Horses come in all shapes and sizes, but none of them is as spectacular as the mount used by kings, the Andalusian Horse. The Andalusian horse is amongst one of the most expensive and ornate breeds in the world. The Spanish horse can cost anything from $10,000 to $60,000, but that’s not the end of it. A significant portion of what makes the horse so expensive is its maintenance and upkeep costs. So, without further ado, let us dive right into it and find out how much Andalusian horses cost and why.
What is an Andalusian Horse?
As one of the world’s most highly regarded mounts since Roman times due to its prowess as a war-horse, the Andalusian horse, also known as the purebred Spanish horse, is what most consider perfection when it comes to mounts. Known for its stamina, athleticism, and above all, appearance, the Andalusian horse is still coveted amongst enthusiasts.
On average, an Andalusian Stallion or Geldings stand 61.5 inches at the withers and weigh an average of 1,129 lb. As for the Andalusian mares stand at 60.5 inches and weigh an average of 908 lb. This makes the breed amongst the most visually outstanding breeds in the world.
Andalusian Horse Cost
The Andalusian Horse is not your everyday breed, and it has been made apparent by its price tag. The initial one-time cost you would have to pay to get your hands on an Andalusian foal or a fully mature horse is drastic enough to make many people give up on their dreams of ever owning one. The cost for the Spanish horse breed is anywhere between $10,000 to $60,000 for an untrained horse. However, to get trained mounts, you have to prepare your wallet to take a hit.
If you are still adamant about getting yourself one, remember trying to buy the breed from an auction; know that it will be a lot more expensive. The best way to go about getting your hands on an Andalusian horse would be to buy them at your locality, and if they are not available locally, try websites that offer them at a discounted price.
However, that’s only the one-time cost of buying an Andalusian horse, and any horse enthusiast would know that the initial cost is just the tip of the iceberg, and the actual expenses start raking up when you have to keep the horse.
What Are the Costs Involved in Keeping an Andalusian Horse?
When you bring in a high-maintenance steed to your house, it should not come as a surprise that you would be spending a considerable amount of money on making sure the horse lives the life it deserves.
With a breed like the Andalusian, horse enthusiasts should be prepared to fork out hundreds of dollars every month for the living expenses of the animal. Let us take a closer look at all the running costs involved with keeping an Andalusian horse.
Grooming
Grooming is a big part of maintaining a horse and is among the highest running costs. This is especially the case when it comes to a rare breed like the Andalusian, whose appearance is one of its key selling points. To ensure you do a proper job at pampering the horse, you need a comb, hoof pick knife, face sponge, sweat scraper, brushes(hard and soft), saddle, pad, halter, bit, bridle, and lead. All this equipment can cost you between $300 to $1000 and would need to be changed rather frequently depending upon your usage.
Training
Getting your hands on an Andalusian horse is a dead giveaway that you’re an avid fan of horse riding or other sports that require a mount. To ensure a safe time riding your four-legged beast, you would need to set it up with the proper training. This would be an ongoing expense as well because, let’s face it, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
It’s rather difficult to quote an exact amount you would incur as the training costs for your mount because it entirely depends on the kind of training you’re opting for, partnered with the institute you are getting the horse trained at. However, we roughly estimate an expense of $100 or as high as $250 monthly.
Insurance
Getting your horse insured is similar to getting any other vehicle insured. The higher the evaluation of your steed, the higher would be the amount of premium that needs to be paid. However, we believe that it’s a worthwhile cost. It would cut down on your other running costs by a significant margin, such as the veterinary cost, infertility or mortality, theft, and accidents. The insurances available for horses are usually very customizable. They allow you to get them insured against liabilities it would be most prone to.
Accessories and Equipment
Every horse deserves its own feeding bucket, watering trough, and some essential accessories designed specially to be used by them. It is always advisable to get the basic accessories for horses as they are relatively cheap, costing you no more than $100 for everything.
However, these small costs pile up on top of each other. This leads to the initial years after purchasing being the most expensive ones. In the first year of owning an Andalusian horse, you can expect a bill of $80,000 while making the necessary arrangements for the steed.
Farrier Bills
Regardless of the breed of horse you own, you need to make multiple trips to the farrier during the animal’s lifetime. As a horse’s hooves are their bread and butter, it’s crucial that you pay special attention to their maintenance. The farrier’s job is to ensure the hooves are healthy by hoof trimmings, which would cost around $20 to $40 every time. However, the cost is cut down by a lot as Andalusians are very active horses causing them to wear down their hooves naturally.
