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The Ultimate Guide To Building An Equestrian Business

August 10, 2022.

Hi, I'm Paige, half of the duo behind Fairway Stables™

This website is the one I've been searching for, for years; a compilation of knowledge on all things horsemanship, including practical advice on how to start an equestrian business. No matter your experience level with horses or homesteading, I hope this is a place you can get lost in, and learn something along the way - we welcome everyone from vets, to lifelong ranchers, trainer, to nonprofits contributing.

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Homesteading equine law equestian living horseback riding.

Starting a business in general is an exciting, daunting, and stressful experience. It’s thrilling to take risks and follow your passion, but you may get anxiety about whether you have what it takes to make a business successful.

This is especially true of equestrian businesses . Many owners get into the horse business for love of horses and the sport, forgetting that they need to run a business properly to succeed. Find out everything you need to know to start your equestrian business off right.

Table of Contents

• Overview of Equestrian Businesses
• Size of Equestrian Industry
• Equestrian Industry Worth

Glossary of Equestrian Business Terms

• Equestrian Business Ideas
• What to Consider Before Starting an Equestrian Business

How to Start an Equestrian Business

Growing your equestrian business.

What Is an Equestrian Business? A Brief Overview

There’s no strict definition for an equestrian business. An equestrian is a person who rides a horse. As an adjective, equestrian can refer to anything related to horseback riding.

A business is an activity or enterprise entered into for profit. Put those together and you get an equestrian business.

Equestrian businesses can be anything that focuses on horses or horseback riding, including businesses that house or train horses, care for horses, show horses, or breed horses. It may also include the businesses responsible for managing facilities, pasture, waste removal, and more.

How Big Is the Equestrian Industry?

In the US, there are roughly 158,000 equestrian businesses and no major companies.

Each business represents a small portion of market share (<5%), While a third of US households have a horse enthusiast, only 1.3 percent own a horse. The remainder participate in horse activities or enjoy horse events.

How Much Is the Equestrian Industry Worth?

The equestrian industry is worth $122 billion and created 1.7 million jobs in the US. There’s not only direct contribution with economic activity that occurs in the horse industry itself, but also the positive ripple effect into other economic activity outside of the horse industry.

Horse Ranch

A ranch is a large farm used for raising animals, such as cattle, sheep, or horses. A horse ranch focuses specifically on horses.

Generally, a stable can refer to a building that houses horses or an establishment where horses are kept and trained.

Equestrian Facility

An equestrian facility is a facility designed to accommodate, train, or compete with horses. Based on their use, an equestrian facility may be referred to as an equestrian center, stables, riding hall, barn, livery yard, boarding stable, or ranch.

A stud farm is a term used in animal husbandry to indicate a facility for selective breeding. While stud comes from Old English and means a “herd of horses or place where horses are kept for breeding,” the modern use of the term refers to a stallion that’s currently used for breeding. Stud farms may be full breeding operations or purely stud service.

Boarding Stable

Also known as a livery yard or livery stable, a boarding stable is a facility that houses and cares for other people’s horses for a fee.

Riding Stable

A riding stable is a facility that houses horses for equestrian activities. Though separate from a boarding stable, the two may be combined. A riding school or academy may also be called a riding stable.

Barn is a colloquial term for a stable or equestrian facility. Barns are located on farms and hold equipment, grain, and sometimes horses or cows, but they’re distinct from a stable.

Farm is a catch-all term for activities related to agriculture. Though technology is reserved for food production, “farms” may include feedlots, orchards, and ranches. Properties with horses aren’t typically referred to as a horse farm (with the exception of a stud farm). The purpose and use of the facility determine which term is preferred.

21 Equestrian Business Ideas

Let’s take a look at several equestrian business ideas that can help you turn your passion into profit.

Boarding/Livery

For many horse owners or enthusiasts, keeping a horse at home isn’t an option. They still want to ride, however, so they look into a boarding or livery facility.

Generally, a boarding stable charges a monthly fee to house a horse and provide for its needs. Boarding stables offer different options for board, and the monthly charge depends on factors like pasture or turnout, location, amenities, on-site trainers and instructors, tack storage, and more.

Typically, boarding stables offer the following fee options:

This includes all the necessities for the horse, plus a stall with full turnout. Full board is the most time- and work-intensive, since owners leave all the work to the facility – they clean the stalls, feed the horse multiple times a day, and take it in and out to pasture. For a busy adult equestrian or the overwhelmed parents of a child rider, this is an ideal option.

Some boarding facilities also offer additional services for a fee, such as lessons with a qualified instructor, access to indoor or outdoor riding arenas, trails, or equipment use. Owners may have to pay for specialized feeds and supplements, grooming, blanketing, and similar services.

Typically, veterinary care and farrier care are the financial responsibility of the owner. Some facilities will maintain the same veterinarian and farrier for the entire facility, while others will allow owners to bring in their preferred professionals. For a new horse owner, having vetted and qualified professionals offers peace of mind, but an experienced equestrian may prefer their own veterinarian and farrier.

Partial Boarding

Partial boarding is essentially a timeshare with a horse. In this situation, the owner shares the use of their horse with another person in exchange for cheaper boarding fees. This arrangement may be used for owners with horses that are docile enough to be “school” horses, or lesson horses, but it may also be beneficial for a busy adult with a horse that’s suitable for another rider.

In this arrangement, both parties split the boarding costs. For example, if board is typically $500 per month, but the horse is used for lessons, the owner will only pay $250. This does involve a contract agreement to ensure that everyone is protected, which may outline how often the horse may be ridden, whether the rider can bring their own equipment, and who is responsible for farrier and veterinarian services.

Pasture Board

Pasture board can be an economical option for an owner and convenient for you. If you have land, you permit the horse to live outdoors year-round with feed, water, and a simple run-in shelter. The work and maintenance is minimal compared to a full boarding facility while giving you income from your land.

Depending on the climate, pasture board may offer additional services like blanketing in cold weather, either included or for a fee. Pasture board also requires you – or your staff – monitor the horses outside to ensure they’re cared for properly.

Pasture board is appealing for its low fees, though horses get less attentive care in this arrangement. This is ideal for occasional riders, retired older horses, horses that prefer to roam, and horses with medical conditions like recurrent airway disease (heaves).

In addition, someone with well-bred show horses or breeding horses typically want minimal turnout alone to avoid potential injuries or blemishes that affect the horse’s appearance, such as bite marks or cuts.

Self-Care Board

Self-care board is basically renting out only the facility and amenities but leaving the actual care to the owner. The horse gets a stall and access to turnout, but the owner must provide their own feed and bedding, muck out the stall, feed and water the horse, and bring it in and out from the pasture. They also handle their own arrangements for veterinary and farrier services.

For people who live near the stable, self-care board is a convenient and economical solution. They get to take a hands-on approach to their own horse’s needs, even if they don’t have land. Sometimes, groups of riding friends will take a self-care board arrangement and handle the care of each other’s horses in shifts to make chores more practical and convenient.

The downside of a self-care board is that owners don’t have schedule freedom or flexibility. They are responsible for their own horse’s care at all times and have to make arrangements for vacations or other obligations. As the facility owner, you can offer care for an extra fee when the owners are unavailable to care for their own horses.

Short-Term Boarding

If you have a facility with extra space, short-term boarding provides accommodation for horses if owners are traveling or moving. Short-term and overnight boarders can add income to an existing boarding facility and make up for empty stalls.

Many boarding facilities offer multiple types of short-term boarding with different fees, such as one-day, one-week, or one-month boarding. The traveler may supply the feed and buckets, but the facility handles the stall, bedding, turnout, and care.

Short-term boarding can be beneficial in many ways and boosts the exposure of a stable, but it’s important to have the right setup. Traveling horses can present a disease or injury risk to the other boarders, which is why owners need to supply buckets. There should be stalls and turnout that are separate from the long-term boarding clients.

Retirement Boarding

In many ways, retirement boarding is similar to a nursing home for elderly humans. Owners who no longer compete or ride – or ride only occasionally – can enjoy the benefits of boarding in a quieter facility than a competition stable. In addition to older horses, these facilities may board horses that have been put out of commission due to injury.

Retirement boarding may be structured as a full-service, partial, or self-care boarding arrangement. All the horse’s needs are cared for, including veterinary and farrier services, but in a low-key environment.

Additional Arrangements

When it comes to boarding, just about any arrangement you can imagine has been done. Some stables may work out reduced rates for owners who are willing to take on some chores, such as mucking out their own stalls. Some may offer work-exchange or working-student arrangements, which is when equestrian students do barn chores in exchange for reduced board or free lessons or training.

If you choose to offer these kinds of flexible arrangements for boarders, it’s important that all the responsibilities of both parties are outlined in the boarding contract. Those who don’t hold up their end of the arrangement will have to pay full board – or whatever the penalty is according to the contract.

Training and Instruction

Often combined with boarding facilities, training and instruction is another option for an equestrian business. Many equestrians will choose a boarding facility based on the option of an on-site instructor or horse trainer.

There are numerous paths to becoming a professional horse trainer or riding instructor. You don’t need a degree or certifications, in most cases, but you do need something to establish yourself as an authority. Typically, horse trainers and instructors have a track record of success in prominent horse show circuits or reputation for training champion horses.

If you don’t want to train or instruct yourself, you can hire an on-site trainer and instructor for your boarding clients. Ideally, the trainer and instructor should be specialized in a discipline, such as hunter/jumper or cutting.

Another option is subcontracting. In this arrangement, you may or may not provide an on-site trainer, but if you get a rider who prefers to work with their own trainer, they can pay for the use of the amenities like the indoor or outdoor arena.

In addition to on-site staff and subcontractors, many boarding facilities will bring in big-name trainers for clinics. The trainer has run of the facility for the time they’re scheduled, and students can book appointments for lessons. This is helpful for the riders, since the trainer comes to them, and they can work in the environment in which they and their horses are most comfortable.

Breeding Operation

Breeding horses is a diverse facet of equestrian business. Not for beginners to the horse world, breeding takes a lot of time, passion, and a gift for selecting solid breeding stock . Like breeding other animals, care must be taken to ensure that the foal crop is free of genetic illness and that the most desirable traits are passed through the generations.

Horse breeders are not “backyard breeders” bringing together their two mutts to sell the puppies. While that may happen, horse breeders usually focus on one pure breed and specialize in specific purposes like barrel racing, flat racing, or show jumping. They know the pedigrees of the stock inside and out, as well as what makes a horse a champion in their respective discipline.

In addition, breeding requires skill and comfort around horses. Both stallions and mares in heat can be difficult to handle, and a lot goes into the care or the breeding stock and bringing up the foals.

There are a few ways to approach a breeding operation, from boutique breeders to studding services to full-scale breeding operations. Many breeders get started by realizing an opportunity with their winning stallion or mare, or simply having a good eye for superior horses.

Full-Scale Breeding Operation

A breeding operation may be full-scale with on-site stallions, mares, and foals, as well as the necessary breeding areas and equipment. This is a big undertaking, since you’re providing land and stalls for your breeding stock and the foal crop.

