How much does a foal cost?

I agree with HL4L - if I were wanting a foal, I would definitely buy. Like HL4L said, you can usually find exactly what you are looking for in a foal that is already on the ground (including the mindset of that foal which would be huge to me). Even if that foal were say, $5000, I think it would be cheaper than trying to breed.

I did some quick calculations based on what I have experienced working at my BO'd barn where she breeds, and between vets, stud fees, grain, and extra hay $2500 would be a good estimate for the pregnancy and through to weaning. A bit cheaper if you wean early but my BO usually waits till after the hard part of winter.
And like you said, foals can have many things wrong with them. My BO had one with a protein issue and had to wean him from his mom early because of it. At one point he could only stand if we used a sling and had several people be able to pull him up. One had to be put down this year just after weaning when he got a bacterial infection and they discovered a heart murmer, among other things. One last year died less than a week after being born for no apparant reason. Another was lost when the pregnant mare got kicked in the head and dropped dead. Things happen.

I didn't include board costs, since that would depend on when the BO actually starts charging you board on the foal and how much. I *think* my BO hasn't charged board until the foal was closer to weaning and it was I believe less than normal board due to their size. And that fee would be incurred even if you bought a foal or just a second horse so I wouldn't attribute it just to breeding your own. But I can only really think of one person who had their horse foal at our barn (bred to the BO's WB stallion). And unfortunately her mare ended up dying about a year (?) after foaling due to what they think was a heart condition brought on by the pregnancy. This mare also sustained an eye injury while at the vet's being inseminated (had to have her eyelid sewn shut with a tube in it so you could get the meds into the eye) and also had a few choke/colic episodes while pregnant. She was in her teens and a maiden mare.
I didn't include things that you would incur just by having the mare itself (like her board fee, farrier, etc.). And used a conservative $500 stud fee since I've seen fees in a wide range depending on the breed, genetics, performance history, etc.



ETA - I personally would prefer to just buy a two or three year old that is ready to actually be worked with. I know someone who bought a yearling and has been paying stall board on that horse for a year. With what she spent on board alone she could have bought an older, at least green broke filly/colt. Just the board alone. And if you included the purchase price.....a nicely trained one ready for the show ring. That doesn't even include the feed it gets every day, the farrier, shots, deworming, blankets needed because it comes in during the winter (and outgrows as it ages).

We bred our mare many years ago. She had great bloodlines, awesome conformation and a wonderful personality. The stud fee (13 years ago) was $350 for a registered unproven stallion that we thought complimented our mare well. Regular vet checks and shots for the mare and 1 ultrasound, plus the Ludalace (sp) to bring her into heat. Vet visits alone came to about $500. Once on the ground he was allowed to be a well mannered foal. Part of the cost is keeping a "useless" animal until it can be broke to ride. We sent Steve for training at 3 - I had done the prep work - we just wanted a better handle on him. 30 days of training was $450

So - to get a green broke horse we paid about $1100 - in todays market and even back then I could have had a better broke (and shorter!) horse for about what I had into him

I would never breed in today's horse world. I see my dream horse once a week for sale on various sites. All for less than $1000 - I am at my horsey hotel limit now - but seeing so many great horses go for next to nothing makes me ill.

I sure hope your friend changes her mind.