Owning a trotting horse

One of the first questions everyone asks is about cost — and the answer depends entirely on the level at which you choose to engage.

The purchase price varies widely. A young yearling with a simpler pedigree can be bought for 30,000–80,000 SEK, while a well-bred horse from one of the major auctions can reach 200,000–500,000 SEK or more. Add auction fees of approximately five percent of the hammer price.

Ongoing monthly costs at a professional A-trainer typically run 12,000–16,000 SEK per month, usually including feed, daily care, training and stable rent. On top of that, budget for veterinary care, farrier, dentistry, transport to races and entry fees.

A realistic annual budget for a horse in professional training lands at 200,000–300,000 SEK per year, excluding purchase price and unforeseen costs. Not a small sum — but one that can be halved if you choose to own together with one or more partners.

This is an area where many beginners make mistakes, and it can cost unnecessary money.

As a private individual, you own the horse under your personal identity number. It's the simplest form but offers no deduction rights for costs and no ability to reclaim VAT.

Through a company, the picture changes. In Sweden, a partnership or limited partnership conducting equine activity is essentially always regarded as a business, provided the horse is trained and stabled with a licensed trainer. This means deductibility for costs and VAT registration.

A significant legal change came in 2025: the Swedish Tax Authority now accepts that racing a trotting horse for guaranteed prize money constitutes economic activity. This means owners in the right company structure can offset input VAT on costs against output VAT declared on prize money — potentially 40,000–50,000 SEK back per year.

Practical recommendation: establish a separate company for the equine activity and involve a tax consultant at the outset. An hour of advice pays for itself many times over.

There's no single right answer, but there are important differences to understand.

Solo ownership gives you full control. You make all decisions on training, driver choice, race programme and possible sale. You also bear the full cost and full risk. Best suited to those who value autonomy and have the financial resilience to weather a difficult year or two.

Partnership is the most common arrangement in Swedish harness racing. Typically three to ten people share costs and income, significantly reducing individual monthly outgoings. There is also a social dimension that many horse owners describe as equally valuable — camaraderie at the stable, trips to races, celebrating together in the winner's circle.

If you have multiple co-owners, it is critical to draw up a proper agreement covering cost distribution, how a co-owner can exit the group, and what happens if someone cannot meet their payments.

The simplest answer: listen to your trainer. But there are fundamental choices to make before you even look at a horse.

A yearling bought at auction gives you the complete experience — following the horse from a young age, seeing it harnessed for the first time, watching it debut on track. The downside is waiting at least twelve to eighteen months for the first start, and not knowing what you have bought until the horse actually races.

A broke two-year-old gives you a shorter path to racing and the ability to see the horse in motion before purchase. The price is higher, but the risk profile is somewhat lower.

A race-ready horse is most expensive but gives you immediate racing experience and a known performance picture. Most of the career has already been run, however.

Whatever option you choose, always have an independent veterinarian carry out an examination before purchase.

A horse-trainer relationship is a partnership. It doesn't work if only one party is engaged.

As an owner, you have the right to expect clear and regular communication about the horse's health and development, a transparent cost structure without hidden fees, a well-considered plan for training and race programme, and honesty — even when the horse isn't developing as hoped.

In return, you should be clear about your ambitions and financial limits, respect that the trainer is the expert, pay invoices on time, and communicate early if your financial situation changes.

Horse ownership is a patience game. If you buy a yearling in autumn, you can realistically expect the first race start in twelve to eighteen months, assuming everything goes to plan. Most horses race at their best as four- or five-year-olds. A career at the highest level often extends into the seventh year.

This is not a hobby for those seeking quick results. It's a hobby for those who can invest in a journey and find value in every step along the way — not only at the finish line.

Honesty requires we address this directly. The majority of trotting horses earn significantly less in prize money than they cost to keep in training. That is the base assumption, and it needs to be built into your calculation from day one.

There are exceptions that have made owners multi-millionaires. But these are exactly what they're called — exceptions.

Budget for horse ownership as a cost, not a financial investment. What makes it rational is the experiential value: the excitement of the sport, the community, the moment in the winner's circle, the conversation about your horse that you actually own and have followed from day one.