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.

One would need to put up stables and decide if you would take in other people's horses as boarders. You would need to make sure that the animals have adequate accommodation, as well as a sick bay for when they get ill and are in need of special attention. Remember that the horses will also have to be fed in their stables, so you would want to make them big enough to accommodate a feeding trough and a place for a water bucket as well.

One would have to provide storage for a number of things such as feed, grass, and saw dust which is to be used in the stables as bedding. One would also need to have somewhere to put manure and soiled materials. You could arrange for this to be taken away but it may land up costing you. These are just a few of the things you will need to consider before starting a livery yard.

People have different needs and requirements for their horses, and this is one of the challenging parts of running such a facility. Some owners and riders may want the full service, where the center provides everything for the horse, whereas others may just want the basics. Some people will even allow you to use their horses in your riding school in exchange for their livery fees.

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.

One would also have to employ the services of a reliable equine foot care expert. There are many reputable farriers out there and once you have a good person responsible for the feet of your horses you would do well keeping them. Farriers usually come in every 4-6 weeks to trip, clip, file as well as shoe. Making sure that the horses in your care have clean and properly maintained hooves is a vital part of your job.

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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