There are people here who have horses so I hope they will chime in. But, go over to the GW side and check it out. I know there is a Farm forum with people who can probably help. (and more of them)

If you're doing rescue you need to check into tax exempt status and becoming a non profit. Will you be looking for homes for your rescues? If so, I would talk to rescue groups for info on the ins and outs. I doubt if there are many differences regardless of type of animal being rescued. They can give you ideas on what to do. Go to the pets forum and ask there also.

I'm sure you'll get a lot more suggestions from others here also.

It's a lovely idea, Donna. I hope you can do it.

I don't have a concrete answer for you, except to say that when we had horses (up to 11 of them) we used to joke that the way to make a small fortune with horses is to start out with a large fortune.

Some horses are "easy keepers," and require less feed than others. You'll have to read up on horse care and feeding, and then you can check on the current prices in Asheville. Horses require feeding and watering twice a day. Hauling water can be hard work. We installed a couple of pumps near our barn.

The farrier made farm calls, and so did the horse dentist. Horses' teeth continue to grow, and must be filed down. Thus the regular visits from the dentist. The vets make farm calls, too. In the summer (I live in the northeast), insect control was a priority. Flies can be a real nuisance to horses, plus you don't want insects like botflies laying eggs on them.

To be realistic, when you have horses, especially old ones, you have to be prepared to deal with their large bodies when they die. Paying someone for removal is one option; hiring an excavator to dig a grave is another.

There's much more to be considered, but it's all I can think of at the moment. Most of the horse care in my family was the responsibility of my DH and DD Jill. Let us know how this goes.

Susan

I have always heard you should have at least one acre per horse. I am sure there are others that are more knowledgeable on the subject than I am. Good luck.

Sue

I've heard 1-3 acers per horse. The more the better.

I don't "do" horses anymore but it can be much more expensive than you realize! 5 acres for 2 horses would work provided you sectioned it off allowing one side to grow while they grazed in the other. 2 horses can tear the ground up quick which would require more hay, and hay is more expensive than grain feed. And in Asheville, hay would be a winter requirement as there would be little grazing. 2 horses would eat a minimum of a bale a day plus maybe 5 or 6 pounds of grain, or more. Around here, a bale costs about $3 each, 50 lb bag of grain $20. Shots and deworming... maybe someone else could give you a better idea of the costs these days but it isn't cheap! I would guess several 1000 a year. Farriers, dentists.. expensive as well. Horses need their hooves trimmed every couple of months and their teeth filed. A few years back, a trimming was $30, without shoes. You would not need a heated shelter, but it would need to be dry. Naturally, having water would be easier than hauling water but I know people that don't have a water supply at the barn. Electricity? Would just make life easier.

It would be wonderful if you could live your dream!

Some very good advise from Pris and Susan. As Susan said, there are no concrete answers.

I've had horses my entire life, so over 50 years, some are easy keepers and some are hard keepers. What that means is that easy keepers just need a decent meal and good water a couple times a day, scheduled worming and vacinations, farrier work 3 or 4 times a year and love. Hard keepers need all of the above plus. The plus could be more hay, being fed 3 or 4 times daily, daily medication, grain, particularly if the horse is aged. Aged horses are sometimes not the easiest animal to keep weight on.

Vet bills can sometimes be huge. Depends alot on the animal. I've raised horses from babes to their death 25+ years later that cost me nothing more in vet bills than floating their teeth every few years. Helps if you learn to worm and give shots yourself. But I've also had horses that just seemed to want to get sick or hurt and cost me a fortune in vet bills.

Rescue horses quite often have been mistreated, starved or both. Their needs could be greater than the average horse depending on their physical status. There are some great organizations out there that do this type of thing, you might try to locate one and give them a call. I'm sorry I don't know the name of any places right off the top of my head. The SPCA would be a good place to start, particulary one in a rural area. I'm sure they have organizations on call that they use when needed. It might not be a bad idea to visit one or two, possibly volunteer for a while, to get a feel for what will be required.

