If you’re looking for a way to spend time with your horse without having to pay a fortune, then horse boarding is for you. It’s not just about riding your horse—it’s about getting to know it!
When you board them, you bond with them deeper than you would if they were just at home. You see how they interact with other horses, react when they’re nervous or scared, what they like to eat and drink, and more.
Horse boarding also lets you take advantage of the best part of having a horse: riding! You can ride as often as you want (and more often than that!) and have fun doing it. That’s not all, as this article digs deep into horse boarding. First, we discuss some factors to consider when choosing reliable boarding sites.
Choosing a Boarding Site for Your Horses
Horse boarders and owners often face the challenge of finding reliable boarding facilities. And, with so many options available, it can be difficult to decide which is right for you and your horse. Here are factors to keep in mind when choosing a boarding site.
- The facilities
What type of facilities will the facility have? Do they have enough stalls, barns or paddocks? What types of amenities do they have? Will they allow your horse access to outside areas? How much time will they allow them out? The more time they have outside, the better it is for them.
- The staff
Who will care for your horse while at the boarding site? Are there any restrictions on who can come into contact with your horse? Will there be any special requirements for feeding, grooming, or exercising your horse while at this facility?
- The location
Where is this boarding facility located where you live? Is it close enough to drop off and pick up easily, or do you need to drive a long distance each day?
- Safety
Of course, safety is always a key consideration when boarding any animal at any given time. So it’s best if the facility you choose has a fence to protect intruders and keep horses contained.
- Facility size
Space is also another key factor to consider when choosing a boarding facility. Some facilities may only house one or two horses at a time, while others may hold as many as ten horses at any given time. This information can help you determine how much attention and care your horse will receive from each staff member throughout his stay there.
- Boarding fees
Then finally, check out the prices of boarding fees at different locations before deciding which one works best for you and your horse’s needs. You may want to consider looking around at different spots to find out what costs are involved with each one of them before deciding which one works best for you and your horse’s needs.
Becoming a Reliable Horse Boarder
The first step to becoming a reliable horse boarder is to get your horse accustomed to any changes in his routine. You should also ensure that your horse has been properly vetted and treated for any ailments or health issues.
Once you have your horse ready, get him comfortable with being boarded. And the first thing you’ll want to do is introduce him to the barn area where you will board him. You can do this through positive reinforcement methods such as clicker training or positive punishment methods such as choke collars, pinch collars, and prong collars.
You should also work with your horse every day so that he gets used to being around other horses and humans and being confined to a small area for long periods of time without much room or freedom of movement.
Finally, once your horse has proven trustworthy over time, you can slowly introduce him to the boarding facility, where he’ll spend most of his day outside his stall or paddock area.
Tips for a Profitable Horse Boarding Business
Here are some tips to help you make your horse boarding business smooth and successful.
- Understand the market
The first step in starting a profitable horse boarding business is understanding every market aspect. What kind of services are in demand? What type of horses do people love to ride?
Are they interested in riding horses trained for show jumping or trail riding? Do they prefer riding horses that have been trained for dressage? Once you understand all these, you will be more able to scale up your business.
- Research your competition
Once you know what kind of service people are interested in, look for a competitor excelling in the service. Be it horse riding, grooming, or training. Monitor their moves, their strategies, and professionalism. If possible, try to talk to them and get their best professional advice.
- Choose the right location for your horse boarders
You must choose the right location for your horse boarders. You don’t want them to have to travel too far from home or spend too much time away from their loved ones. If possible, find a place with lots of room for parking so customers can easily get in and out of their cars without having to walk very far or wait in long lines at the entrance or exit doors of your facility.
You also want to ensure plenty of shade is available during hot summer days and shelter during cold winter months when it rains frequently or snows heavily at certain times. You might also want to consider locating near public transportation so people can easily get back and forth between their homes.
- Make sure your business is legal
You don’t want any legal issues arising from your new venture! Make sure that the county where your property is located has approved regulations for horse boarding businesses and that there are no restrictions on where you can put your facility or how large it can be (before opening).
- Make sure your facility is clean and professional looking
Make sure your facility looks like a place where people would go if they wanted to board their horses. This will help build your reputation as an expert and make customers comfortable using your facility.
- Use a good bookkeeping system
You need to have a good bookkeeping system in place to keep track of your income and expenses. You will also need to keep track of your inventory and ensure that everything is being sold properly.
You can use a computer program like QuickBooks or Xero for this purpose. These programs will allow you to run reports on sales, inventory levels, etc., so you know what’s going on with your business.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, this brief introduction to horse boarding will provide you with the essentials for starting your own business. As you grow in experience and insight, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the intricacies involved, ultimately creating a more profitable and satisfying horse boarding business for yourself and your clients.
