We’ve used horses for transportation for thousands of years, and a few centuries ago we’ve walked away from the horse standard and go for combustion engines. But which one is cheaper – riding a horse or driving a car?
Well, you probably think that riding a horse is cheaper, but that’s because you don’t own a horse. Yes, they don’t use any fuel like cars do, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any costs.
Plus, with all the chaos and traffic jams, especially in highly populated cities, you might be thinking about switching to a simpler life and getting a horse.
However, when it comes to costs, there are plenty of things to consider in both scenarios. From buying a horse or a car to maintenance and care and everyday costs.
Let’s compare them both and find out which is cheaper. Who knows, maybe we will all switch to horses, especially if the price of fuel doesn’t start falling!
Upfront Costs
Buying a car is your first big expense, and it can set you back quite a lot of money (depending on your preferences). But a normal, decent used car like the 2018 Honda Civic runs around $10,000-15,000, based on current used-car market trends. A new compact car, say a 2025 Toyota Corolla, starts at $22,000, which is quite a lot of money.
Horses? A reliable trail horse can go for $3,000-$5,000, though a well-trained quarter horse might hit $10,000, according to recent horse sale listings. The cost of horses can vary a lot. If you are looking for a Thoroughbred ready to be raced, it can go as high as $200,000 and more, but you also have the same thing with cars, you can either buy a Corolla or a Rolls Royce.
It all comes down to what you want to own, and if you are constantly going through the horse betting types thinking of placing a bet and have a knack for horse racing, maybe you should try owning a proper racehorse.
But don’t switch yet. We are only talking about the starting costs, and although horses may look cheaper, they can become really expensive in the future.
On paper, the horse wins—$5,000 versus $20,000 is a no-brainer. But cars come ready to roll; horses need tack (saddle, bridle—$500-$1,000) and a trailer ($2,000-$5,000) if you’re hauling. Add it up, and the gap narrows fast.
Fuel vs. Feed
Cars need gas, and horses require hay—both need energy to move.
Gas sits at $3.50 per gallon nationally in early 2025; a car getting 30 mpg costs about $0.12 per mile. Drive 12,000 miles a year (U.S. average), and you’re at $1,400 in fuel.
Horses eat 15-20 pounds of hay daily ($5-$10 per bale, 50 pounds), plus grain ($15-$25 per 50-pound bag monthly). For one horse, that’s $300-$500 a year in a cheap region, $800-$1,200 where hay’s pricier—like California.
Fuel’s pricier upfront, but horses rack up steady feed bills, and that’s before treats or supplements sneak in.
To be honest, fuel isn’t really that much more expensive than feeding a horse, and we are talking about proper nutrition.
Maintenance
Cars need tune-ups—oil changes ($50 every 5,000 miles), tires ($600 every 40,000 miles), and brakes ($300 every few years). Average annual maintenance hovers at $1,000-$1,500, depending on mileage and wear.
Horses? Well, there are plenty of costs here. Farrier visits (shoeing or trimming) hit $50-$150 every six weeks—$400-$1,200 yearly. Vet checkups, vaccines, and worming add $300-$500, and dental floats (teeth filing) tack on $100-$200 annually.
Unexpected repairs—like a car’s busted alternator or a horse’s colic scare—can spike either to thousands. Horses edge out slightly on routine costs, but emergencies level the field.
So, whether you are maintaining a car, or taking care of your horse’s health, the costs are pretty much the same.
Garage or Stable
Parking a car’s easy—a driveway’s free, a garage maybe $200 monthly in a city. Horses need space. Boarding at a stable runs $200-$600 a month ($2,400-$7,200 yearly), depending on location and perks like turnout or training.
Own land? A basic barn’s $5,000-$20,000 to build, plus fencing and upkeep. Cars win here—most folks don’t shell out thousands yearly just to “house” them. Horses demand either rent or real estate, and that’s a budget buster unless you’ve got acreage lying around.
The Hidden Hits
Car insurance averages $1,800 a year for full coverage in 2025—more if you’re a leadfoot, less for liability only.
Horses don’t need plates, but equine insurance (mortality, medical) ranges $200-$500 annually for basic coverage, spiking to $1,000+ for a valuable ride.
Then there’s gear: car washes and mats are cheap; horse blankets, grooming kit, and replacements add $100-$300 yearly. Cars lean pricier on insurance, but horses pile on small costs that creep up fast.
Time and Distance
Here’s the rub—cost isn’t just cash; it’s life. Cars cruise at 60 mph, covering 20 miles in 20 minutes. Horses trot at 10-15 mph tops; that same trips over an hour, and they tire out.
As we all know, time is also a cost.
A daily 10-mile commute? The car’s $1.20 in gas and 20 minutes round-trip. Horses cost $0 in “fuel” but an hour-plus each way, plus care time—feeding, grooming, and saddling. For short hauls or rural living, a horse might edge out; for most, cars save hours, and you can’t buy back.
So, which is cheaper, owning a horse or a car? Well, it depends on the specific scenario. Horses may have lower upfront costs, but the costs can easily stack up, especially after an injury. Plus, horses require everyday care, and you cannot put them in a garage and go on a vacation like you can with cars.