Shoeing
Being a performance-oriented breed, it is vital that you get your Andalusian steed horseshoes to prevent any injuries to the hooves. Although you can use a cheap horseshoe when you are engaged in training the horse, you would require an expensive yet reliable option for when you take them to actual performances. This can cost you up to $110 to $140 monthly.
Feeding Costs
Horses, regardless of the breed, require a healthy and balanced diet to ensure they live a long life. This includes grass, hay, concentrates, salt, fruits, and vegetables to feed them with. Ensuring they get a fix of all possible nutrients they need, providing your horse with an enriched diet would cost you around $30 to $100 every month. However, the actual cost depends upon how luxurious a meal you have been feeding to your mount. Although this isn’t a drastic amount, it still is the most consistent one as nothing can survive without proper food and water.
Veterinary Costs
Veterinary costs are one of the most unexpected yet consistent costs that come along with keeping an animal. The same is the case with keeping an Andalusian horse. You would require them to make regular visits to the vet to ensure they live a long and healthy life. In case of no accidents and a healthy animal, you would have to make a monthly investment of $30 to $40 for visits to the vet. There’s also an annual visit that includes teeth cleaning and vaccination that would cost you around $50 to $60.
God forbids, in case an accident does occur and there is no insurance to take care of your veterinary bill, be prepared to fork over thousands of dollars in hopes that your mount comes out healthy.
Housing Costs
Before you decide to get a horse, we assume that you have already had a barn. This is because building a barn from scratch can be a massive undertaking. It also brings along a lot of financial liabilities you might not be prepared for. However, even with a barn set up, you would need to make a stall for your Andalusian addition. Filled with all the necessities, the stall can end up costing you $800 to $1000. A luxury stall stacked with amenities can go up to even $2000 but is not required. If you go down the boarding route, it can cost up to $400 a month.
These are all the running costs involved with keeping an Andalusian horse. If you factor out the initial years, the total comes out to about $6000 annually. However, this is the case when assuming no unexpected events take place. This is a massive undertaking that requires you to plan for years before getting one of the best horses in the world. However, note that some of these costs might not affect you as the chances of them happening are slim. If you pay proper care and attention to them, they can be avoided completely.
Why Are Andalusian Horses So Expensive?
Purebred horses always fetch a considerable sum while being sold or purchased, and the Andalusians are no exception. On top of that, they are also considered one of the finest breeds when it comes to showmanship. People around the world use them to take part in dressage and competitions. They are also amongst the oldest known purebreds, said to have been mounted by kings, as they rode into battles. All these factors add to the prices of Andalusian horses going as high as $60,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions answered in regards to the Andalusian horses.
Andalusian horses are the oldest known purebred, supposed to have been mounted by many kings during the Roman period. Currently, they are amongst the most coveted performance horses, used varyingly in dressages, competitions, or performances.
A mature male Andalusian horse averages at 15.1 1⁄2 hands from their withers, roughly around 61.5 inches. The mares are lacking only by a few inches coming at 15 1⁄2 hands, standing at 60.5 inches on average. This makes the breed amongst the tallest in the world and is a big reason why they are the preferred choice of showmen.
Andalusian horses are identified by their strong builds. They have long, thick manes that cascade over their necks. The most common color they are found in is gray. However, you can quite easily find a black Andalusian horse, or even a white one. Andalusian horses are known worldwide for their intelligence, sensitivity, and obedience.
Purebred horses have always carried a high price tag. Combined with the rich history the Andalusian horse enjoys, it is very understandable that they would fetch a high price. Not to mention how they excel in certain fields amongst the rest of their counterparts. These factors play a significant role in allowing the pure Spanish breed to carry a hefty price tag.
The answer to this question depends entirely on the purpose you are using the horse for. If you plan to use them for casual horse-riding, there are better, more financially sound options available. However, if your purpose is to get them enrolled in competitions, then the breed is sure to net you some titles. However, it would require you to get them trained and prepared for the competitions.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! That’s all you would need to know if you plan on getting your hands on the prized Andalusian horse. But remember to make sure that you are able to keep up with all of these expenses before investing in the beast. Because buying an animal only to not be able to take care of it and feed it, is nothing short of cruelty.