One of the advantages to a full-scale breeding operation is that you can start small, however. Just a stallion and a few mares with a stable and some land can grow over the years to become dozens of horses on hundreds of acres.

Most full-scale breeding operations have their own breeding stock that’s either already owned or purchased (the latter is more expensive!). Owners may hold back some foals for future breeding, meaning they’re not offered for sale, while the others are sold for profit. These operations may also bring in new mares or stallions to diversify the crop over the years.

Usually, a full-scale breeding operation will use hand-mating and artificial insemination for their own breeding stock. They may offer stud services for artificial insemination, or they may bring an outside mare for studding.

One main difference between a breeding facility and other types of horse facilities is that it’s set up for breeding. There’s plenty of land and space for not only the current horses but the future ones as well. These facilities also have areas for hand-mating and insemination, veterinary equipment, studding, and separate pastures for individual stallions, mares, and weanlings or yearlings.

With purebred horses, there may be an additional registration process with the breed registry. The process can vary, but horses may be eligible for registration and branding that allows them to compete in breed-specific competitions and increases their value.

Some owners maximize profits by studding out their champion stallion, giving them income without running a full breeding operation. When a champion racehorse or show horse finishes its career on a high note, the owner can use that notoriety to offer the horse’s semen for a fee.

They simply offer the material to impregnate the mare, and the mare’s owner is responsible for the rest. Because the work involved in studding is less intensive than a full breeding operation, people may keep and stud a stallion at a riding or boarding facility instead of a dedicated breeding ranch.

Some studs can command fees of thousands of dollars for semen, and a male horse produces enough to pair with over 100 mares. Of course, if the stud produces a bunch of duds, the fee can plummet – it’s a gamble.

Mares have long gestation periods – typically 11 months – which is a long period to be out of commission. Pregnancy also carries risk that can lead to loss of life or loss of use. Some owners who want to breed their mare prefer to avoid this risk by using a surrogate mare, or recipient mare.

The time period in which a mare can carry a foal safely and successfully is also limited. If the mare can’t take time off of showing for breeding, surrogacy allows for multiple pregnancies from different mares in a given year while she continues to show. It also allows the mare’s owner to breed her to multiple stallions at the same time to produce a range of foals.

Reproduction is done through artificial insemination with an embryo transfer, sperm injection, and semen freezing, shipping, and storage. It’s a long process, but comparatively shorter than having a mare out of the show circuit.

The mare’s owner is responsible for the stud fee and associated costs, the cost of artificial insemination, and the veterinary care for the mare.

Also, like a stud, the surrogate mare may be part of a larger breeding facility or simply kept at a boarding or riding stable. For owners of mares that aren’t suitable for breeding or showing at a high level, surrogacy is a way to make use of their optimal breeding years.

Riding Clinics

Riding clinics are intensive training sessions that take place with a qualified equestrian instructor or trainer. Typically, these clinicians have an accomplished equestrian career in a specific discipline that qualifies them to command a high fee for training sessions.

If you’re a trainer or instructor yourself, you can provide clinics on a travel tour. Students would book appointments in advance to ensure that your time, travel, and expenses are worthwhile. In fact, some of the biggest-name trainers often have waiting lists, applications, and cut-off dates to book lessons.

With this arrangement, you would pay for use of the facility and its amenities for your clinic. Often, the students who attend will be from the same facility, but they may also travel to attend. For accomplished equestrians, this can be lucrative.

Conversely, if you own a riding stable or boarding facility, you can offer clinics. It will not only make your facility more appealing to clients, but it gives you an extra source of income. The catch is that you would need to seek and find the right opportunities.

When you bring in clinicians, it’s important that they teach the discipline that appeals to most of your clients. There is some overlap, such as a show jumper participating in a dressage clinic, bringing a clinician in English equitation won’t be appealing to a stable full of barrel racers.

Tourist Ranches

Tourist ranches, also known as dude ranches or guest ranches, are a type of vacation property that has horses for guest use. These are all-inclusive experiences that combine hospitality and horsemanship.

Dude ranches have been around since the 19 th century. Tourists enjoy the pioneer experience and nostalgia without risking their health and welfare. Many began in the West and offered activities to indulge in the “cowboy” life, but now, they come in a wide variety.

Ranches run the gamut from romantic Wild-West cattle ranches to luxurious resorts with top-notch amenities like tennis courts and heated swimming pools and spas. The beauty of them is that you can make the ranch what works best for you and the location.

For example, some ranches offer adventure experiences like hiking, whitewater rafting, cattle herding, target shooting, and fishing. Others operate similarly to a luxurious resort, but include horses and horse-related activities like trail rides. In either case, they include cabins or other accommodation for guests on the property, as well as services like dining and housekeeping.

These destinations are particularly appealing to families with kids. Often, activities are designed to keep the kids entertained, such as campfire sing-alongs and petting zoos. Many ranches have themes that inform the whole experience, such as ranches that allow guests to participate in antiquated activities like churning butter or milking goats.

The different types of guest ranches may include:

Working Dude Ranch

These types of ranches are working cattle or sheep operations. Horseback riding excursions may be reserved for those with experience with cowhorses, though some ranches may offer different excursions based on skills and experience.

This is the most authentic of the ranch experiences. Visitors expect – and want – hard work and hands-on activities. Assisting in herding cattle, grooming horses, and mucking stalls may be part of the experience.

A basic dude ranch of guest ranch caters to visitors looking for horseback riding. These are the more romanticized Wild-West ranches that teach guests the “cowboy” life and allow them to take part in iconic experiences like lassoing, driving cattle, and camping out with horses under the stars.

Generally, visitors are looking more for activities directly related to cowboy culture and fantasy, not necessarily general ranch chores or menial labor. They want to ride and rodeo, not muck stalls.

Resort Ranch

Resort ranches are the luxury ranches that offer upscale accommodations and amenities. The overall style may be frontier or working ranch, but the rooms, amenities, food, and entertainment are more like a luxury resort or cruise.

Typically, resort ranches offer a more diverse array of activities and facilities. Along with the expected ranch amenities, they may have a pool, fitness center, spa, childcare facility, fine dining, a bar, and an entertainment venue. This is more of a “glamping” ranch experience than a true frontier west experience.

Hunting Ranches

Though less common, areas with desirable game may have hunting ranches. They operate similarly to a working ranch or dude ranch, but they include hunting in the activities separate from the horseback riding.

Depending on the location, the hunting may include elk, moose, bears, or deer. Some ranches may offer captive-bred exotic game for trophy hunters, such as antelope. The high tag fee and hunting guides support the care and proliferation of a rare or threatened species.

These are the basic types of ranches, but they may combine elements of each other or offer something unique. Ultimately, the common thread is horseback riding. Whether it’s an organized trail ride, lessons, or a cattle drive, guest ranches center the experience around the horses.

There’s a lot to consider when starting a guest ranch, however. Depending on the location, it may only be able to operate seasonally. You also have to simultaneously run a hospitality business and an equestrian business.

Horse-Related Adult Retreats

Wellness or nature retreats are popular among adults. Whether focused on meditation, yoga, getting in touch with nature, women-only, or any other type of theme, these adult retreats may include equestrian activities.

The retreat may be reserved for experienced riders or beginners, but they have a theme that informs all of the activities. Journaling, meditation, life-coaching training, group therapy, nature walks, creating vision boards, and beach yoga are among the types of activities that retreats offer.

As far as the equestrian activities, it depends on the experience level of the participants. A retreat may teach basic horsemanship for beginners to horse yoga to advanced activities like team penning and barrel racing.

Like running a dude ranch, starting an equine retreat for adults means balancing the demands of a horse business and a tourist experience.

Horse Rescue

A horse rescue is a non-profit organization that cares for abused, starving, or abandoned horses. Like other rescues, horse rescues are often no-kill, volunteer-based organizations that provide a safe environment for horses, care for their basic needs, and educate the public about their welfare.

Running a horse rescue or shelter may be born of passion, but it needs to be approached like a business. Horses are expensive to care for, especially in a rehabilitation environment, and the IRS has specific requirements for non-profit status and donations.

Another aspect to consider is that rescues are run as non-profits, so the profitability isn’t widely known. Generally, these are not lucrative businesses.

Horse Leasing

Horse lovers may dream of having a horse of their own, but it’s not an option for every equestrian. For riders who are just starting out or lack the ability to buy a horse of their own, leasing a horse is an excellent alternative.

If you own a horse suitable for another rider, leasing gives you income for the privilege of allowing your horse to be ridden. You maintain ownership, care, and financial responsibility for the horse, but you’re giving a rider a chance to learn and prepare for eventual horse ownership.

For the rider, they essentially “rent” the horse and take on fewer financial responsibilities – think of it like renting an apartment vs. buying a home. If they decide they no longer want to ride or they move, they’re free of the responsibility of selling or relocating the horse.

This is an ideal arrangement for beginner riders. If they bought a horse, they may outgrow it or lose interest in the sport. Leasing acts as a “stepping-stone” in their riding career.

There are numerous types of horse lease arrangements:

Partial Lease

A partial lease, or half lease, provides the privilege of riding a horse on certain days of the week. The owner still has riding privileges, so both parties are basically “sharing” the horse. With this arrangement, the horse typically remains on the premises instead of being moved to another facility.

Most partial leases offer the ability to ride three or four days a week for a fixed monthly fee. The expenses for veterinary care or farrier services may be split, or they may fall on one party. These arrangements typically run month-to-month, rather than a long-term contract.

With a full lease, only one rider has the privilege of riding the horse. This is the closest to horse ownership for the rider, since they can choose when and how often they can ride without working around another’s schedule.

Some full lease arrangements permit the rider to move the horse to a different facility, while others require the horse stay on the owner’s premises. Full leases also come with more responsibilities and costs, such as veterinary or farrier fees and horse insurance. Still, when it comes to making decisions about care, the owner is in control.

Other Lease Arrangements

Like boarding, leasing can take on many forms. Facilities may work with lesson leases to use horses for students instead of a partial board arrangement. Quarter leases are also an option for casual riders who only want to ride a few times a week and don’t want to pay for unused riding time.

No matter the arrangement, it’s vital that all aspects of the lease are in writing. A lease is similar to other types of rentals, so the arrangement should include the terms to protect both parties.

Stable Merchandising

If you already have a breeding, riding, boarding, or training facility, merchandising is a great way to bring in extra income and boost brand exposure.

Stable merchandise is branded gear with the stable’s logo and brand colors. Prominent equestrian facilities often sell branded merchandise like zip-ups, custom dress shirts, hats, tote bags, notebooks, tank tops, socks, saddle pads, and travel mugs. These products are relevant and practical for the client and promote the facility for minimal cost.

Professional Equestrian

A professional equestrian is an elite career . The competition can be fierce, but a rider with the skill, talent, and qualifications can make a solid income. You can work from your own facility, or your business could be your personal brand.

