Horses, Stable Management

You Think You Want A Horse Business?

by Laura
horse business, starting a horse business, new horse owners, thistle ridge skill builders, horse business, horse riding, horse care, horse training, Laura Kelland-May
Follow These Steps For a Successful Horse Business

Creative Commons License photo credit: Svadilfari

Have you always wanted to work with horses or wanted a horse business?
Then you may want to sit down and take a look at the numbers.

Who wants to work with horses?

Most people who dream of working with horses do so because they had one when they were younger and remember the enjoyment of having a horse or being with them. They can see themselves spending time in the environment with horses. This is not just in the stable, but also, in tack rooms, horse shows, show grounds, and farm areas.
Horse business people get a reward or satisfaction from a job well done and can see themselves spending a day in the stable environment rather than spending time in an office or other workplace.

How to Set Up Your Horse Business

Horse Business Setup Step 1 –

Determine if it is really what you want to do. Starting any business is  difficult and a horse business is no different. It is important to understand there will be many long hours, heart ache, disappointment and at the end maybe not much money. It is important to have the desire and motivation to continue to push and work through these minor set backs.

If  you are doing this to make money, just hang up the stirrups right here and check your motives. Your motives form the back bone of your business and is closely tied to your business mission statement. To help you develop your motives and to see if your business makes sense:

  • Make a list of the things you hope to gain from your horse business.

    horse business, starting a horse business, new horse owners, thistle ridge skill builders, horse business, horse riding, horse care, horse training, Laura Kelland-May
    Make a List of Your Horse Business Skills
  • Make a list of, what your perceive, as the disadvantages.
  • List your business skill strengths and weaknesses.

if your disadvantage list is longer than your advantage -happy- list then you may want to rethink your endeavor. Likewise if you business skills weaknesses are a mile long … take care.

Horse Business Setup Step 2 –

Find out if it makes sense. Do some market research on the horse business in your area. Even if you love it you should find out if there is a market for it. Take some time and do a casual survey and get statistics from local government agencies or just plain ask people if they want what you have to offer.Creative Commons License photo credit: Al-Meshal
There are many aspects of a horse business. Riding, boarding, training, farrier, layups, breeding – they all have different niches and finding the right one which suits you and your area is important.

Horse Business Set Up Step 3

Is there someone already doing this in your area? If there is, is there enough room for both of you and how can you make it better. For example there may be several breeding farms in your area what could you offer that the others don’t?
Or what mhorse business, starting a horse business, new horse owners, thistle ridge skill builders, horse business, horse riding, horse care, horse training, Laura Kelland-Mayicro-niche can you offer to satisfy a need. It could be a specific breed, specialty in foaling and foal care, expert in mare care.
There are many successful businesses out there which have not done these three steps. These are some fundamental investigative steps to consider before starting out on any business venture, not just a horse business venture.What have you done to successfully develop and maintain your horse business during these difficult financial times?

Creative Commons License photo credit: Taylor Rosenbalm

What was the biggest obstacle you overcame when setting up your horse business?