What you are considering undertaking is admiral. It can bring you great joy and great sorrow. It will bring you long lazy days watching them graze and frolic and sleepless nights where you are up and walking them all night so they won't lay down during a bout of colic.

I wish you luck. Let us know how it goes.

Thank you for all of your advice,
When I was a little girl I owned my own horse. She was boarded. My father died suddenly when I was 12 and the next day my mother sold the horse. I never forgot that day.
I plan on doing this after I am retired so I will have the time to spend with sick animals. I have done volunteer work at a animal shelter. I just want a estmate of the cost of feeding etc. I realize vet bills can be astronomical. I want to take in elderly animals that have special needs. I know my heart will be broken a lot but I will learn to endure. I recently called our city pound to volunteer. They euthanize 13,000 animals a year. I asked them if I could hold the animals as they are being put down. I want to tell them they are loved. It would kill me to do that but no one should die without feeling loved. They said as a volunteer I can't be there when they are put down.
This is not a dream it is my future. This is the one good thing I can do in my life for someone else. I know it will give me more joy than I can imagine.
Donna

I found this answer.

" Well, call around and get your current hay prices.

Figure 1 round bale a month or 3 square bales a week

Get the prices of vitamin/mineral supplements or ration balancers, salt/mineral blocks and figure at least one block a month and one bag of ration balancer a month

These are to help you figure 'HIGH'.

it will probably cost less, but still. better to present the "Safer" numbers than be sorry.

Call your vet and get the cost of yearly vaccinations, farm call, and a normal "colic" average call.

Get prices of dewormers, these are every 6-8 weeks depending on the rotation you are on.

Farrier costs, call around and get the average Trim and shoeing costs.

Then if you really want to send it home, present them in a very professional way with charts, graphs, cost analysis, etc.

Present the figures with monthly, yearly, and "average yearly" costs with all the general costs averaged in.

For example....hay for me last year ran 110 a round bale, or 12-15 a square bale. I would prepare for a really BAD year for hay.

Grain is 1 bag per week per horse for my crew. That is 17.00 a bag.

(actually lasts a bit longer, but who cares..LOL)

So just in hay and grain, that is 171 a month per horse.

Farrier for one of my horse is 4-6 weeks, so I calculate his cost monthly just to be safe. 35 a horse.

So now I'm at $213

Salt/mineral blocks run about $10 a month

$223

Dewormer is another 10 every month per horse

$233

Vet fees last year ran me a total of $2800. Avg over 12 months comes to 233 each MONTH. However, my spring yearlies/dental/coggins cost 216 only. Another 20 for fall shots......wait, that was for 2 horses.....12 a month but I'll leave it at 20 for "safe side"

So if we don't include incidentals, then my vet costs run avg 20 a month...

So now we are at 253 a month

add my incidentals, and that is 486 a month I spent last year alone on one horse.

Average around $250 a month for "general" care of a horse".
__________________

Actually this site is better.

Here is a link that might be useful: costs

Hope you don't mind... a couple of more things, more directly related to what you originally asked. Yes five acres is more than sufficient for 2-4 horses, and Moonie is right, it should be cross fenced so sections can be allowed to lay fallow for a season or two.

Hay costs will greatly depend on your area of the country and type of hay. Alfalpha, Timothy, Orchard, or some other type. Here, where I live prices range from 8.00 to 11.00 per bale. A bale can weigh anywhere from 20+ to 100+ pounds each. So obviously you will get more feedings out of 100+ bale than you will a 20+. My rule of thumb is one ton of hay will last my easy keepers 2 1/2 to 3 months. With my hard keepers a lot less. Feeding grain will again depend on the horse, his health, the amount of work he does. My easy keepers don't get any unless they are working hard. My seniors get maybe 2 pounds per day, plus maybe 1/2 coffee can of corn meal. Cost on that depends, once again, on the type of grain you are feeding.

Most cost effective and what I do is put up enough hay every year to last a year.

Learning to do your own worming and shots will greatly cut back on vet bills. I pay approximately $7.00 to $10.00 per horse per worming about 3 times a year. Most vacinations cost me about $5.00 to $7.00 per horse once or twice a year depending on which vacination and doing it myself. A great place to buy worming and vacinations online is call Jeffers.

