition Horse
Keeping a horse in training for competitions is expensive. Owners must be sure that their
investments will be worth while unless it is a hobby. A four-year old horse in training will
cost about 150 per week including livery. Farriery, anthelminthics, transport, vaccinations,
and entry fees.

173