Breakdown of Costs for 2018

Breakdown of costs varies according to how many horses Faith N Friends has and how harsh the winters are. For an estimate on cost for 2018, here is the breakdown. These costs were for 15-20 horses. 

Faith N Friends’ total expenses for 2018 was $27, 209.

Farrier : $40 dollars per horse every 6 weeks. TOTAL: 2018: $2,610
(Faith N Friends tries to minimize this cost by having volunteer trimmings done when possible) 

Vet Bills including emergency sickness, Coggins, shots, teeth floating, and a wellness check from University of Tennessee: $28 per coggins, $65 per shots/vaccinations, $95/horse teeth floating, $95 per farm call) TOTAL: $4,650
Some horses come into the rescue with current coggins, teeth in good shape, and/or a vet record of recent shots – this is rare! Every horse that comes in gets a wellness check from the vet before being adopted out. Faith N Friends tries to minimize this cost by having multiple horses seen at one time so that the farm call can be split.

Hay: I put out 15 square bales of hay per day (1 bale/horse). Each bale cost $4.50 ($67.50/day) or $1,012.5-2,025 per month. Most of the time I can get two days out of one bale for each horse.  TOTAL: $2,644
Luckily Faith N Friends had some great hay donations which helped lower our hay costs this year!

Strategy feed: approx. $16.49/bag. I go through 3 bags a week (mostly feed only in the winter) but will feed in the summer also if needed. $197.88 per month Total: $800 

Training services: Every one of our horses that is adoptable goes to a professional horse trainer for training for at least 30 days, sometimes longer. This is important because it ensures that the horse has a good base for its riding career. This also allows the trainer to assess the horse and any issues, if any, that need to be worked on and resolved. Granted this is not cheap, but Faith N Friends feels it’s a necessary cost if the horses are to be adopted out. For 2018 we had an average of two horses per month in training each month.  Cost per month per horse is $675. TOTAL: $8,734

Boarding Horses: At this moment Faith N Friends is looking to buy 30-100 acres in the Knoxville and surrounding areas or acquire a free lease. Up to this point we have had to pay for each horse to keep them on the farm. Total:$ 4,665

Expenses other than listed fees:  These costs include business costs, fuel, new or used equipment and tack, maintenance of equipment, fencing etc. Total: $2,856

Paid Staff:  $0  100% Volunteer