Percheron Horse Prices in 2024: Purchase Cost, Monthly Board, Food, Supplies, and More!

Strong, spirited, and striking. These are the words you might hear if someone described Percheron horses to you. While they don’t come in many colors — gray and black are most typical — they are extremely powerful, yet good-natured. There aren’t many other horse breeds that exhibit this unique combination of traits. So you won’t be surprised to know that in 2024, Percheron horse prices can be anywhere from $1,000-$10,000! Let’s talk more about why.

What Is a Percheron Horse?

A Percheron horse is a type of draft horse. Draft horses are known for their power, physical appearance, and patience whether they’re working hard in the fields or wandering around the property with their owners.

The breed’s exact origins are unclear, but it’s well-known that the name comes from Le Perche, a province in France. The people here bred Percheron horses and are said to have contributed to the breed’s innately docile nature despite their incredible size.

They were historically used for plowing farmland, but now you can find Percherons at horse shows, in parades, and driving carriages. They are well-suited for both laborious work and as reliable mounts because of their willingness to please and tendency to be bombproof in a variety of situations.

Percheron Horse Characteristics

Draft horses like Percherons, Shires, and Clydesdales exhibit distinct characteristics that make them enticing to buy. They physically differ from the average horse so much that they offer a unique experience to horse owners lucky enough to own one.

Let’s talk about the three attributes Percheron horses are most known for — their height, weight, and size.

How Tall Is a Percheron?

The average Percheron horse is 16-18 hands high. Their large size is characteristic of their breed! For reference, a typical Thoroughbred is 16 hands high and an Arabian horse is 14.3 hands high.

How Much Does a Percheron Weigh?

Percherons, being draft horses, are quite large. They can weigh up to 2,300 pounds but average about 1,900 pounds. A non-draft breed like a Mustang horse only weighs about 1,000 pounds.

Where to Find Percherons for Sale

Now that you know a bit more about Percheron horses, you might be wondering where to buy one. If that’s the case, there are a few good places to find Percherons for sale near you.

Reputable Trainers or Breeders

Depending on what state you live in, you should be able to find a Percheron breeder nearby. The price of a Percheron from a reputable breeder will cost you though! These horses have incredible temperaments despite their massive size, which makes them a sought-after breed.

Horse Auctions

You don’t usually find purebred Percherons at local auctions. You’ll have more luck going to draft horse-specific auctions like Gordyville USA in Gifford, IL. However, expect to pay a premium price for a curated selection of Percherons, Shires, Belgian Drafts, and more!

Online

In 2024, you will find the most competitive Percheron horse prices online through independent sellers. That’s because this cuts out the middleman, driving down the cost. You need to ask about their pedigree, health history, and background before purchasing though! Online sellers may not be honest, so do your due diligence to get information on the Percheron you want to buy before handing over any money.

How Much Does a Percheron Horse Cost: 2024 Pricing Guide

The Percheron is a fairly sought-after breed of horse due to its well-mannered nature and powerful physique. How much can you expect to pay for a Percheron horse in 2024? Let’s discuss the initial purchase price for a Percheron horse as well as the ongoing costs of ownership.

Purchase Price For a Percheron

In 2024, average prices for a Percheron horse range from $1,000-$10,000. The cost depends on a number of details such as the horse’s:

• Age
• Height
• Gender
• Pedigree
• Temperament
• Conformation
• Training (type and level)

For example, a Percheron stallion for sale will cost more than a gelding because of its ability to be used for stud. Additionally, Percheron mares are priced higher than geldings because they can be bred (and the foals can be sold for a nice profit).

Cost Per Month to Board a Percheron

As with every horse breed, the monthly cost to board a Percheron depends on your location, the type of housing, and the level of care your horse receives.

A horse boarded in New York will cost you more monthly than in Kentucky. That’s due to the availability of facilities as well as the average price of owning and maintaining property in the state.

If you decide to keep your horse in a stall instead of in the field, you will pay more for the use of the barn’s facilities. The average cost of boarding will run you about $500 per month for your Percheron.

Cost Per Month to Feed a Percheron

You might know the statistic that horses need to eat about 2% of their body weight in forage (grass or hay) a day. Given that draft horses like Percherons can weigh up to 2,300 pounds, this can add up quickly. And if you’re working your draft regularly, whether pleasure riding or competing, then they need even more food to keep the weight on! Expect to pay around $200 per month for hay to keep your gentle giant well-fed.

Luckily, many draft breeds don’t require additional feed like grain to stay healthy. You might consider adding grain to your Percheron’s diet if you want them to be at their most optimal health though. This will run you an extra $50-$100 per month depending on the type of grain and how much they eat.

Cost Per Month for Vet and Farrier Care

Percherons, like other draft horses, are massive animals. This means that their heavy weight and large size lead to unique medical conditions for the breed such as:

• Reproductive problems with mares
• Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (EPSM)
• Shivers

If your Percheron doesn’t have these breed-specific issues, your vet might only come out once or twice a year for a check-up. This price will vary, but won’t be more than $250 per visit.

They also require farrier trims every 6-8 weeks. Expect to pay double (around $120) for your draft horse’s trims, and even more if they need a full set of horseshoes (around $400).

Supplies and Equipment Needed For a Percheron

We mentioned earlier that Percherons are often used for a variety of activities such as farm work, eventing, parades, carriage pulling, sleigh rides, and hayrides.

This means that the cost of supplies and equipment depends entirely on what you do with your Percheron horse! However, if you buy a horse then you probably want to ride it. Tack like a bridle, bit, reins, saddle, saddle pad, girth, jodhpurs, tall boots, riding gloves, and a helmet will cost you around $3,000 right off the bat for middle-of-the-road quality.

Prices continue to go up if you use your Percheron for farm work like plowing. You need special tack like collars, hames, and harnesses to attach the equipment to the horse, and it isn’t cheap. If you want your Percheron to drive a cart or carriage, you need to factor in the price of that too.

Cost To Train a Percheron

Another ongoing cost to consider when it comes to owning a Percheron is training — for the horse and for you.

A professional trainer can cost thousands if your new horse isn’t broke to ride yet. Then the weekly or monthly price of hiring a riding instructor ranges from $25-$150 a lesson depending on their skill level and your location.

Should You Buy a Percheron Horse in 2024?

Purchase prices aren’t the only thing to consider when buying a Percheron horse in 2024. They are large animals that require more care than other breeds, so you need to keep in mind that a Percheron’s farrier, vet, and feed bills will be higher. Percherons also have a longer lifespan than other draft horses, often living well into their 30s. Keep this in mind if you decide to buy a Percheron horse, as they are not cheap to keep!

However, money isn’t everything. If you’ve ever seen a Percheron, you know they are priceless. This draft horse exhibits traits that you won’t find in any other breed. Characteristically, their good-natured temperament, powerful physique, and adaptability to a variety of scenarios make them excellent show horses, as well as great pets and loving companions.

So, should you buy a Percheron horse in 2024? There’s only one way to find out!