How to get started running a horse boarding business?
I just own a 1200 square foot house with a backyard; so i dont have the facilities to board horses right now. But I want to know where I would start? Horse properties around here are expensive. So would in general be less expensive to buy a house on land then build a horse stable/arena? Do boarding centers do better if they have an indoor arena vs. an outdoor arena only? Do they do better if trails are near by? Do they do any better if you have an instructor on sight? My dream is to one day own a boarding stable with 40+ horses in it and to have people work for me there. If need be, hire an instructor to teach lessons and get some school horses. I’m 21 years old now. I do own a house but can’t really afford a higher morgage right now. Any good tips would be great. Or if you want to share your story how you started in the horse business and were you are at now. Thanks!
Make sure there’s room for several pastures/ paddocks. An indoor arena is a big, big draw. It needs to be big enough for a few things to be going on and if it is big enough for indoor showing or clinics, even better. Make sure you are zoned for this first! Also, arenas outside are great, as is a round penning area. Trails are also good, but not entirely necessary if there’s room around the property for hacking. An instructor and/or trainer available is also a great idea. The more you can offer, the better your chances of being fully boarded. Being able to have shows or clinics adds to the package with extra income for you. Have a vet who will come on call and a farrier willing to do the whole stable so you can have everybody on a schedule is good. This way, the boarders are prompted to be sure their horses are seen regularly and all horses are well maintained, versus hoping everybody has their own. A washing area is a perk, toilets also. A lounge area, usually overlooking the indoor arena is a good place for parents to watch their children take lessons.
If you can find vacant land, or land with a house, it’ll be less expensive. Plan you stable so it can grow over time and it will be less of an initial outlay. The barns should be arranged for easy cleaning and preferably not facing into the arena so the horses don’t have to breathe the dust. Stalls with doors going out into paddocks can minimize maintenance of bedding and allow horses more access to turnout. You can have several stalls share a roomy paddock that has a gate into a field for longer turnout. I started with land and a house, added a shed, then a 6 stall barn, then pastures and a round pen. I have trails and room to ride around the property. Next is the indoor/ outdoor arena and more small barns that connect by breezeways. I do the instructing.
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Starting & Running Your Own Horse Business $2.98 Starting & Running Yoru Own Horse Business discusses how to turn your passion for horses into a profession. This book discusses the following topics: Create a business plan that puts your existing horses and facility to work Manage your time, money, and employees Operate an exciting variety of horse ventures from camps to carriage services Identify Marketing and advertising opportunites Reduce vet… |
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U.S. Stabling Guide $24.95 Traveling with a horse and finding a place to board it overnight is made easier with this reference. It includes not only stables that board horses on a daily basis, but over 1,000 listings for ranches, fairgrounds, equestrian centers, and farms that will accept overnight boarders as well. Additionally, it lists many bed & breakfasts with stable facilities where travelers can stay with their horse… |
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A Barn Fit for King: An Acreage Equines Guide to Choosing a Boarding Stable Finding the right boarding stable is a challenge faced by most riders at some stage in their careers. For novice horse owners, or longtime horse people new to the world of boarding stables, knowing what to look for is not as simple as it seems. A Barn Fit for King guides readers through the process in 80 information packed pages. Written in an easy-to-read style, it helps horse owners first … |
