Advice on expanding horse business.?

Question

I currently am the sole proprietor of a small business dealing with rescueing and buying horses and then reselling them to good homes. It isn't very profitable since my main concern is getting the rescued horses back in good health which in some cases has been more than $3500/horse and then I sell it for $800 when it is ready to go to it's forever home.
I am wanting to expand on this business with some other more profitable ventures such as giving riding lessons, training horses for people, and anything else you might think of.
I am currently running the business from my mother's 80 acres while we work on getting my own land set up. My mom's place doesn't have everything either, but do you think it is best to start adding ventures to make money so that we can expand on our facilities, or wait and slowly save up to get the facilities before expanding on the services we offer. Her place is set up enough to make things work, but it isn't that flashy or fancy.

Answer 1

It is possible to make money in the horse industry, you just have to be good at what you are doing, and be somewhat buisness savy. Slowly build up your buisness, figure out what your priorities are, and what your goals are. Start out small, give some lessons, build up a client base. Try things like start a summer day camp program at your farm. To give lessons, and run a camp you don't need a ton of fancy facilities. Start off with functionality and safety as your top concerns. Give quality lessons, and run a camp that is fun for the kids and teaches them a lot. The camp kids will quickly become regular lesson kids if you set your camp up right. Once you start getting a feel for how much people are willing to pay, what kind of profit you could make, etc. then start adding on to your facilities.

Horse rescues are difficult to fund, you could try and have your rescues pay their own way by giving lessons on them, and using them in camp. Use older unrideable horses as horses to teach kids how to groom, and handle horses on the ground, and use the quiet and sound horses to train and use as lesson horses. You can also lease out rideable horses to your students to help pay for their keep. If you are fairly experianced with training and have a good eye, a good way to make a little profit is to buy horses that are cheap but with a little work could be sold as 4-H and kids horses. I've done this with a few horses, you look for the horses owned by people that just dont have a clue, they buy a nice quiet trail horse, handle it all wrong, leave it in the field for a few years and then wonder why then cant ride it, so they sell it for a few hundred dollars. You give it a few months training, get it back to where it was and sell it for a few thousand. If you are turning around nice horses, and have a lesson program going, you can often easily sell the horses to your students. The students then board the horse with you, show with you, and continue lessons.

Start getting your name out their by showing and doing well, a good way to get your name out their as a trainer is to have a nice well trained show horse you ride your self, then also have one of your better students show it. When people start seeing your student winning, they will take an interest as you as a trainer.

Answer 2

You don't need flashy and fancy. Keep your costs low and you can keep your client's costs low. I say stay where you are and build that up slowly. Maybe look into handicapped riding or working with people in a similar situation. There are grants available for a variety of things. Maybe this way you can enhance what you already have without using your own money. Then maybe expand to children's summer camp and riding lessons and training. You could board too. I owned two large stables. Boarding is NOT a get rich quick scheme and it comes with a lot of hassles but it definately supported itself. Anything with children is usually profitable. Selling tack in a shop could be good too. Since you already do rescue work you probably have an outstanding reputation and you will keep it. You should be successful especially if you are keeping your head above water with the rescues. Go look at other places that may meet some of your needs. Take your time and go slowly. Don't spend too much upfront.

Answer 3

Sounds like this is something you are investing yourself into because it's something you believe in, not to seek a profit. Obviously, if you are spending thousands to recoup a few hundred, you'll never make a profit.

So why not become an official nonprofit organization and then solicit donations? As the owner or employee of a nonprofit, you can still pay yourself a good salary if the organization is able to.

You could try to expand into other areas, but it is hard to make any money with horses in the first place, and if you're only going to get into those ventures to fund your rescue/retraining goals, then I think it would be sort of a waste of your time and effort and investment.

You'll have to consult with a lawyer to get properly set up as a nonprofit, but you'll be able to immediately seek donations of money, equipment and time from your community, and I think you'd be surprised at how eager some people are to help.

good luck!

Answer 4

It sounds like you should be a rescue operation as opposed to a small farm. If I were you I would contact a lawyer about setting up a non-profit organization as a rescue facility. Then you could take donations to help take care of the horses that you acquire. I'm not sure how this would affect you offering difference services, though a lawyer could tell you.

Good luck. Let me know how it turns out, or if you need any help.

Answer 5

I think that it is a good idea to do riding lessons, training etc. etc. Where are you located?? You do horse rescue.... Was seeing if you were by me, Las Vegas NV. I am looking for a great Geld. for my 5 yr little one. I think it would be great for you to expend. Then you could use some of the horses you rescue, more exposure to the horses you have saved! Good luck!!

Answer 6

Famous and TRUE quote:

The only way to make a small fortune in the horse business is to start with a large fortune.

In other words, no matter what with horses, you won't make a lot of money, in fact, rarely will you break even.

Answer 7

trust me from experiences not at owning a buisness but being a horse obsessed city gal, so what really would work is leasing or find a better name for it like being a foster mommy or somthing, have some one choose a rescued horse and have them learn to take propper care of it with only that horse, the horse gets back into shape and the leaser or foster mom learn to love the horse and from there you lease to own, big bucks

Answer 8

What about hauling? I can't believe how many horse people don't have a trailer!