Calculator
First Pony Budget Calculator
Work out what a first pony could cost you in the UK. Start from the example in our First Pony Budget guide, then change the figures to match your area and yard. Your totals update as you type.
1. Livery type
DIY livery: You provide all daily care: mucking out, feeding, turnout and bringing in. The yard provides the stable, grazing and facilities.
What's included in your livery?
Tick only what your yard has confirmed. Ticked items are left out of your costs so they are not counted twice. Your figures are kept if you untick them later.
Livery services and prices vary from yard to yard. Always confirm exactly what is included with the yard owner.
2. Monthly running costs
Per calendar month
Monthly premium
Guide reference: about £45
3. Farrier
Between 1 and 52
4. Yearly healthcare
Commonly £50–£60 per visit
About £50–£150 per year
£40–£100 per visit
Total £420 a year
Additional costs and activities
Optional monthly costs. Leave any at £0 if they don't apply. Lessons, Pony Club and competitions aren't needed for every pony.
Extra care costs
Riding and leisure (optional)
5. Emergency planning
The guide suggests starting with £500–£1,000
You would reach £1,000 in about 14 months, assuming no withdrawals and no interest.
Try a hypothetical emergency
These are your own what-if amounts, not averages or likely costs.
Insurance may not cover the full cost. Policies can have exclusions, limits and excesses, and you may need to pay the vet first and claim back later. No savings target guarantees enough cover.
6. One-off start-up costs
Allowance covers saddle and professional fitting ~£500, rider safety equipment ~£250, initial rugs ~£250, headcollar, grooming kit, buckets and stable equipment ~£200.
More start-up costs
Only the amount beyond the equipment allowance
Only the amount beyond the equipment allowance
Replaces the same amount of monthly premiums in year one
Counted as cash needed, not spending
Can you manage the daily commitment?
Owning a pony is a daily responsibility. Consider the time needed for care, travel, illness, holidays and unexpected emergencies before committing to ownership.
- About each week
- 14.0 hours
- About each month
- 61 hours
- Holiday and sickness cover
- Not decided
Worked out as days × (visits × travel time + daily care time). Your time is not given a money value. Add paid help under extra care costs.
LocalRiding.com
First Pony Budget Calculator
Prepared
Livery type: DIY livery
Summary
| Monthly care costs | £530 |
| Monthly emergency savings (set aside) | £75 |
| Total monthly cash budget | £605 |
| Yearly care costs | £6,360 |
| Yearly emergency savings (set aside) | £900 |
| Total yearly cash budget | £7,260 |
| Purchase and start-up costs | £6,750 |
| First-year spending | £13,110 |
| First-year cash needed | £14,010 |
Monthly care costs
| Item | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| DIY livery | £200 | £2,400 |
| Hay and forage | £85 | £1,020 |
| Bedding | £45 | £540 |
| Feed and supplements | £25 | £300 |
| Farrier (annualised) | £25 | £300 |
| Insurance | £45 | £540 |
| Routine healthcare and saddle checks | £35 | £420 |
| Yard travel and occasional transport | £40 | £480 |
| Equipment and miscellaneous | £30 | £360 |
| Total care costs | £530 | £6,360 |
Farrier: Barefoot trim at £35 every 6 weeks.
Emergency savings
£75 a month set aside (not counted as spending). Current savings £0; target £1,000. About 14 months to reach the target, assuming no withdrawals or interest.
Purchase and start-up
| Purchase price | £5,000 |
| Five-stage vetting | £400 |
| Transport to the yard | £150 |
| Essential equipment | £1,200 |
Daily commitment
2 visit(s) a day, 30 min return travel each, 60 min care a day, 7 days a week: about 14.0 hours a week (61 a month). Holiday and sickness cover: not decided.
Assumptions
- Farrier: 52 ÷ weeks between visits, spread over 12 months and rounded to the nearest £1 a month.
- Yearly healthcare is divided by 12. Items marked as included in livery are not counted.
- Insurance paid up front replaces the same amount of monthly premiums in year one.
This budget is an estimate based on user-entered assumptions and LocalRiding guidance. Obtain actual quotations before purchasing a pony. Starting figures are illustrative UK planning figures (October 2026), based on LocalRiding guide estimates. They are not quotations or verified national averages.
Full guide: https://localriding.com/guides-tips/first-pony-budget