If you are lucky and the horse has good feet you should only need to have his feet trimmed 3 or 4 times a year. My cost on this is also $30.00 per trimming. If you are not so lucky and for any number of reasons the horse must wear shoes, those cost me about 90.00 3 or 4 times a year.

Cost for me to have the vet come out and float one of my horses teeth ranges about 100.00. Fortunately it is not something that needs to be done very often.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that costs greatly depend on the horse and where you live. I have one horse that I figured out, on average, costs me $30.00 per month, and another that costs me $100.00.

Donna, the attached link is to a bunch of other links to various equestrian clubs in the Western NC/Asheville area.

You should ask some of these folk about costs, because costs vary widely depending on the area of the country. My advice to you is to go and join one of these clubs and then pick their brains about your questions. Horse people love to chat about their passion, so it should be easy for you to find some helpful information.

I hope you can accomplish this!

Here is a link that might be useful: Link

Thank you for taking the time to write down all of the helpful information. If they offer vet insurance on horses I'm going to purchase it. I have it on my two cats. Maybe since these would be rescue horses the vets will give me a discount. Do horses like goats for company? They might be a less expensive pairing. LOL,
I know I need to do a lot more research. I was just looking for a ballpark figure. It sounds like a very rough figure would be $250.00 per month per horse.
I love this woman's sanctuary.
Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: animal sanctuary

I have not been envolved with horses since 1954 when I left home. My dad kept a pair of plow horses for general labor. If you already have scads of pasture land, keeping a horse can be medium cost, but to do it right, the costs escalates. Around where I now live, the mistake I see most often is 'not enough space'. In the posts above, I saw a recomendation of 1 acre per horse. In my opinion, that might work for s small pony, but is not enough for a full frame horse. At one acre, the land will soon be cut up from the horse's hoves, be devoid of any grass plants, and will turn into a quagmire subject ot errosion. A horse will be on the land every day of the year. He'll be out there in the rain and during thaws. He has both upper and lower teeth that are capable of grazing grasses down to the roots. He also will need enough space to get up to a gallop on occassion. The minimum I like to see is 5 acres for 1 to 2 horses. After that, add 5 more acres per horse.

Fencing is another issue. Farmers 60 yrs ago used barbed wire because it was inexpensive and easy to make a fence. They pastured cows and horses together. The wire barbs were necessary to contain a cow. However, it is not good for a horse. Barbed wire can and has been used by farners for many years. However, if you look at farms that are breeding horses costing thousands of dollars, e.g., Kentucky blue grass region, you will see nothing but wood fences. Horses can get cut on barbed wire; A wood fence is gentle on the horse. However, installing and maintaining a wood fence is many times the cost of wire. You could, of course, use a wire mesh fence.

When I was on the farm, we got posts from our wood lot, the same place we cut firewood. This lowered the cost of maintaining a fence, but the cost is not zero. A untreated wood post might last 5 years; Wire can last 10 years. So you could expect to do a partial rebuild every 5 years and maybe a conplete rebuild every 10 years. Old farmers did not account for their own labor, wrote it off as free, and would say their fencing was low cost - It is not. If you are not capable of setting posts and stringing the fence wire yourself, you will have to pay for that and the labor bill is a large part of the cost.

Nest, you'll have to carry liability insurance just in case someone says your horse injuried me. These days, it matters not if there were trespassing or not. You'll have to defend yourself from an such suit. You may win in a clear instance of trespassing, but you'll still have to defend. Local laws and ordinaces vary; Check with a litigation lawyer practicing in the area you wish to establish a horse santurary. When I was a kid living in farm country, if the plaintif was trespassing - too bad. He could be sued for any damage he may have casuse to your fence and or property. The torts have changed.