Professional equestrians are paid to ride and show other people’s horses. If you’ve ever watched a competition, you may notice that some riders compete multiple times or in multiple events with different mounts. That’s because they’re paid to show an owner’s horse.

Owners want the best riders for their horses. They want the horses to get noticed and develop a name for themselves, which comes into play when they try to sell or breed them. Sometimes, older owners no longer ride, but they want their horse to compete and pay a professional to showcase them.

Professional equestrians also train and teach. Usually, a professional equestrian does a combination of all three, but within the same discipline or related disciplines. Professionals also have experience in other aspects of horse care and management.

The biggest challenge with becoming a professional equestrian is building your personal brand. You have to compete at high levels and win to make a name for yourself and cultivate a demand for your riding and training skills.

Horse Transport

Investing in a horse trailer, and a truck to pull it, and learning the ins and outs of driving the outfit is overwhelming to many horse owners. Offering horse transport services can be a lucrative business.

Horse owners may need transportation to shows, but you also have the option of offering long-distance hauls for owners who are moving or showing on the national level. Owners may need transportation to university veterinary hospitals or when they’re transferring to a different facility as well.

Keep in mind that the requirements to transport a horse a few hours away are vastly different from the requirements to transport them across multiple states over long periods. For example, horses on long-distance trips need a trailer with a box stall and frequent stops for water and stretching. You may also need to develop a network of short-term boarding facilities for overnight stops.

Transporting horses doesn’t take as much horse knowledge as some other types of horse businesses. The start-up costs can be significant, however, especially if you’re trying to get multiple outfits. You’ll also need liability insurance and written policies about how horses will be handled, what happens in the case of injury, and how clients will be notified about transportation status.

Local laws and regulations apply to horse transport in a state, city, and county, however. It’s important to speak with an attorney to ensure you’re doing everything by the book.

If you own a riding stable or boarding facility, you can invest in trucks and trailers to transport your clients to shows or veterinary appointments. This is usually an additional fee that can provide extra income during the show season, and you could offer your services to other horse owners in the area.

Professional Grooming

Horses need impeccable grooming for horse shows, and that’s where professional grooms come in. Children and busy adults may lack the time or knowledge to groom their own horses properly and pay for professional grooming services.

Professional grooming may include specific tasks like braiding the mane and tail for shows, but some grooms perform the entire process of bathing, brushing, picking out hooves, and tacking up, only to hand the horse off to the rider. Then, when the ride is complete, the rider hands the horse back to the groom to be walked, untacked, and rinsed off before being put away.

Grooms may also have the responsibility of cleaning tack, packing supplies for a horse show, and assisting riders with barn chores at the showgrounds.

Being a professional groom has many avenues. You can be a dedicated groom for one rider and their horse – or horses – or you can work with clients within the same facility. Owners of riding stables can offer grooming services, either themselves or from hired support staff.

Finally, there’s the option to run your own grooming business. You may begin by grooming on your own, but you can scale your business by taking on more grooms to handle clients and adopting a more managerial role.

Horse Stable Cleaning Services

The chores can add up in a facility with multiple horses. Not all boarding facility owners want to handle all the chores themselves, so they hire horse stable cleaning services.

Horse stable cleaning services may include a variety of tasks, such as mucking stalls, power-washing walls, sweeping or power-washing aisleways, racking arenas, spreading manure, scrubbing feed and water buckets, and tidying up the feed room or tack room.

Similar to grooming, you can take on work for specific clients in one facility or offer your services to multiple facilities. As you grow, you can take on more clients by hiring employees and operating a full cleaning service.

Pasture and Facility Care

Horse turnout and the grounds of a stable need maintenance like anything else. If you enjoy handiwork and landscaping, pasture and facility care is an in-demand service.

Busy stable owners are inclined to pay for professionals to maintain their outdoor areas. Some of the tasks may include inspecting and fixing turnout fences, removing weeds, dragging pasture, removing rocks, and filling holes.

Within the facility, this service may include identifying and repairing plumbing problems, fixing damaged stalls or doors, replacing worn fittings, and fixing cracked or damaged concrete. You may also be asked to update or install features or amenities.

Stable maintenance workers may stay at one facility or they may offer services to multiple facilities in the area. As with grooming and stable chores, you can expand by hiring more people to serve more clients.

Manure Removal Services

Facilities that have neither the land nor equipment to spread manure may hire a manure removal service to take care of waste. This is out of the purview of most local waste management services.

Manure can pile up quickly, so manure removal services are a must for both residential and commercial horse facilities. You can provide regular pickup or on-call pickup to haul manure away.

Along with the business requirements, waste removal may require additional state and local licensing or permits.

A tack shop can be a viable business on its own or a valuable revenue stream for a boarding or riding stable. This is essentially a retail store, so you have plenty of options for how to approach it.

Ultimately, it depends on your clientele. Boutique tack shops with high-end products and branded merchandise can do very well with brand loyalty, while a large and diverse tack shop offers a range of products to suit everyone.

You could also offer used or consignment pieces, such as used saddles and pre-owned show jackets or boots, to help clients save on products and give their old stuff new life.

In addition, you can travel to nearby shows with just a few limited necessities. It’s inevitable that a rider will forget a ratcatcher, hoof pick, or hair ribbon, causing a panic for their parents. Having these basic essentials in stock at the showgrounds almost guarantees sales and builds your brand over time.

What to Consider When Starting a Business in the Equestrian Industry

Like any business, starting an equestrian business is a big undertaking. There’s a lot to consider before you make the leap. You have to act like a business owner, not a horse enthusiast .

Time Commitment

Small business owners work 50 or 60 hours a week . You may be excited at the idea of spending your day around horses, but remember that a lot of the work involved in running an equestrian business won’t actually be spent on the horses.

An equestrian business is still a business. Much of your time will be spent handling work that’s more or less the same with every business – accounting, marketing, etc. Unless you hire or outsource that work, it falls on you.

Then you also have to take on the actual horse stuff. If you open a boarding facility, that means mucking stalls, feeding horses multiple times a day, and filling water buckets. If you open a big facility with 50 horses and minimal staff, that’s a lot of hours and balancing your workload and personal life.

Equestrian businesses need multiple contracts to operate legally. Without them, you and your business may not be protected.

Operating agreements: LLCs need to have operating agreements that determine how distributions and losses are shared, how the business is managed and taxed, and more.

Website contracts: If you have a website, you need these contracts for legal protection – a privacy policy, terms and conditions, and clear information at the footer that links the aforementioned contracts, your copyright symbol, and a disclaimer.

Equestrian businesses may need additional contracts, including:

• Boarding agreement: If you’re boarding animals on your property, you must have a boarding agreement with the animal’s owner that details the timeframe and general terms of the arrangement.
• Liability release waivers: If you allow anyone to ride your horse, whether one time or for a lease or lesson agreement, you need a liability release waiver to protect you in the event of an accident.
• Bill of sale: If you’re selling animals, a bill of sale document is necessary to outline the details of the terms of purchase, the animal’s health, and the terms of the transfer. This is essentially a proof of purchase.
• Breeding contract: If you’re breeding, you need a stringent breeding contract that includes the parties involved, the time of breeding, the fees and expenses, any health or condition guarantees, rebreeding rights, liability clauses, and more.
• Transport: Transporting a horse is a big liability issue. Accidents can occur on the road or a horse can be stolen, and the business needs a contract for transporting animals for someone else.
• Employment: If you’re hiring support staff for your equestrian business, you will need employment contracts for each type of employee.

Cities and counties plan to shape the character of communities with zoning and regulations. There’s no requirement for local governments to have similar land use ordinances or planning processes, even in the same county, so it’s important for you to contact the local offices to determine the laws and ordinances that apply to a commercial equestrian property.

Local zoning ordinances and codes can apply to everything from boarding and riding horses to providing lessons and designing and building stables and buildings. Avoid headaches in the future by doing your due diligence before you get the ball rolling on your business.

Once you’ve mapped out the ideas, starting your business is much simpler. The specifics will depend on the type of business you choose, but here are general steps to starting your own equestrian business.

Know Your Market

It’s not enough to just love horses to start an equestrian business. You have to know who your clients are. Without that, you could approach everything the wrong way for the people you’re trying to attract, and you’re dead in the water.

Marketing research is crucial before starting a business. Before you begin with a business plan, marketing strategy, or shopping for horse property, do some research. Check out comparable businesses in the area and see how they operate and what their clients expect, so you can plan accordingly.

Find Your Profit Motive

Often, people get into horse businesses because they’re pursuing a passion. While that’s not entirely wrong, it’s vital to pursue a business for its profit motive. If you want to “do what you love” without concern for money, you’re talking about a hobby, not a business.

A profit motive is the desire for financial gain and maximized profits. This is motivation to innovate and take risks for economic gain.

Worse yet, if you can’t find a realistic way that you can make money with your equestrian business, you may be viewed by the IRS as a tax shelter. You could be subject to an audit, and if you can’t show how you’ll earn a profit, then it’s a hobby and things can get messy with penalties and interest. Always find a profit motive and you can avoid this hassle.

Develop a Business Plan

Many business owners venture into business without a solid business plan. The business plan may be the most important step, since this can show you if your business is destined to succeed or fail.

The business plan doesn’t need to be overly formal or designed like a presentation with fancy graphics and statistics – unless you’re looking for a significant loan or investor. It’s essentially for you to analyze your business idea, costs, and revenue to see if you can create a profitable business.

Do your research and include information like:

• The size and location of the market
• The competition
• Fixed and variable costs
• Market availability

With these numbers, you can forecast how much money your business can make against your expenses each week, month, and year.

Structure Your Business

All businesses need a well-formed business plan that includes market analysis and evaluation of income potential and likely expenses. Is there a need for your business in the current market? Will you have potential clients? Can you make your business profitable?

The more research and effort you put into this in the beginning, the more stability and security you’ll have moving forward.

You also need to determine what business structure is the best for your needs and protects your personal interests from liability. Whether you choose a sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation will also determine the record-keeping and tax requirements .

Know Your Insurance Requirements

Whether it’s required in your state or not, insurance is a key component of an equestrian business. Horses and equestrian activities are inherently dangerous, and you may need multiple types of insurance to make sure you’re covered.

General liability insurance, or small business liability insurance, provides coverage for claims that result from normal business activities. You may also need commercial property insurance, which protects your business’s physical assets, such as a stable, from fire, burst pipes, storms, vandalism, theft, and explosions.

In addition, you may need liability release waivers . These agreements outline the risk the rider is taking when they ride your horse or ride in your facility. Depending on the type of business you have, these liability waivers may be general or specific to the activity.

Determine Fixed and Variable Costs

At the end of the day, businesses need to be profitable to succeed. Being profitable means you’ve covered all your expenses and you have money left over to pay yourself and continue putting money into the business.

To start, list all the expenses your business will have. This may be trickier than you think, especially when you consider fixed costs and variable costs.

