Find Out How To Run A Successful Equestrian Center

By Rena Hudson


Should you be in the possession of a couple of acres of good land, a few schooled horses, great horsemanship skills and a love for people, you may want to try running your own equestrian center. A passion for horses is a must and goes without saying. Running a yard is a satisfying job and if done correctly can bring in a good amount of money.

If you have these few requirements to start your own business, there would be a few things to consider first. One would have to make sure that you had adequate accommodation for the horses such as stables for them during bad weather, and at night. You will also have to have a sick bay in case one of them becomes ill. The stables would of course have to be adequately sized so that the animals could move around inside.

If you are going to offer a livery service, many people will want to leave their riding equipment at your center and you will need to have a secure place to store it. Each client will be expected to have his own tack box and you will have to provide a safe, lockable room in which items can be stored. As saddles, bridals and other gear is very expensive, you will need to ensue that it is always kept safe.

One would be able to offer many different services to people and their horses. You will find that most riders are looking for the full service of a livery yard. They want you to look after their animals completely. Sometimes this will even include riding them. It all depends on what your agreement is with each client that comes to your center.

If you decide to run a fairly large concern, you would be advised to get grooms in to do the cleaning up of the stables and the grooming of the horses. They would be responsible for the general upkeep of the stable area as well as the grasslands and paddocks. They would also have the job of turning the horses out in the mornings, bringing them in for lessons and then making sure they are hosed and cooled down afterwards.

When you run an operation such as this it is important that you get in a good hoof care specialist, as anyone will tell you, no feet no horse. Finding a reputable farrier is essential to the good reputation of your yard. A horse will need his feet seen to every 4 to 6 weeks and you as the owner of the yard will have to make sure this is arranged for all the horses in your care.

Many equestrian facilities allow for their clients to choose their own veterinarian for their horses. There are normally a few vets servicing an area and it is usually personal preference as to who the rider uses. Equine veterinarians can be called out for many reasons and once you have found a great vet you should usually stay with him.

In general, the running of a successful equestrian center is hard work and ongoing. There are no office hours, so be prepared to work round the clock. A passion for horses is the main ingredient to a successful venture, so make sure you have that and you will be on your way to achieving great things.




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