The next thing to consider is that when you keep animals, you are tied to the place. Forget taking off at a moment's notice to take a cruise or a pleasure tour. These forays will have to be planned in advance. You'll need to have someone cover for you while you are gone. In the summertime, grazing animals can take care of themselves for a couple of days provided there is an ample supply of drinking water and enough pasture. But things have a habit of failing when you leave, so its best if you can get back within 24 hours to check on stuff.

When keeping a large animal, you have to be prepared to round it up and bring the animal back to the fold when it escapes its enclosure. Note, I said 'when' not 'if'.

My recommendation: If you have never kept horses during your life, I recommend that you start more slowly by keeping smaller animals, maybe rehabilitation smaller animals that will be returned to the wild. Note that not all rehabilited animals are suitable for release. Most folks who are sucessful at running a rehab center for animals have a staff, people who can run the place when one member is away. There will always be emergencies that will call you away. One is attending a funeral or a wedding in your family. Prepare and plan for that event now, not when it arrives. Also, plan on what happens in the event of your own demise.

jemdandy,
What wonderful advice. You have included so many facets that I had not already thought about. As far as leaving the animals alone, I won't be traveling at all. I am a flight attendant and don't have any desire to travel. I only have one sister and she will be visiting me. I would always have a plan for the animals in case of my own death. I currently have a umbrella policy for lawsuits brought against me. I am a very organized person. I am also very resourceful. My biggest concern is my age. I will be doing this in my sixties and seventies. I am going to start very slowly and cautiously. I will volunteer first and visit many animal sanctuaries. I am going to rent a place in Asheville before deciding on property. I will also see where my money situation is at the time.
Who knows....maybe I will have volunteers and be able to raise funds to help with the costs.
Donna

Donna, I got teary eyed when I read about how you wanted to hold cats while they are put down. I volunterered in my towns animal shelyer and they have similar policies. Though they have some cats that have been there for years without being euthenized. I feel so bad for these cats. If you have a barn, you could ceetsinly "rescue" lots of cats. Maybe easier than horses.

jannie,
I was in tears as I asked the question of the shelter. No doubt it would be very emotional.
I plan on rescuing dogs, cats and horses. I want at least one horse. I just love horses and have always wanted one.
Donna

cindyb,
I opened your link. There is a place near Asheville called Hope For Horses. I was also told about it by my realtor. It would be a great place to volunteer and foster a horse.
Thanks for everyone's advice. I wish I didn't have to wait 5 more years to move to Asheville.
Donna

Here is a link that might be useful: Hope for Horses

Talk to Marilyn C. she has rescued horses,possums,racoons, dogs, cats...you name it....she could probably give you a lot of information.

We have 40 acres we have plenty of land,we have texas longhorn cattle,3 horses.2 mini donkeys,we have it divided into different paddocks,we rotate.

Good for you! I sincerely hope your rescue farm works for you. May I make a few suggestions, living in the country as we do, surrounded by livestock?
Good fences are extremely important, both for the safety of your stock and for the public. Make sure your fences are horse-friendly, especially since you will be having horses that are unused to each other, and perhaps aren't in the best of health.
If you rescue cats, keep them confined, even if it is a large stall in the barn that is divided into "cat houses". Cats are predators, bless their little hearts, and if your neighbors have chickens, they will not thank you for bringing in cats to roam at will.
Ditto for dogs. Make sure if they are out, they are under your control. Some dogs are herders, and will try to herd stock that doesn't want to be herded. Dangerous for the stock and the dog. Here in Texas a dog that runs livestock can be shot.
I don't mean to discourage you, just want you to know what to expect so you can plan accordingly.

Why not come to PA and live by me?? I can help!!
I could fill your fields with $35-45 horses from the auction too.
Lots of old souls that have been put out to "pasture" usually headed on the meat truck to Canada or Mexico.
If I were doing what you were planning on doing, I would free adopt out those older horses to loving families. Nothing better for a kid than an older been there, done that horse.
That way you would be saving more than 2. Just a thought...

We have four horses, and it costs us about $500 a month to keep them. That is with feeding hay...but it is a less than
that in the summer, because we have pretty good pasture.

They eat a round bale about once a week, or a little less than two square bales a day.