Fixed costs will remain the same regardless of how much you produce. These include your rental or mortgage payments and insurance. Variable costs are costs that change based on the amount of output you produce. So, if you have a boarding facility and bring in more horses, the expenses you’d see change would include labor costs and feed, hay, and water costs.

Identify the Unique Selling Proposition

A lot of businesses fail because they can’t differentiate themselves from their competitors enough to get a foothold in the market. Whatever your business idea is, you have to find a way to be different.

With an equestrian facility, that can be more challenging. You could be surrounded by competitors, so think about what you have to offer that’s different. Maybe your stable caters to a different discipline, or you offer a more down-to-earth alternative to the snobbier, upscale facilities nearby.

Come up with reasons that your company is different from everyone else and why a client should give you their business. Once you have this, it can inform the rest of your marketing strategy.

Develop a Marketing and Branding Strategy

Marketing is a must in the modern business world. No matter how great your equestrian business is , without marketing, no one will know about it.

Marketing strategy starts with a goal. Sure, your overarching goal is to make money, but focus on goals for your campaigns like boosting brand awareness, getting more prospects, or increasing your audience on social media pages.

Then, consider your audience. Think about who they are and what appeals to them. If your audience is diverse, you can segment it and deliver more targeted campaigns. For example, you might take a different approach to attract kids for riding lessons compared to their parents. Creating segments ensures that you’re keeping your message tailored to the audience.

From there, develop ideas for your campaigns that reflect your brand. Start small with just a few marketing channels, such as email, social media, and paid search ads. Test and tweak your campaigns regularly to determine what’s working and find areas for improvement. Once you get the hang of it, you can scale your campaigns to more channels and broader audiences.

Also, consider marketing more than just your business. If you have a riding stable, think about marketing your instructor or trainer as well as the facility. If you’re breeding, you’ll need marketing campaigns for your studs, mares, and foals.

Once you have your business up and running, raking in clients, you can think about how you can grow your business to become more profitable.

Content Marketing

Content is a very useful and versatile tool in the equestrian industry. Horse owners and riders are always looking for information, and there’s so much to choose from.

You can promote content about your business, your background, and your employees. Some equestrian businesses are successful with highlighting professional riders or trainers in features, sharing stories about horses throughout history, or writing humorous articles about success and failure in the competition ring.

For niche businesses, the content can be a little narrower. For example, a professional grooming business could write content with tips and tricks for braiding, the new trends for horse show style, and guides for how to properly body clip a horse.

It’s important to be creative and understand what your audience is looking for. If you deal with beginner riders, it’s best to keep the content introductory and basic to support learning. If you’re working with high-level professionals, avoid simple topics like “how to tack up a horse.”

The way content promotes a business is by putting it in front of the audience in a less intrusive way than an ad. When a client searches for information in Google, such as “things to look for in a professional horse trainer,” they will see your content. If what they read offers value, they may seek out more content from you or look into your site and what you have to offer.

Over time, prospective clients come to view you as an authority. Then, when they need similar services, your business is top of mind.

Social Media

Virtually all consumers expect brands to be on social media, even an equestrian brand. Building an online following takes time and dedication, but it can have a significant impact on your sales and exposure.

Start by creating business accounts on the social media platforms that contain most of your audience. Share content regularly that’s appropriate for the platform, such as short video clips for TikTok and industry-focused articles on LinkedIn.

As people like or comment, be sure to interact with them and answer any questions they may have. You’ll increase the engagement of your followers, encouraging more shares and exposure to a larger audience.

Affiliate Marketing

Content not only benefits you with more authority and exposure, but it’s a wealth of opportunity for affiliate marketing. This type of marketing is performance-based and rewards businesses for traffic or leads they generate.

For an equestrian business, you have numerous products that you can review and promote in your content. For example, talking about a new hoof oil in a blog post about hoof care encourages visitors to click on the link, driving them to the affiliate site and earning you money in the process.

Email Marketing

Despite the rise of other marketing techniques, email marketing is still one of the most effective ways to get your message out there. People subscribe to an email list, so you have the benefit of an audience you already know is interested in what you have to share.

Your email campaigns can include promoted content or helpful tips and tricks for your clients, product recommendations, event reminders, updates, and more – it all depends on your business model.

To gain subscribers, create gated content for your site. This is high-value, downloadable content that subscribers can access by providing their name and email. It has to be something they can’t get elsewhere, however, such as an in-depth interview or case study.

Referral Program

Referral programs work a lot like word-of-mouth recommendations. You set up a program that incentivizes your clients or non-competing businesses to refer people from their network to your business. In exchange, one of both clients get a free gift, discount, or special perk.

While the incentive doesn’t have to be expensive, it must be worthwhile. Branded merchandise, a discount on services for the referrer and the referred, or gift cards are all good incentives to recommend your business to other people.

Diversification

Equestrian businesses are subject to the state of the economy. As a luxury, horses, riding lessons, or extra services may be among the first to leave out of the budget for many people in tight times.

Diversifying or expanding your services creates more opportunities for income streams and gives you some cushion for lean periods. Boarding facilities have a wealth of options to diversify, including offering short-term boarding, renting the facility for parties or events, offering transport for shows, or adding grooming or training services to the offer.

You can get creative when coming up with new income streams. Selling equestrian products, creating your own branded merchandise, affiliate marketing, leasing horses, and horse photography are all options to inspire you.

At some point, your business will grow past the point where you have time to handle everything on your own. You may want that control, but that’s a fast track to burnout and making mistakes that can harm your reputation in the long run.

If things seem overwhelming, consider hiring to support your business’s growth. You can start with stable hands or other support staff, or keep those hands-on activities yourself and outsource your boring business tasks like accounting and marketing.

With businesses like professional grooming or facility maintenance, you can grow easily and accommodate more clients by hiring employees to take on your overflow work. The biggest aspect of this is maintaining your standards across the board. You spent a lot of time building your reputation and client loyalty, so make sure your employees are up to those same standards.

Is Your Business Scalable?

Some equestrian businesses are scalable and others are not. The idea of scalability is that whether your fixed costs are high or low, if you can add a significant number of customers without increasing your costs proportionally, the business is scalable and becomes more profitable as it grows.

Boarding, training, instruction, and breeding are not the most scalable businesses. As you take on more clients, your costs for food, water, etc. will generally increase proportionally. Conversely, a boarding facility can offset these costs by having more paying tenants, which cover more of the cost of the rent or mortgage on the facility itself.

Consider if your business is scalable, and if it isn’t, how can you diversify what you offer to gain more growth potential?

Frequently Asked Questions About Starting a Business in the Equestrian Industry

Is the horse business profitable.

With the right planning and research, any business can be profitable. It’s less about horses than it is about being prepared and educated to develop the most successful business plan.

Where Can I Find Equestrian Businesses for Sale?

Real estate listings and websites often provide both hobby and commercial equestrian properties. You can search anywhere you’re looking to go and compare the information about the land size, existing structures, zoning, taxes, and more.

Are There Equestrian Business Awards?

The United Kingdom has Equestrian Business Awards to recognize small equestrian businesses and their care for animals and contributions to the economy. These awards include veterinarians, farriers, equine dentists, instructors, riding schools, grooms, and any other equine professional.

What Should You Know Before Buying an Equestrian Business?

Few types of property or businesses require as much knowledge as those related to horses. Before you buy an equestrian business, be sure to thoroughly evaluate the property and land to ensure it’s efficient and safe for horses to avoid future headaches.

Are There Equestrian Business Apps?

There are plenty of apps designed to help equestrian business owners succeed. Apps like CRIO help facility owners and managers track boarding, training, and breeding, while the Horse Report System offers performance tracking for equine athletes to monitor body condition, training, and health. Stable Secretary is a helpful tool for barn management and tracks horse health sheets, breeding records, and payments.

What Is the Definition of an Equestrian Business?

An equestrian business is a broad term that includes businesses that focus on horses, horsemanship, horse care, and equestrian sports or leisure activities.

Starting and running a business is no small feat. When you’re starting an equestrian business, you have the added legalities, care, and challenges of horses added to the mix. This may all seem overwhelming, but as long as you have the passion, y ou can make your equestrian business a reality !

Mentioned in This Post

• The Contracts Equestrian Businesses Need
• How Equine Liability Waivers Protect Your Equestrian Business

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Homesteading.

How To Start A Livery Business

With the increasing loss of agricultural jobs, many farmers and land owners have started to look at ways to diversify and generate alternative income. A popular way to do this is to setup a livery or riding school on surplus land.

With the increasing loss of agricultural jobs, many farmers and land owners have started to look at ways to diversify and generate alternative income. A popular way to do this is to setup a livery or riding school on surplus land. In this short article, we give you an overview of the considerations you need to take into account before embarking on a new venture like this.

Experience Is Important

With proper planning and management, a livery yard or riding school can be a very profitable and rewarding business. However, if you are to make a success of it, it is important that you, or anyone you appointment to oversee the developments, has extensive experience working with horses. Many people underestimate the extent of work needed and having an experienced head on board can make the difference between success and failure.

Ask whether you have the experience necessary to make it work, or if you know anyone who does that you can afford to pay to run it for you.

Stable Management and Facilities

The facilities found at a livery yard are essential for efficient day to day management and whether it is considered an attractive location to customers looking to stable horses. From a facilities point of view, there are a number of questions you’d need to ask yourself:

• How many stable units do I need to meet initial demand?
• Do I have the space available to scale the business over time?
• Am I able to provide an appropriate level of security on tack/animals?
• Is there a facility to store hay and feed or an outdoor tap for water?
• Do I need to install additional equipment like stable fencing?
• Are there decent bridleways close by?
• Can I provide on-site parking and toilet facilities?

Another key question to ask is whether you would be likely to be granted planning permission. Indeed this is probably the first stage of any development project so make sure you’ve gone through the proper processes before investing significant time and money in other activities. Also ask whether you are planning to offer lessons or not, as extra facilities will be needed to do so.

The start-up costs of a livery business are relatively high compared to most businesses so you’ll need some sound financial backing, at least to begin with, to invest in infrastructure and market yourself before it becomes profitable.

Business Planning

Perhaps the key question to ask before beginning a new venture like this is to ask whether the demand is there? Do you believe there are enough horse owners in the area in need of services you can provide them? What about competitors? Are there any other livery yards in the area not providing a good enough service and leaving a gap in the market that your new livery can fill? This market analysis is very important and you need to think about your strategic approach from the beginning.

As with all businesses, you will also need to think about your overheads like business rates, insurance, general maintenance, staff costs, utilities costs and account for unexpected expenses. As it is a livery yard, you need to also account for water, hay, straw and other feed – working out how these costs will affect your income and determine how to charge for services. Analysing the running costs involved in this will impact on how you plan to our your livery services as part, full or DIY.

Qualifications

Whilst qualifications aren’t necessary for running a livery yard, they can definitely go a long way in attracting future customers. Horse owners will likely want to see evidence of proficiency and you can easily take courses in stable management through the British Horse Society .

