If you are interested in becoming a mounted trooper, there are several things to take into consideration.  I have tried to touch upon some of the most obvious questions asked about horse care but there are certainly others.

Stall and Pasture Space.  Most horses are kept in a 12 foot by 12 foot well ventilated stall and turned out in a safely fenced area free of any debris that the horse can injure itself upon.  Fresh water and adequate shelter should be accessible at all times.

Pasture space can be as cheap as $100 per month in some areas.  You will have all the care and custody of your animal unless there are other boarders there that are willing to share the feeding responsibilities.

Full or partial board including a stall has a tremendous range of pricing.  It really depends upon the location of the facility and how much you as the owner are expected to do.    For instance, my boarding facility, Avalon Ridge Stables, is a full board operation only.  I feed the horses twice a day and the horses are turned out for half the day or night - weather permitting.  I blanket the horses in wintertime, administer any oral/topical medications, assist the vet during visits and also the farrier for no extra charge to the owners.  I also see to it that all the horses are wormed on the proper schedule as well as sanded regularly.  The owners pay for the wormer and sanding material but I do not charge them for this service.  Many stables charge extra fees for these services and you should always ask the operator about this in advance.  We also allow our boarders to store their trailers in one of our pastures at no additional cost.  Most facilities do not have the luxury of that much space and depending upon the area where you live and your deed restrictions, you might even be required to keep your trailer at a regular storage lot.

Here at Avalon Ridge, we charge $365 per month per horse for horses that require coastal hay and $415 per month if the horse requires timothy/alfalfa hay or alfalfa hay.   These rates include sanding and worming.  We try very hard to keep our rates down but when the cost of feed, hay or bedding goes up; we have no alternative but to raise our rates accordingly.

Feed and Hay per Horse.  The average horse maintains well on 6-10 pounds of grain per day and coastal hay twice a day.  You would have to figure additional funds if your horse requires timothy or alfalfa hay.  A range of price in the cost of processed grains is $8 to $10 per fifty pound bag.  Coastal hay averages $5 per bale and Timothy/Alfalfa approximately $9 to $11..  Alfalfa hay averages $15 a bale and up.

Most horses need  to be fed hay at an average of two to four sections of hay per day.  In Florida, horses will not live off of grass forage alone in your pasture.  They will starve to death.

In Florida, you must guard your horse against sand colic.  There are many sanding products on the market and normal procedures are one week out of each month.  Follow the manufacturer's directions.  You will need to worm your horse a minimum of every eight weeks.  Consult your vet on both of these procedures.

Farrier.   Farrier costs range from $20 for a trim; shoes on the front, $55; shoes on all four feet, $85.  When shoes need to be replaced, there is  usually an additional charge.  If your horse requires corrective shoeing, that is also more.  (I'm using the figures that my farrier charges.  These will also vary from farrier to farrier.)

Vaccinations.  In Florida, your horse needs to be vaccinated a minimum of twice yearly.  During certain periods of time, your horse may need to be vaccinated for encephalomyeiltus (sleeping sickness) quarterly.  The vet should notify you whenever special vaccines are needed.

Every Six Months...

A.  Encephalomyeitus (EWT Tetanus Toxoid).
B.  Rhino/Flu
Most veterinary offices have pamphlets available to their clients explaining the need for these vaccinations.  It will explain the symptoms to watch out for as well as the success rate in vaccinating your horse.

Once a Year...

A.  Coggins test.  This is required by State Law and all reenactment coordinators require seeing the original up-to-date coggins paper and sometimes require a copy for their files.
B.  Strangles.  If your horse has not been vaccinated for this before, it requires an initial dose followed by a second dose 3-4 weeks later; then it is administered once yearly.  This is very similar to strep throat in humans and can kill a horse.  It is highly contagious and the whole barn has to be quarantined (no horses in or out) until the ban is lifted by the vet.
C.  Dental exam.  When the vet comes out to give vaccinations, he will check to make sure your horse's teeth are in proper order.  It is very important because a lot of disciplinary problems are caused by sharp points rubbing the cheeks of the horse and interfering with the bit.  Your horse can't process his food properly if his teeth develop "cups" and become uneven; he then becomes a hard keeper.
D.  Vet exam.  This is usually required by the vet on his initial visit so that he has an updated record of your horse's vital signs.
E.  Rabies.  Many horse owners have this given to their horses since the horses do come into contact with wild animals.  It is up to you whether you want your horse vaccinated for it or not.  Your vet should notify you when any cases of rabies have been reported in your area so that the animals can be vaccinated at that time.  It is a yearly vaccination

Some horse owners are comfortable with buying their vaccines and administering them to their horses themselves.  My vet allows me to purchase the vaccines; which saves me a considerable sum of money as we own three horses.  The following illustration is based on the purchase of the vaccines separately and your vet administering them for you during one of his scheduled visits.  Please keep in mind that prices of these services vary from vet office to vet office.  I can only use the figures for illustrative purposes that my vet would charge.
To make things easier, we'll round off the figures:
 

**I can't quote an exact price.  This is a "well horse" estimate.  These are all subject to change at the vet's discretion.  This also applies to the rates quoted by the farrier.  Both the vet and farrier expect payment when services are rendered.  You can supply the vet with a credit card number to be used for each visit.

I would highly recommend setting back a minimum of $500 or more for unexpected medical/emergency expenses.  If a horse gets sick, it requires several visits from the vet, medications, etc.  I usually keep a credit card clear with no balance just for horse emergencies for our personal horses.  For what was supposed to be a simple gelding process for one of our horses, which was supposed to cost approximately $250, turned out costing me $1,000 because of complications that the vet or we had no control over.  Once you start, you have to see it through.
 

You will need to figure in the extra cost of hay through the winter months - December through March.  This requires a minimum of three to five bales per horse per week.  The hay is what generates heat for the horse to help insulate him from the cold and it is very important that adequate amounts of hay are provided.

Do the math.  See if this is what you really want to do.  I'll be glad to answer any questions that you may have.  Horse ownership is so much more than just a "hoo-rah" across the battlefield.

If you watch the paper in the Livestock section, sometimes people lease out their barn and pasture for a flat rate but that would require effort on  your part to see to it that the animals are fed twice daily and stalls cleaned.  If you elect to keep your horse in a stall, it is important that the stall be cleaned daily and that bedding be in the stall to avoid any thrush related problems.  Your horse is its legs and hooves.  A sound horse is a happy horse.

The above figures will give you an idea of the initial cost involved in the care of your horse.  You will also need to consider the cost of the animal, the cost of all its tack, transportation (trailer) costs and boarding costs if you don't keep your horse on your own property.   As you can see, there is a whole lot more involved than just a ride through the pasture!