As one can see, the answer varies a lot depending on who you ask. That is to say, it depends on:
- How you keep the horse (e.g. self-stable or full livery)
- Where you live. Stabling, hay and other items vary a lot from one region to another. Even items like worming paste if 4 times as expensive in Europe as USA
- What you do with the horse. One standing idle in a pasture is a lot cheaper than one you use for shows and competitions
- Skill and luck. If you get a bad case of colic (through bad luck or by doing the wrong thing) it can set you back thousands.

One approach is to get a full list of costs (see horse costs ), phone around to get the local prices for each item (especially the major ones) and then total (the above location has a convienent online horse cost calculator). I would suggest that you then add 25% for contingency.