Your livery yard will also not require a license, unless you plan to offer lessons, in which case they fall with the requirements of the Riding Establishments Act 1964 . A license can be obtained through your local authority.

Legal Stuff

Because you plan to accept payment for providing a service, you need to create contracts for your customers and include details about legal liability for breach of that contract. People can get very protective over their pets so you need to make it boldly clear what is included in the contract – from responsibility of vets bills to turn outs and food.

While not compulsory for livery yards, if you plan to run a riding school alongside it you will require public liability insurance. Injuries are common in this type of business and you’ll want to ensure you are covered for every eventuality. If you employ any staff, you will also need to investigate employer’s liability insurance too.

Journey Ahead

Starting a livery yard can be an extremely challenging, but ultimately rewarding experience. We have covered only a small selection of issues to be considered in this article and you must be prepared for many more unforeseen demands. This article is designed only to give a loose idea of what to expect from what can be a demanding business venture. However, if you love horses, there are few better ways to earn a living.

If you are starting a livery yard and would like some advice on how many stables to buy, contact us today for advice or more information.

Are cheap stables good value?

Buying cheap stables is tempting if you’re on a budget. However, these are often lower quality and don’t last very long.

Managing Your Mobile Shelters Through Winter

The advantages of mobile shelters and stables are many. And the benefits are felt none more so than during the harsh winter weather.

Field Shelters: Ideal For Providing Shade In The Summer

Horses can easily suffer in the summer heat. Field shelters provide an economical and effective means of shade, as they can be moved to shady and breezy areas.

Why go mobile - Mobile stables & field shelters

Price point, flexibility, and immediate use are just a few of the many advantages of mobile stables and field shelters over fixed ones.

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Starting a livery yard: 6 things you should know

Starting a livery yard is pretty much every horse lovers dream. you already love looking after your own horse, why not make it full time and look after others’ horses too you’d be able to build your own little community of horse lovers, and it would be on your very doorstep. how perfect does that sound.

However, as much as we all fantasise of building our own mini equine kingdom and starting a livery yard, there are a lot of things you really need to consider before you invest in this dream. It wouldn’t be ideal if you were to invest all of your time and money into building your dream, only for it not work out due to some minor details you may have missed.

To lend you a helping hand, we’ve put together a small list of some of the thing you should consider before diving into the deep pool that is starting a livery yard.

Perhaps the most obvious but often overlooked part of running a livery yard would be yard contracts. There needs to be a written agreement between the yard owner, the manager (if they’re different people), and your livery tenants. It’s so important that you set out rules and boundaries so clients can’t overstep or endanger themselves, the horses, or other clients. It’s also vital to layout what you are and are not legally responsible for.

You’re going to need a few different types of insurance, the most essential being public liability insurance . This is uber important that you have public liability as whilst it is optional for most businesses, it is required by law that equestrian establishments.  You may also want to look into personal accident cover, you never know when you may need to pay someone to fill in for you if you get into an accident – which I might add, is probably very likely since you’ll be working with horses.

Types of livery available

Before you can launch your business, you really need to figure out the packages that you’ll be able to offer.

Let’s run through the different “types” of livery that you can offer.

Green or Grass – Exactly what it says on the tin, you provide space in a field only.

DIY – This means that you provide the facilities, but the livery is in charge of caring for their own horse.

Part – Often this is a five-day full care deal, your horse will be fed, mucked out, and turned out for you – the exact offerings vary by yard.

Full – This includes all food, bedding, and care seven days per week – may also include riding.

Training – As full livery, but includes schooling sessions for your horse!

Location, location, location. People aren’t exaggerating when they talk about the importance of location for businesses . Think about how you would stand against other livery yards if there any local – what facilities do they offer? What can you offer?

Whilst you and these other livery yards may just want the best for everyone’s horses, at the end of the day, you’re running a business, and you need to think of how you can compete with your rivals. Think outside the box if you must, you just have to make yourself appealing and live up to those expectations that you set.

Also, look at local hacking routes. Very few riders aren’t actually bothered by local hacking, most want to be able to ride out and about safely with their beloved steed… which you can’t really do if the yard is surrounded by main roads.

Another important aspect of location is the local equestrian network – convenience is valuable to clients. What are the local vets and farriers like? Is there a local dentist or physio? These are the people you need to keep in mind whilst setting up your yard.

Taking care of your horse’s health should be a priority. Starting from their physical health and dental care to what food is best for them or what saddle pad they should wear.  Choosing the right location to have access to all these things is a big plus. You may have many questions about proper care or cleaning techniques, veterinarians are well-equipped to provide helpful advice. With the help of knowledgeable professionals, you can easily solve whatever issue may be affecting the condition of your horses’ physical health, or what kind of saddle pad is suitable for them. For example, many vets use LeMieux saddle pads , as they offer a wide range of saddle pads based on your horses’ size and what occasion you want to present them.

Another consideration is the price you can charge for your livery spaces as you don’t want to price yourself out of the running for local horse owners business.

The price varies greatly throughout the country; we’ll run through a few examples to give you an idea of what is charged elsewhere.

North of England £10-30 per week

Midlands £5-25 per week

South £40-60 per week

North of England £25-40 per week

Midlands £15-35 per week

South £60-150 per week

North of England £55-70 per week

Midlands £45-70 per week

South £75-150 per week

North of England £80-150 per week

Midlands £65-120 per week

South £150-300 per week

North of England £95-250 per week

Midlands £75-200 per week

*Averages based on research of yards with varying facilities, from turnout only to those with indoor arenas.

What do you have to offer potential clients? A functional outdoor arena? How about an indoor? Safe riding facilities are a must. A horse walker is another handy exercise facility to offer.

It is also worth investing in a horse shower and solarium for those who wish to compete – or maybe just pamper their horse – all through the year, summer and winter.

Horse showers, electric fencing supplies and other equipment you’ll need can be purchased from online retailers in the UK .

Try to aim for all year round grass turnout as turnout time is vital to all equine mental and physical health, and having this option of turnout can turn a potential client into a definite one. Not many livery yards can offer to turn out like this, especially winter grass turnout.

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STALL AND STABLE

Ideas for Happy Horsekeeping

Business Plan Guide

$ 48.00

Whether you are thinking about going out on your own or you’re already in business but looking to expand, this guide will help you write a business plan that will be essential to your long-term success.

If you need financing for any part of your business, banks and investors will require a traditional business plan. This guide provides you with the information that lenders want to see.

Description

• Reviews (1)

STEP 2 of the Stall and Stable Business Planning Toolkit

If you are serious about drawing an income from your boarding, training, or service-based horse business, start with this guide that offers detailed instructions about how to write a business plan that can turn your daydream into your day job.

A long-format business plan is the best way to fully define your business so you don’t waste time, energy, or money as you get started. It will also:

• Make you more confident as a business owner.
• Help you understand both your personal and financial needs from the business.
• Help you manage day-to-day decisions, so that the business part of your barn can run as smoothly as possible, allowing you to focus on what you truly love to do.
• And, if you will need financing to get started, a long-format business plan is required by banks, private investors, and sponsors.

This downloadable, 23-page guide provides detailed instructions and examples for each section of a business plan, including:

• How to write a great Executive Summary that will entice clients, investors, and sponsors.
• Creating a detailed description of your business, including identifying key profit centers around your farm.
• Marketing advice, like how to best position your business to your target market.
• How to plan for employees.
• Financial Projections to help you figure out how much income you can actually make.
• Sample Executive Summary (read all about Arched Arabians!)

To complete your Business Planning Toolkit, our Horse Business Financial Template makes easy work of calculating your projected income and expenses. 

1 review for Business Plan Guide

R Loucks (verified owner) – May 15, 2022

With the Equestrian Business Plan Guide I have been able to modify and edit my business plan to meet the needs of potential lenders and investors. I wish I had this before I met with my local SCORE office, because while they were extremely helpful, they were not knowledgeable of the horse industry. This guide was way more helpful than the folks I interacted with at SCORE. And I didn’t have to drive an hour and a half out of my way. “ 😊

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HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES SUCCEED

MORE DONUTS:

What do you need to know about starting a business?

• Start up business ideas
• Set up a business
• Skills and wellbeing
• Business planning
• Financing a business
• Tax and National Insurance
• Business law
• Sales and marketing
• Business premises
• Business IT
• Grow your business
• Types of business
• Testing business ideas
• Product development
• Is running a business really for you?
• Start up stories
• Registering as a sole trader
• Setting up a limited company
• Business names
• Buy a franchise
• Buying a business
• Starting an online business
• Setting up a social enterprise
• Small business support

Protect your wellbeing from the pressures of starting and running a business and develop key business skills.

• Dealing with stress
• Manage your time
• Self-confidence
• Write a business plan
• Business strategy
• Start up costs
• Start up funding
• Setting prices
• How to work out tax and NI
• Accounting and bookkeeping
• Licences and registration
• Protecting intellectual property
• Insurance for business
• Workplace health, safety and environmental rules
• Looking after your customers

Promote your business

• Your marketing strategy
• Sales techniques
• Research your market
• Creating and optimising a website
• Commercial premises
• Premises security
• People management
• Recruitment, contracts, discipline and grievance
• Employment rights
• Hiring employees
• Buying IT for your new business
• Basic IT security
• Preparing for business growth
• How to scale up your business
• Funding business growth
• Start exporting
• Personal development

How to start up a livery stable

If you love horses and working outdoors, running a livery stable could be the right career choice for you. Our practical guide will help you start up and run your livery stable business.

Research your target market

Types of livery service, the livery yard, decide which services to offer, price your services, draw up a contract for livery services, promote your stables, buy an existing business, establish your customer profiles.

Your customers will be local horse and pony owners who do not have the land, accommodation and, in some cases, the time to look after their animal themselves. Depending on their requirements you will be able to offer them a package of services that suits them. This might range from the total care of the animal, seven days a week, to just providing grazing, supervision and shelter.

Although your customers will be of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds it is likely that many of them will be children who will want to be heavily involved in the day to day care of their horse or pony. Bearing this in mind it would be worth making sure that everyone coming to the yard on a regular basis is aware of any rules you may have so that things are always put back in the right place, lights and water switched off when not in use and so on.

Estimate demand

Establish whether there is enough demand in your area for your livery stables business. You should be aware that many farmers have diversified into this type of activity because of the downturn in farm incomes. As they already own land and may have suitable buildings they are in a strong position to compete with a stand-alone livery business.

A browse on Yell.com and other similar online directories under Stables and Riding Schools will give you an idea of how many establishments currently offer livery services in your area and give you an idea of the range of activities and services they offer. Also do an online search for competitors.

Make sure that your area has lots of 'horsey' people and activities. Are there many local equestrian events? Are there lots of bridleways and opportunities for off-road riding such as moorland, woodland or beaches? Is there an active Pony Club? Is the area well provided with saddleries and tack shops, and vets with expertise in equine matters? As part of your market research you could talk to other businesses (such as farriers) about the local horse population and how popular riding is in the area. If possible, visit other livery stables to find out:

• the range of livery services they offer
• the fees they charge
• if they're British Horse Society (BHS) or Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS) approved
• whether their yards and stables are well laid out and maintained
• how busy they are - do they have a waiting list or do they have many vacancies?.

