If you have a passion for riding horses, you might want to turn that love into a business. There are thousands of potential customers out there who would like to learn how to ride a horse, so you can make a lot of money. Knowing where to begin is the hardest part of the whole thing. You might have a million ideas but no clue when it comes to getting started.
This guide will help you with your plans.
Talk to expert instructors
Before doing anything else, talk to some instructors. There are independent trainers out there — all you need to do is find them. Sometimes people advertise their services in the classified section of the newspaper. When you get hold of people, ask for some advice. If you find an instructor that you can trust, you might want to ask them whether they will work with you on a freelance basis.
Get your finances straight
Of course, setting up any business is not cheap. With a riding school, there are loads of unexpected costs you may not have considered. If you want to buy the horses for your school, you will need thousands to do so.
Thoroughbred horses are expensive, to say the least. You will also need to buy or rent some land that is suitable for your needs. There is a lot of red tape when it comes to opening a riding school too, so you will want some cash for any extra legal fees. Go over your finances and check that you have enough money for this venture.
Find the right plot of land
Finding the right location for your school is vital. Find a plot of land close enough a town or city to attract customers, but also in a rural surrounding. That’s a tall order in and of itself. Look for land near your home and see what you can find. You should lease the plot for at least a year to begin with so that you have time to give your business a try.
Buying or loaning horses
Of course, the main thing a riding school needs is horses. It’s expensive to buy a horse, and even more costly to look after one. Consider getting at least two horses that live at the riding school itself. You can get the others on loan to save some money. Contact local riders and see whether they have any interest in working with you.
Take care of your horses
When you have horses, you’ll need to take care of them. Looking after animals requires loads of specialized equipment. You also need to make sure that you worm them on a regular basis, especially when using them to train people.
You can buy worming medication, such as Pramox, online. It is crucial that you look after your horses. Make sure to have a veterinarian check them over every few months as well.
Get legal permission
If you open a riding school without completing the proper paperwork needed to establish a business, you could land yourself in loads of trouble. Make sure that you get all the legal stuff out of the way as soon as you can. That way, you will not have to worry about whether your company is legitimate or not.
Now that you know how to start a riding school business, it is time to get to work!