The main thing, is don't let them stand in mud...so you need pasture. I'd think that five acres would be enough for two, but no less, and a little more would be good. If it is really muddy, keep them confined to a small paddock with an open shed in the winter...because horses can stomp more grass into the mud than they can eat. Stalls are good too, but if you have a turn out area with an open shed, that is all they need except in the worst weather.

Old, rescued horses need more attention. It is fairly easy to maintain weight on horses, but if they are thin, they can be harder to get weight back on them.

One of my worst pet peeves are people who move to the country and think that an acre or two is a lot of land and
get horses...usually multiples...and they end up standing in mud and gnawing on fences and trees. Horses are grazing animals. You must keep hay in front of them at all times if you don't have pasture. Once a horse starts cribbing...chewing wood and trees...it is nigh unto impossible to break them from it.

Most of my animals are rescues. I rehab wildlife, and the shelter gives me cats that have been neutered but no one will adopt. I don't keep them confined...and they are not
bad about killing birds, for the most part. I do have one that is a dedicated birder, but he stays inside most of the time. Most of them, once neutered, eat and sleep and not much else. They don't bother chickens.

Dogs are a different story, and you must be very careful in adding a dog to a mix. I recently adopted an old dog from the shelter, because I had to have my dog put down, and I just wanted one to bark to let me know when someone came up.
He doesn't bark, he wants to chase cats, chickens, fought with the two feral hogs I have...to his disadvantage, and this has all been with me keeping a close eye on him. He's doing better but now I have to watch him around the hogs because they have it in for him, and would disembowel him, if given half a chance.

I work closely with several shelters and I would foster horses if I had more room, or maybe when these old ones I have pass on. I don't let anyone ride my horses...I have been so soured on people and how they treat horses, mainly because I have seen so much stupidity and neglect. My old horses are just living out their lives. Here is a picture of them. The chestnut on the left it 19 and the grey in the front and the sorrel that has her rump to the camera, are in their late 20's. The other grey behind the front one, is the "baby"...she's 7. An accident from the sorrel mare. I would cut my own throat before I would give them to anyone else. (Or sell them).

Donna, the cost of hay varies widely from area to area. The round bales I feed are Coastal Bermuda and they are $80 a bale. The square bales are the same and they are $9 a bale. The grain I feed is $9.95. It has been as much as $3 more a 50 lb. sack, but it has actually come down in price. It is a "dry" mix with oats, chopped corn, alfalfa pellets mostly, and I add a little wheat bran. Colic can be a problem, especially if horses are not pastured.

And Alexis is so right. Some horses are just prone to problems and colic. There is a feed made just for horses that are prone to colic and there are special feeds for old horses.

I don't have a good place to store hay...but it is cheaper to buy it in the summer and put it up for the winter. At our old place, we had a big hay loft. Once we finish the house we will build a big barn.

I was also very touched by your willingness to be with the animals when they are put down. You are a special person and you will be blessed for your kindness.

All great advice!! The only thing I could add is to make sure you have at least 2 horses. They are herd animals and need to have company. You could have a pony or if nothing else, a goat, but two horses is better. My horse is boarded at a place where he can be out 24/7 with shelter available and he is happy, happy, happy. He came from an environment where he was stalled all the time with very little turnout. He now only gets grain as a treat a few times a week (when I'm there) and the rest of the time he gets pasture grass and hay in winter. We've just had the worst winter in anyone's memory and the horses were fine outdoors. They really need grass or hay and fresh water. We have three 30 acrea pastures and have 8-9 horses in each pasture. One other thing you will need to do is to make sure the pasture gets mowed. Otherwise the amount of grass available to the horse is much less. They won't eat where they eliminate. That grass ends up growing high. Same thing with weeds. Make sure there aren't any weeds that could harm a horse in the land you find. If you have a natural water source, that is great, but most likely you will have to provide the water. As for fencing, we have both mesh and wood fencing with electric fence to keep the horses from messing with the fences. You know how grass always looks greener on the other side!! :) You are lucky and I hope you get to fulfill your dream. Best of luck.