by M.G. Snyder

Created on: November 22, 2008   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

There are many good reasons not to take a free horse. It's so true that the expensive part of horses isn't the purchase price but the upkeep. In my region, the mid-Atlantic states, it may cost $2500-$6000 or more per year just to provide the basics of food, shelter, and minimal vaccinations. A common problem such as a colic, laminitis, or injury is an easy $500 emergency vet bill. The farrier must visit your horse every 6-8 weeks; expect $20-50 for trims or $50-150 for shoes every time.

A good portion of the free horses have some issue that makes them unmarketable. The problem is that the novice horse owner may not realize what these problems really mean. For example, once a horse can't be ridden any more, they're often offered for free. Why take a lame horse when you can get a rideable one for very little? And keep in mind, if you take the horse and one day it doesn't work out, you may not be as lucky in efforts to give him away later.

I work for a horse Rescue non-profit. We get calls from people who "rescued" a horse on a whim for almost nothing at an auction or got the horse free from someone else. With the best of intentions, the person tries to keep the horse, but usually within a few months they're looking to find it a new home.

Most horse Rescues do not have the space to take in that horse someone else rescued but didn't make long-term plans to keep. If you're going to accept an inexpensive or free horse, be sure you have a long-term plan on how you'll house, train, and resell him or her.

New horse owners should also be aware of the one expense we don't like to think about: euthanasia. Some people take a free horse thinking if it doesn't work out or the horse gets sicker, they'll just put it down. This is fine, but expect to pay $200-400 for euthanasia and removal. Do not expect to be able to bury the horse in your backyard.

Perhaps you're thinking of taking the horse for resale, either to be nice, for a project, or to make some money. Odds are extremely high you will lose money and be hard pressed to resell the horse. Those who do find a way to make this work are professionals with training skills and years of experience, and these are the people wise enough to skip the free horse if there's a more suitable $500 horse.

Never, under any circumstances, take the free horse as a gift or "project" for someone else, not even a spouse. Always bring the other person along with you.

If you do find a horse you're interested in, all horse owners know to get a vet's

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