Why will horse owners choose your livery stables?

You need to make sure that enough clients will choose your stables rather than your competitors'. It may be that your market research has shown there is a gap in the market that you can fill. For example, perhaps no one locally provides a floodlit arena and jumps (useful during the winter months) or offers breaking and schooling services. Be wary about competing mainly on price - horse owners are generally prepared to pay for the provision of a good quality service from well maintained and secure stables.

Becoming BHS approved will reassure potential customers that you aim to provide them with the highest standards of service and conform to the latest health and safety requirements. You will also be able to reach a wider audience for your business by promoting it through the BHS website and publications including British Horse magazine, the UK's highest circulating equestrian magazine.

Research current trends, plus legal and tax issues

• Sector trends for livery stables
• Legal issues for livery stables
• VAT rules for livery stables

Livery stables are used by horse owners who do not have the facilities or time to house, feed and care for their animals. Many different types of arrangement are offered, depending on the requirements and resources of the horse or pony owner.

Competition livery

This is the most expensive type of livery because the stables has responsibility for every aspect of looking after the horse - feeding, grooming, regular exercise, attention to health, and so on. The horse is made ready for local events and competitions and, in some cases, is transported there in a horse box. All the horse's owner has to do is mount, enjoy the ride and hand the animal back to the stables at the end of the session.

Full livery

This arrangement suits horse owners who have time to ride several times a week but do not have the time or inclination to attend to the everyday care of the animal. The stables is responsible for feeding, grooming, mucking out, any additional exercise needed, shoeing, and so on. Full livery may include turning out and bringing in seven or five days a week, depending on what the horse owner is able to do themselves. Generally, shoeing and vet's fees aren't included in the fee.

This type of livery provides for the stables to accommodate the horse but the horse owner retains the responsibility for caring for the animal, including feeding, grooming, turning out and exercising it. Usually the stables sells the feed and bedding to the owner but the owner does all the work. Sometimes DIY livery is provided at weekends in conjunction with a full livery package during the week.

Grass livery

The stables accepts the horse for supervised grazing. Some form of shelter is normally provided as well as access to a water supply. The horse owner can leave the tack and any supplementary feed in a secure store.

Part livery

Part livery arrangements vary according to the owner's requirements, but typically the stables provides accommodation, grazing, feeding and mucking out while the owner is generally responsible for exercise and grooming.

Working livery

This arrangement is more commonly found in riding schools - the livery fee is reduced, but in return the school can use the horse for a number of hours per week for riding lessons. The owner of the horse is usually responsible for the cost of shoeing, worming and vet's fees.

Other arrangements

A variety of other services may be offered alongside the provision of caring, feeding and accommodation services for the horse. For example, you might offer horse and rider training, schooling and breaking liveries. Some stables look after horses which are for sale - this involves keeping the horse in good condition, advertising it and showing it to potential buyers. It is a good idea to be as flexible as possible so long as the services you offer are producing enough income for the business.

Livery may be offered for both short and long term stays.

In order to offer a full range of livery services you will need:

• stabling that is well constructed, lit and ventilated. British Horse Society (BHS) and British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) standards specify a minimum size of 10ft x 10ft for ponies, 12ft x 12ft for horses, and larger animals should be given an extra 2ft of width (either 10ft x 12ft or 12ft x 14ft). They also recommend that the height of the stable should be between 9 and 11 feet, with a minimum of 3 feet of clearance from the roof. You can download the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses, Ponies, Donkeys and their Hybrids from the Gov.uk website. This contains detailed guidance on stable sizes, pasture, fencing and other accommodation matters
• dry and secure storage for feed, hay and straw. Think about how you will keep rats and mice out of feed stores. You'll also need to make sure thieves don't steal hay and other feed - this has become more of a problem as the price has risen
• a secure store for owners' tack and other equipment
• one or more heated rug rooms
• a muck pile/storage area
• a yard where horses can be washed down and groomed
• toilet facilities for both staff and horse owners
• grazing. The amount of land you will need will depend on whether it is to provide total grass keep or supplementary grazing. However, BHS guidelines specify at least one acre for each horse. Good pasture management is essential. (You can download the Pasture Management advisory leaflet from the BHS website.) Think about providing a shelter from the elements and also how you will provide a water supply
• parking facilities

If you have enough space and resources, consider providing a floodlight arena and/or an indoor school. This provides an opportunity for riders to exercise during the winter months. Also consider kitting out a rest room with drink and snack vending machines.

As well as offering livery services on a variety of different terms (full, DIY, grass and so on) there are many other services that you might consider offering, depending on your resources.

It will help attract horse owners to your stables if you can offer them something extra.

For example, where will horse owners ride during the evenings in the winter months? You might provide a floodlit arena with jumps or an indoor school. You could even generate extra income by hiring out the school for other activities.

Your clients might welcome the opportunity to have some riding lessons to improve their technique. If you do not have the qualifications and experience to offer these yourself, use a freelance trainer.

Think about becoming involved with the British Horse Society (BHS) Participation Project which aims to get horse owners more involved with their horse and with horse activities. Centres that participate offer horse owners theory and practical training courses, for which they charge a fee.

You could offer horse 'B&B' to visitors to your area who would like to bring their horses with them. You could participate in the BHS Horses Welcome scheme - the BHS will inspect the horse accommodation you offer and include your details in their online Find a Horses Welcome establishment directory.

If you have the expertise you could offer a range of other services such as:

• clipping and plaiting
• breaking and schooling
• riding demonstrations

Your customers might welcome a full tack cleaning or rug/bandage washing service.

If you have the space, consider selling tack, grooming equipment, rugs and so on, not only to your livery customers but to any horse owner. You could also see whether other horse owners with their own land and stabling would be interested in buying feed, hay and bedding from you.

You might be prepared to sell your clients' horses for them, keeping a proportion of the sale price as commission.

The number of stables you have and the acreage of your grazing land will inevitably limit the number of horses you can accommodate at any time. And you may not be 100% full all the time although some well-run establishments are so much in demand that they have a waiting list.

So you will need to consider:

• how much income you need to earn to cover all of your operating costs, including your own drawings
• how many horses and ponies you can accommodate
• how busy you are likely to be - your utilisation rate
• the costs you will incur per horse such as bedding, concentrate feeds, hay, and so on
• what other expenditure you are prepared to include in your livery fee

This will help you to come up with a tariff for the different types of livery you offer. Although you must base this on your own costs, you will need to make sure your fees are broadly in line with your competitors. Visit as many livery stables websites as possible to get a feel for what other businesses charge, and what they include in the fee. The Farm Management Pocketbook by John Nix contains useful information about typical livery charges. You can order a current issue of the Pocketbook from the pocketbook.biz website.

The British Horse Society (BHS) produces a guide to the cost of keeping a horse or pony which includes typical monthly fees for different types of livery. You can download The Cost of Keeping a Horse or Pony from the BHS website.

Special offers and discounts

You might be prepared to have promotional special offers from time to time. For example, free straw or hay for one month when a new customer signs up.

Some livery stables offer discounts to owners who have more than one horse at livery - but make sure you are still making a reasonable profit if you do this. If the livery fee includes feed, hay and so on and costs go up, your profit margin may become too small.

It can be worth offering an incentive to existing customers if they introduce another horse owner. This might be a small discount for a few weeks, some free bedding or feed, or the provision of a free service, for example clipping.

Because there are a number of different livery arrangements, and different owners have different requirements, it is important that you draw up a contract that clearly sets out the services included in the fee and the services or items for which extra charges will be made. Also outline any rules you may have, such as hours of access, where clients may safely leave their vehicles, responsibility for removing droppings from the yard, and so on.

Matters to consider when drawing up a contract include:

• which services you will provide and how much they will cost
• when the fees are payable - some liveries request monthly payments in advance
• who is responsible for veterinary charges and other expenses such as shoeing and worming
• what equipment will be provided by the client; for example, grooming equipment, buckets and haynets
• which vet or farrier to use and whether these can be called out at the stables' discretion
• who has responsibility for inoculations - it is important that all the horses you care for have up-to-date flu and tetanus vaccinations
• the insurance cover for the horse itself and for any damage it might cause in the yard. Each party should be clear as to their respective responsibility

You can access a draft contract for livery services from the British Horse Society (BHS) website.

The right image

Horse owners will want the best they can afford for their animals, so make sure that your stables, yard and pasture are well maintained and smart. Keep fences and gates mended and secure and make sure your grazing land is kept free from poisonous plants. Your staff should be well trained because a good working relationship with your customers is vital.

Whatever the range of livery and other services you decide to offer, you'll need to make sure your potential clients know about you. Of course, word of mouth recommendation is one of the best ways of getting customers, but there are a number of things you can do which will promote your business:

• advertise in your local newspaper and any local leisure directories
• establish good relationships with other local horse businesses such as vets, farriers, farm suppliers, feed merchants, saddlers and riding schools, so that they refer people to you
• contact local riding clubs and perhaps sponsor an event
• gain BHS Approved Livery status to benefit from a listing in their directory
• set up your own website highlighting the quality service you offer - it's a good idea to include plenty of photos of the stabling, the yard and grazing
• use social media like Facebook and Twitter to tell clients about events - for example, dressage clinics. Short videos of customers using your ménage and other facilities might go down well on YouTube

You might decide to buy an existing livery business rather than start your own venture from scratch. Buying a going concern can mean that the products, customers, regular sales, staff, premises and equipment are already in place.

But buying a business  can be a hazardous, expensive process unless you have the right skills and experience on your team, including legal and financial know-how. Establish the genuine trading and financial position, so that the price you pay for the business is not too high.

• the state of the stables, yard, equipment and so on. Will you have to spend money refurbishing or replacing assets, or installing new amenities like an indoor arena?
• the quality of the land - will you be able to accommodate a sufficient number of animals without the pasture deteriorating?

Browse topics: Start up business ideas

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Small Business Guidance

Below you will find guidance for owners and managers of equestrian establishments with regards to guidance and support for the creation and management of small businesses. This guidance is free to access and has been sourced from reputable sources. 

The information contained on the Yard Owner Hub is provided for guidance only, and we encourage all users to consider their own circumstances and take professional advice where appropriate in relation to the management of their business and the equines in their care.

You may also find useful webinars or podcasts covering these subjects on our Webinars page.

These resources are available free of charge to all, and always will be. All we ask is that if you use any of the documentation, or find the information contained herein useful, please consider adding your yard to LiveryList, and/ or making a secure donation to help cover the work and research that goes into providing these resources:

Thhinking of Working for Yourself (HMRC)

Considerations when starting a business (butler & co), business structures- which to choose (butler & co), running a ltd company (butler & co), business plans- quick guide (butler & co), creating a business plan (citibank), the entrepreneur’s guide to building a successful business, securing business success (butler & co), how to be innovative in the equine sector (lha), creating a modern and thriving equine business (cla), community amateur sports clubs and hmrc (butler & co), our partners.

