The Cost of 2017

I did a 2016 post and ended up really enjoying being interested in where my expenses were for my horse. It was also interesting that while obviously horses are expensive and I spent more than any sane non-horse person would ever fathom, once again I didn't end up spending as much as I thought I did. Of course that's easy to say now that the bills are far behind me because they sure felt like they were getting otherworldly at the time!

I didn't make my categories quite the same as the previous year, but close enough for comparison.

Supplements and health care (meds, ointments, creams): $1,522.04

• Almost $100 of that was spent on various sized jars of Krudzapper. #noregrets

Farrier: $555

• God bless my fucking farrier. All year long, we never went two cycles in a row without changing Bobby's shoeing. Since she does almost the entire barn she's out all the time anyway, but she never once charged me every time she stopped in on her way to somewhere else to check in, or Bobby lost a shoe, or I needed her to hoof test, or wanted an opinion after Vet was out, or every time I had her consult with whoever I was working with at the time. Bobby's laminitis treatment and outside consult she brought in? I never saw a bill. She knew we were at the end, and even when I tried pushing money into her hand, she refused to accept it.  

Lessons: $1,130

• Hopefully to resume next month or March at the latest!

Board: $1,325

• I quartered this from what I paid last year by picking up more barn chores. It's worth it to afford more lessons, shows, etc. At least that's what I tell myself as I drive 30mph through a blizzard in 10* to take care of 22 horses. 

Vet: $3,058.61

• $1,000 of that was the Cornell trip, and that doesn't include close to another $1,000 a bunch of crazy fucking bloggers raised for Bobby's last bills. Love you crazy fucking bloggers! Much like Farrier, Vet really tried to work with me to keep costs down, and we did a lot of phone calls and emails so she didn't have to keep coming out every time something with Bobby's leg changed.

Shows: $848.51

• This makes me twitch since I only attended one and one-third shows this year, and that hunter show only cost me $109. Enjoy your fucking donations, USDF and USEA!

Tack/Gear: $4,697.31

• Um, whoops? I think I did Tack Ho Nation proud. That includes my Stubben dressage saddle I bought in the spring that ended up not working at all for my sasquatch legs (Still for sale!!), and 2/3 of the cost of my fancy new County dressage saddle. Worth....it....? Look away, Hubby. Just look away.

Miscellaneous (memberships, registrations, repairs, etc): $918.74

• My truck got new brakes in the spring which was a good chunk of that. 

Overall total: $14,055.21

• Only about a $2,300 difference than last year. See, not bad at all! Oh, wait. I also bought a horse. Might need to work on that 2018 budget a little bit.....

How'd you guys do? More expenses than usual, or were you able to keep your wallet under wraps? Anyone else want to share their poor life choices?