How to calculate the contribution?

Pragmatic: monthly full costs divided by two or three, then attributed by riding days. For two days on a CHF 1'400 full-cost horse, roughly CHF 200–280 per month.

What happens to the contribution if the horse falls ill?

It usually continues since stabling, feed and insurance continue. For long-term lameness over weeks, a contribution reduction is fair.

Guide

Splitting horse share costs fairly: who pays what in Switzerland?

3 min read

A horse share is neither a sponsorship of horse keeping nor a per-ride payment. It's a proportional contribution to running costs that must match the riding days and agreed services. This guide shows how the contribution is calculated in Swiss practice and who carries special costs.

What a horse costs in Switzerland

Before splitting, the baseline. reitenundyoga.ch and markt.ch confirm full costs CHF 1'000–1'500 per month: stabling, feed, farrier, vet, insurance, equipment.

The sharer's portion of full costs

Swiss practice has settled on a simple ratio: at one or two riding days per week, the sharer carries 10 to 25 % of monthly full costs. That gives the Swiss range CHF 80–300 per month.

Three factors adjust:

Days per week. One day = 10 to 15 %. Two days = 18 to 25 %.
Included services. Pure share lower, share with stable work higher.
Region and stable type. Urban + full boarding higher, rural + open stable lower.

What's typically included in the monthly fee

In most Swiss agreements:

Share of stabling and feed for riding days
General care costs (grooming kit, standard blanket during share days)
Riding work with owner's equipment
Access to the facility if stabling includes it

Not included, remaining the owner's responsibility:

Vet and medical costs
Farrier and special care
Insurance
Sharer's personal equipment
Lessons with an instructor
Blanket replacement and capital investments

Calculating a fair contribution

Pragmatic three-step method:

Realistic monthly full costs (stabling, feed, farrier, vet routine, insurance, equipment).
Estimate riding share. Two days per week of seven = about 28 %. Slightly damped because the horse costs even without riding.
Align with the Swiss range CHF 80–300.

Example: horse with CHF 1'400 full costs, two-day share. 25 % of 1'400 = 350, adjusted → realistic CHF 220–280 per month.

Special costs and special appointments

Three ground rules:

Causer principle. Whoever triggers the appointment pays. Sharer wants extra lessons? Sharer pays.
Damage cases. Sharer fault activates her private liability with "riding someone else's horse" add-on.
Common investments. Written agreement with share and deadline.

Swiss payment key points

Payment date: Monthly, by the 3rd or 5th.
Payment method: Bank transfer, TWINT or standing order. No cash.
Receipts: Not mandatory but useful for larger amounts.
Taxes: Horse share is not employment income, but a contribution to horse costs.
Adjustment: Stable rate increase → renegotiate with agreed notice.

Frequently asked questions

What share of full costs is a fair contribution? 10 to 25 %. Full costs CHF 1'000–1'500, contribution CHF 80–300.

What is typically included? Stabling, feed share, general care, riding work, facility access.

Who carries special costs? Causer principle. Vet routine with owner.

How to calculate? Full costs divided, adjusted to Swiss range.

Contribution if horse is ill? Continues generally. Reduction fair for long lameness.

Sources

Track contribution and special costs in HorseCompanion

Monthly contribution, special costs and joint investments are documented per horse, visible to owner and sharer in real time. Start for free

Updated: June 2026