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How To Start A Livery Yard For Horses - The Essentials

So the horse bug has well and truly bitten, you know a fair amount about keeping horses and you think that you could make a great yard owner? There is always demand for a good yard, especially if the yard owner is approachable and manageable, so if you do it right, starting a livery yard could be a wonderful experience for you and a great opportunity for nearby horse owners. 

Planning Permissions

Unless you’re taking over an existing livery yard and have no plans to change or add anything to the existing buildings, you’re probably going to have to apply for planning permission, which can be done online by clicking here. If you’re unsure on whether you’ll need planning permission, you can read more here and then possibly contact the relevant local authorities. 

The Legal Stuff

You’ll also then need to register your business name, speak to lawyers and accountants and do all the boring “legal stuff” to ensure that you are running your business completely above board.

On top of this, once your livery yard dream is becoming a reality, you’ll need to take out the relevant insurance, and your yard setup and agreement might have an impact on what the right type is. Generally, you will need public liability insurance, but you might also require further insurance on top of that, which could include care and control, building or machinery insurance and many others. Your best bet is to speak to a reputable insurance company to discuss your needs and then compare some quotes to find the right option for you – but insurance is definitely necessary and should not be overlooked!

Type of Yard

Now that the logistics are out of the way, you can move on to the fun horse-related stuff! If you’re building new, then do some research on different layouts of yards, what works well and what doesn’t. For instance, one of the pet peeves of many horse owners is having to walk through other paddocks to fetch their horse, as it can be dangerous and stressful. If your yard will be large, consider having two tack rooms so that people don’t have to walk for miles carrying tack before they reach their stable. 

Secure Paddocks

The best way to secure paddocks (in terms of cost and protection provided) is through electric fencing. One of the best brands for electric fencing supplies is Hotline .

Competition

Once your yard is nearly ready to be open for business you’ll want to look at competition in the area, see what prices are being charged, what livery options are available and what facilities other yards have. Of course, Google and word of mouth should give you a good idea of the options, but Facebook is turning out to be a more and more important source of information with regards to horse classifieds, so post on some local groups and do your research! Make sure to make your pricing competitive, especially if your facilities or livery options are not too different to other yards in the area. Remember to draw up contracts for the different types of livery options, and ensure these contracts are legally binding. 

Once you’ve decided on your price, how many horses you want to take and so on, marketing is the name of the game. Post adverts on popular horsey websites and Facebook groups, put flyers on your local tack room, and get the word out that a new yard is ready to take in liveries. If you run things professionally, provide good value for money, and choose your liveries carefully, you could even end up with a waiting list and very solid reputation!

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Setting up your own livery yard

Could you run your own livery yard?

What are the costs involved, reducing costs, where is the ideal location, taking over a livery, your unique selling point, marketing your livery, which services and facilities must you provide, diy livery yards, larger yards, providing a training service, protecting your hard-earned reputation.

This article explains everything you need to know about setting up your own livery yard and its maintenance. The information given here can also help you establish a strong market position for your yard.

Before letting passion rule reason, there are some fundamental issues to consider. You need to:

• understand the business and the market for livery services
• have savings that can be used as capital
• be or at least know someone who is 'handy', otherwise you will pay through the nose for maintenance
• be both a horse person and a people person.

It is advisable to have an equestrian qualification, as this reassures clients as to your soundness to look after their horse. It also means you can charge more for training, exercising or riding lessons.

Some costs are fixed and therefore unavoidable if you are to go into business, others are variable and depend on how many clients you have.

Your fixed overheads will include your mortgage or rent, business rates, insurance and property maintenance costs.

The large majority of your day to day running costs are mostly variable, including electricity, water, hay and straw, and of course wages. While your bills will be lower with fewer clients, there will still be a minimum level of costs to stay open.

You should also factor in some reserve for any emergency costs, such as a payment of excess on insurance or a one-off building repair.

You may need money to extend the facilities. For example, it might be necessary to seek planning permission to build the yard from scratch, or extend even small outbuildings or install a ménage.

Between you and your clients, there should be a legal livery contract drawn up. This protects you against damage caused to your property, either willful or through negligence. It also protects you if the client decides to sue for malpractice, as it would state your responsibilities compared to theirs.

There are means of reducing costs.

Buying hay and straw in bulk is highly recommended. Find out how much it would cost to rubber mat the stables; a one-off payment now means less straw or shavings on an on-going basis (and this also reduces the time it takes to muck out).

As with every business, shop around before purchasing for equipment - though, be mindful of your target client, as anyone paying upward of £60 a week will not appreciate a skimp on quality.

Reduce your electricity by posting 'Switch Off' signs around the yard - it only takes one forgetful person to have the bills mount up!

Limit heating costs: supply a kettle, and most clients will happily warm themselves up on hot drinks and forgive you if the tack room is stone cold. Unless you are providing a high-end service, you shouldn't need to provide central heating.

Importantly, the yard must be close to where you live. You need to be able to get there quickly in an emergency.

Additionally, you do not want the commute adding to your running costs.

Preferably you need to be within ten miles of a town to attract as many clients as possible. But you also need to be somewhere that isn't already 'saturated' with yards already. Read more about what clients are looking for when finding a livery yard .

Taking over livery stables that are currently running can be advantageous - you should already have clients, a pricing structure and facilities established.

If this is the case, you do need to investigate why it is up for sale or lease to ensure it wasn't running at a devastating loss!

Establishing a Unique Selling Point (USP) should help your business distinguish itself from other yeards, and reduce your direct competition with them. Your USP could be the type of livery you offer, or the type of training expertise, the facilities, the access to off-road hacking or the distance to local venues.

Avoid undercutting your competitors (i.e. a USP based on price alone). You may run at a loss or fall short in quality if you can't make enough money. Low prices are important to many people, but there are often factors that are more important, for which they will happily pay. This might include something you don't directly influence, such as the proximity of your yard to their home.

Once you have decided your USP and have established the business, you must advertise it.

Place adverts in local feed shops, tack shops, riding schools, newspapers or even shop windows. Don't be afraid of leafleting at local shows.

Network with local vets and farriers, as they will spread the word for you. See if it is possible to do a deal whereby they will shoe or vaccinate horses at a lower cost on one call. Clients appreciate these type of deals.

It depends on you and your circumstances.

You need to decide whether the yard is going to be your main source of income and, thus, your full-time job. This decision will dictate what type of service you are going to offer.

For someone who wants a small place where they can keep their own horse and make some money from renting the spare stables, then a DIY yard is advisable. You are responsible for the maintenance of the place; they are fully responsible for the horse. You do not have to provide a state-of-the-art service at a DIY yard since most of your clients will own horses for leisure: sometimes, a small schooling area and access to quiet lanes/bridleways will suffice.

DIY liveries seldom charge more than £40 a week, depending on facilities, and the client-owner relationship is usually quite 'casual' with cash payments per week and shorter notice periods for departure. 'Casual' relationships shouldn't mean that your attitude towards the business is casual - the yard still needs to be run as a business. We recommend using our DIY livery agreement template for 'do-it-yourself' arrangements.

There are some clients, don't forget, who are happy to hop between every DIY yard in the area. DIY yards work best when the owner isn't under financial pressure to fill every stable and can be selective about who they allow on the yard; this means you have people there you trust so that you do not feel like you have to be on-site all the time.

The larger the yard, the greater the time commitment will be for you and the greater the expenses. It is important to do the maths and determine how many stables you need to fill at what price in order to break even. If this is high, DIY might not be an option.

Part livery involves you caring for the horse's daily needs at least some if not every day of the week. You can charge between £70-120 for this per week, and it is essential to know what other yards in the area are charging so that yours matches what clients are willing to pay.

The time cost of caring for the horses may require you or someone else to live on-site. Grooms can be given accommodation on-site with rent deducted from their wages (use a service occupancy contract ); however, most grooms are young, ambitious riders so you will need to manage them and provide a code of practice to ensure they act professionally.

Full livery also requires you to provide an extensive service, including exercising the horse.

If you have expertise and qualifications in a particular discipline, then providing training is a credible option. You can offer training packages that mean the horse is housed on-site for a particular length of time, to either prepare for the upcoming season or to progress their career. This package comes at a premium rate and is often more profitable.

However, this will mean having a regular cycle of clients so you may choose to restrict it to only one or two 'slots' until you have built up a local reputation and therefore a client base.

Clients at part and full liveries expect more in terms of facilities. At a minimum, you should provide adequate toilets and changing facilities for them, a proper floodlit ménage and access to off-road hacking for their horse.

A clean and professional look is also essential. Everything must be well maintained, including adequate fencing and good muck heap management.

It is highly recommended that you seek BHS Approval - this comes at an added cost, but it shows you are willing to undergo inspection without notice and meet all the BHS' standards for a livery yard.

Lastly, once the yard is set up, do not let something small ruin its reputation.

Ensure that all the horses are thoroughly vaccinated, wormed and free of common viruses such as strangles. Make sure all areas are securely locked. Make sure all maintenance work is complete and therefore everywhere is safe. Ensure the grooms are trained and understand the routines.

It only takes one unfortunate slip-up in the early stage for the word to spread like wildfire, since the horse business runs largely on word of mouth. It pays to be extra vigilant. One way you can help protect your business is to use comprehensive legal contracts. A good contract will make clear your responsibilities, the responsibilities of the horse owner, and help protect you in claims against you that were negligent in your duties of care.

LiveryList Focus On… Making a Profit from Your Yard

Spring is a popular time for new yards to open, and for established yard owners to review the previous year. This can range from yards based at large equestrian centres, to people offering livery at their private yard at home. Competition is fierce for affordable livery and it’s easy to provide competitive livery rates without considering your own finances or outgoings to run the business. If you don’t correctly price your livery and the services you offer, it may be that it actually costs you to run your yard! Below we give some useful advice as to how to calculate what your clients should be paying and what you should be considering when calculating these costs.

Below are some guidelines, and at the bottom of the page, you will find resources relating to the content including additional information and template documents.

Many yard owners base their price on what other livery is available locally, without calculating their own outgoings to see if this is financially viable, with many yards even choosing to undercut the competition purely based on price. It’s easy to forget that yards may look the same on the outside- offering the same services or facilities in a similar location- yet the management and financial structure can be very different yard to yard, and this can hugely vary and dictate which yards make money, and which don’t.

In order to calculate what you should be charging you need to include every cost you incur through your business for each livery package, plus a contingency amount to cover price increases or unforeseen costs. You can use the preceding year’s invoices and costs as a guide. Most importantly do not forget to put a value on your own time! It may seem complicated to work out, but with the right information to hand it should only take a few minutes. To make it easy, at the bottom of the article we have included a ready to complete calculation sheet, and example calculation.

Unfortunately, you may be surprised by the outcome and find that in fact, it is costing you to run your yard. In which case you will need to raise your charges in line with the costs you have calculated. There is no point ignoring the fact or making excuses so as not to raise charges because it will make you ‘expensive’ compared to other yards or worrying that you may lose clients. Your yard is a business, and people run businesses to earn an income. If you are running a yard and working full time hours on the yard every week, on top of covering your costs, it’s not unreasonable to be expecting to earn a full-time wage! So many yard owners cover their running costs but earn the equivalent of pence per hour for all the hard labour and stress involved with running a yard.

All businesses should do an annual review of their earnings and expenditure- it just makes good business sense. Record keeping is key. Having good records of your invoices to clients, and of any expenditure will allow you to see your true costs for the business. Reviewing the previous years running costs is also a good opportunity for you to see your outgoings and think of potential ways to bring them down for future years- from changing suppliers to introducing new yard procedures. This can only benefit your business in the long run and increase profitability.

Each stable on a yard will have the same base rate. Regardless if one of your client’s horses is retired and doesn’t use the arena, or one horse less hay than the horse in the next stable, what you are looking for is an average cost per stable. The next horse in that stable might use the arena twice a day and eat twice as much as its predecessor! Remember also, the calculation sheet allows you to work out your costs and compare them to your livery charges. This does not allow for any profit, so if you want to add profit onto your livery business, you should add your preferred profit percentage to your costs (all explained on the calculation sheet below).

This is also an opportunity to review your additional service charges as well, such as holiday cover or smaller one-off services. For any services you offer, be realistic as to the time and effort it takes to carry these out. In your mind it may only take a ‘few minutes’ to bring a horse in of an evening, but realistically by the time you’ve walked to the field, caught it, brought it in, hosed its legs off, checked it over, put it in the stable, changed its rug and so on its really more like 15 minutes, maybe longer if it’s a walk to the fields or they are a pain to catch. So, you need to ensure you allow for this time used and charge fairly for your labour. If you charge £2 for this service, that’s the equivalent of £8 an hour, less if it takes you more than 15 minutes. Is this an hourly rate you would be happy to work for anywhere else? Same for offering exercise. You may well charge a rate for 30 minutes exercise, but if you must catch, groom and tack up the horse, and then turn it out again afterwards, this is considerably more time than the 30 minutes you are charging for. Review each of your services on an individual basis, working out how long each would take on average, and basing this against what you pay your staff, or an hourly rate you’d be happy to work for. If you have clients who use services a lot, a small increase can soon add up and further help cover your yard costs and labour.

You simply cannot base any of your costs on what your competitors charge. Many new yards open that are cheaper than those in the locality, this could be because their outgoings are lower, or it could be that they are purposefully under-pricing, yet naïve of their true running costs and as such may soon fall foul of this lack of funds. Underestimating costs is one of the biggest factors leading to yard closures, with the yards that under-price unable to offer the quality of management or products, maintenance of facilities, of staffing expertise that other yards can once the shortfall of funds adds up. However, do not immediately discount all cheaper yards under this umbrella, as its equally the case that they simply have lesser costs that you!

It is also a universal fact that costs increase year on year, whether this is insurance, bedding, farrier services, council rates… they will all rise over time. As such, like so many other businesses and industries, you should reflect this increase each year. A smaller, expected and well managed annual increase will be better accepted by clients than a huge leap every few years. Include in your contract a clause that allows you to review, increase, and give notice as such on a fixed date each year.

Clients have the same with their home utility bills, council tax and other household costs so there is no reason why they should not be accepting of it for livery services as well. Below is also a template price increase letter to help with your administration if this is a step you need to take.

Overall, spending an hour reviewing your costs and carrying out these calculations can make you a lot better off financially. Any business advisor or accountant would recommend an annual review of any business, and even if you see running your yard as a ‘hobby’ its worth knowing where you’re at when it comes to your finances. Its no point being the cheapest yard in the area if you may as well be paying your clients to be there!

The following is a very basic example.

Yard X has 10 liveries- all on a DIY basis (stable and grazing rent only).

Based on their 2018 costs, the yards annual outgoings, including labour, are £15,670

Adding a 10% contingency (to cover price increases, unforeseen costs etc) gives a total annual outgoing of £17,237

Divided by the number of livery spaces (in this example 10) – £1723.70

Divided by 12 to gives a ‘per calendar month’ amount per stable – £143.64

Based on this calculation, Yard X needs to be charging a minimum per calendar month of £143.64 (say round up to £145) just to cover their costs.

If, for example, they are only charging £120 per month, they are not even covering their own costs.

For the full guide, you can download the Template Calculation sheet here:

Template Livery Charges Calculation Guidance Sheet 

You can find further resources and templates on this topic on the following YOH Resource pages:

Client Administration

Livery Contracts

Business Management and Planning

Facility Planning, Management and Hire

This information as provided above is intended to provide guidance and areas for consideration for those intending to enter into such arrangements, and is best advice to our knowledge at the time of publication following extensive research. Anyone proposing to enter into agreements, processes or actions based upon the information contained herein are advised to carry out their own due diligence to ensure the information above remains current and factual. 

© Livery List 2020

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• Do I need planning permission to run an equestrian business from the farm?

Guidance on the planning requirements for equestrian businesses.

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• Rural Business Advice
• Planning permission

Terminology

When it comes to planning there are certain terms that will be useful for you to be aware of. The below are not planning definitions but are helpful to distinguish for the purposes of understanding this guide.

• Operational development / building works – the building of something attached to your land
• Change of use – the change of use of land or buildings
• Permitted development – certain development (building or change of use) is permitted by planning law and does not need planning consent from the Council. However, it often requires ‘prior notification’ to the Council to inform them that you intend to use your permitted development rights.

Planning basics

On the whole, whenever you undertake operational development i.e. the building of something, you will need to demonstrate you either have permitted development rights or will need planning consent.

See also: Animal and equestrian business ideas

You can generally change the use of land from agriculture to ‘something else’ for up to 28 days per year without the need to make a planning application through permitted development rights. However, anything that occurs for over 28 days in a year will generally require permission, even if it is only seasonal.

Do I need planning permission to graze horses on the farm?

If you are purely grazing horses, without using the field for anything else, including jumps or exercise, and without any structures such as stables, portacabins or containers then no you don’t need planning permission.

Do I need planning to exercise horses on the farm – either myself or as a business?

If you are planning on using a certain area of your land to ride on regularly i.e. over 28 days in a year, then yes you will need planning permission for a change of use to equestrian or mixed if still used partially for agricultural.

See also: Business start-up guide - Livery yard

Do I need planning to put up stables?

Mobile field shelters are a grey area in planning terms. All built stables where they are constructed on site or placed onto concrete pads will almost certainly require permission, whether they are used for personal or commercial use. Generally, most Councils will grant permission for a modest couple of stables for personal use, subject to normal planning considerations.

If you seek to change the use of existing buildings, for example installing stables inside existing steel frame buildings, in most circumstances whether for personal or commercial use this will be acceptable in planning terms.

If you are considering putting up larger sets of stables for new commercial use, this will be more rigorously tested and require a higher level of detail and justification.

Do I need planning for a manege?

Yes you will. If it’s just using an existing field for exercise, with or without a fence boundary then it’s a planning application for a change of use. If you intend to build a manege, for example, dig out the ground, put in drainage and then resurface, this is operational development and also requires planning for the installation. An outdoor, low key manege is normally acceptable to most Councils. If you are likely to have a high level of usage or require flood lighting then you may have to provide additional justification and evidence that the development won’t adversely affect the area or neighbouring residents.

Larger scale commercial (for business) equestrian buildings - including new build stables, gallops, indoor arena’s and ancillary accommodation

Are such projects generally supported and approved?

There are some issues which can be ‘deal-breakers’ when applying for planning consent. The two main factors which Planning Authorities may consider cannot be overcome are Greenbelt and Highways issues.

Some parts of the country are covered by a designation called Greenbelt, which is a policy tool the Government uses to prevent urban sprawl among other priorities. In planning terms, Greenbelt is considered to be very important and therefore Council’s give a high level of weighting to whether a proposal is ‘appropriate’ in the Greenbelt.

Generally speaking, the Greenbelt planning policy is to prevent any change of use or building of anything other than a few exempted items. Occasionally you can demonstrate what’s called ‘very special circumstances’ to overcome the Greenbelt ‘no’ position. It’s recommended that if you are located in Greenbelt always seek professional planning advice before you approach the Council. To determine if you are located in a Greenbelt area you can use a tool called Magic Maps.

There are other designations such as SSSI’s (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and AONB’s (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) which can make planning harder but should not be completely prohibitive like Greenbelt can be. Again you can check any designations using Magic Maps , and take early advice.

See also: Keeping your equestrian business legal

Highways / access

If your site does not have good enough access off a highway then your development is unlikely to be successful. You could have an amazingly exciting project but if it cannot be accessed safely then it is highly unlikely to gain approval. Don’t forget you may be able to put in alternative accesses though.

Other matters considered in a planning application:

• Residential amenity
• Visual Impact
• Landscape impact
• Water management / drainage

If you can overcome and clearly show how your application deals with or meets all of the above, and any local criteria, then as a general rule of thumb, local authorities are supportive of planning applications that support rural businesses, create jobs, support farm incomes etc.

It’s recommended that you include a planning statement giving information about your proposed business, how it’s going to run, how it meets planning policy, and provide additional detail on each of the above planning matters.

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About the Author

Hannah Moule

Moule and Co

More Information

You may also like:

• Ten tips to make money from horses
• How can your equestrian centre appeal to baby boomers, generation X and millennials?
• Keeping your equestrian business legal
• Writing a business plan

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Livery yard - business plan/proposal

• Thread starter tigger01
• Start date 28 November 2011
• 28 November 2011

Well-Known Member

I may (stress may) have the chance to take on a livery yard which has basically for one reason or another been run down and become unprofitable due to lack of interest and illness. I have been in contact with the owners and they are putting in the hands of an agent to find the next manager. They will be requiring a business plan/tender. Not something I've ever done before and it sounds terrifying. Anyone have any experience/hints and tips as how to put such a thing together professionally? Many thanks!  

merlinmagic

Active member.

Your best bet would be to get in touch with your local business link or the 'federation of small business' and they will be able to help you put a plan together. Your personal business bank manager will also be of some help, best get in his good books now as you will need him for that overdraft later !! lol When I ran a yard the 'repair bill' was far more than expected - amazing how taps just break, guttering just falls off the wall, and the invisiable horse chewed the fencing, ate the flower baskets, kicked a hole in the stable wall,and their equal invisiable owner backed the car/trailer into the wall, etc etc etc . Hope you also understand that you will not be rich running a yard, more over worked, run ragged but probably very happy ! Good luck  

Tinsel Trouble

Highly recommend Business Link. They are fantastic and have loads of really great courses and provide advise to everyone! They will also help you tap into grants that may be availble and have a wonderful reputation!  

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