What do you need to make it in the horse business?

Question

Not nessescarily money wise, but to build a good reputation in whatever field you chose to pursue?

Is it a base of well-chosen contacts?
Or been raised by a family in the horse business?
To have a degree?

Please assist me as I am really curious. Obviously some of the above things would really help, but what are the key things you have found?

Answer 1

A Horse.

Answer 2

Reputation is everything in the horse business. Word of mouth is stronger than any degree you can have! You also need to know what kind of horse people are needing or what kind you work well with.

Answer 3

Patience, courage, empathy, understanding, and good communication skills. A side of marketing and business accounting are a plus. Money helps because ultimately you'll wind up spending $2 to make $1, unless you're talented and lucky and make it to 'The Show' where you have sponsors and ad deals to help counter the costs of the horses.

A life working in the horse industry is not an easy one by any means - but it is very rewarding! I wouldn't trade it for anything!!

Answer 4

To make it in the horse business? For most of us this is an impossibility. The horse market is far too low. So as it now stands here is what you need.

To be a clinician (the odds here are stacked against you) you have to be a showman. You also need a gimmick or angle you can use to convince everyone else that your technique is far better than the one they are using now. This is usually nonsense, and most people that use so and so's technique I just smile at and politely look elsewhere for my horses. The truth is that any real trainer will use a variety of techniques adapting each to a horse. Clinicians get good results at shows because they have lots of experience choosing horses that work well with their techniques.

To be a breeder you will needs LOTS of money and top dollar horses. These are the only horses bringing any price right now. The problem is that you also need a reputation to go along with it. Do you have one? Winning at shows helps but for virtually all breeds there is so much politics that if two horses of even similar quality enter the arena the winner will be the one known by the judges. This is not justifiable and many breeds are having trouble with this but it happens. Where money is involved, corruption is sure to enter.

A horse degree right now will earn squat. There are many people out there with horse degrees and years of experience. With the horse market down and little or no money in it they are looking for jobs. As for as using the degree to start your own business. At present this is a near impossibility. If people that have raised horses for years can't make it despite their experience how can someone new?

You can get grunt work. Find work at stables etc. But making it? Right now it really is not feasible. Perhaps if you stick with it then things will change. For the most of us though, working with and owning horses is not a career but a love of life. That's why I teach.

Answer 5

Unfortunatly money is key.

Other than that you need to work around a lot of horses and horses people. You need to really know your stuff. I don't believe a degree is necessary but if you haven't been working with horses and horses people for a long time then it is a way for you to get your foot in the door.

It is important that your a very knowledgeable. People need to know that they can count on you to help them when they need to.

I do not think you need to own a horses necessarily. I have sucessful been in the horse buisness for 13 years and during that time I did not own my own horse. Many polo grooms that are what we call "lifers" never owen there own hores, because we care for our bosses horses as if they are our own.

Don't be afraid to start at the bottom.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, money is a big factor because everything is so expensive.

A base of well chosen contacts, yes. Very important. Family name? Helps tremendously. Degree? Ah, depends on what you're wanting to do.

Skill, talent, self-discipline, the ability to make sound judgements, and ethics are respected by respectable people regardless.

Answer 7

The first thing is dedication to the job. People are impressed if you offer to be the one to come back and do evening coverings, foal watch, etc. Agreeing to work evenings and weekends because work needs to be done, treating the horses as if they are your own. You have to show that you are not only willing to work whenever but also that you know what you are doing and capable of getting things done. That's that sets you apart from the rest because when push comes to shove, most people are either not flexible or don't have a clue. I was raised in a racing family, I have 2 degrees and I know a lot of people from polo players to jockeys to show horse trainers and while all that is helpful, knowledge and the ability to adapt and give 100% is what will set you apart.

Answer 8

Look into equine massage, otherwise- there is a lot of good info here from horse people.

You also might consider going to be a Licensed Veterinary Technician and working for an Equine Veterinarian

I miss my horses so much- I showed for years and got out of it- one of my lifes biggest regrets. Oh well.

But you need to build a reputation- the biggest thing you should be is honest and follow through with your promises. that comes from experience.

Answer 9

As you already understand how lots earnings you have from the freelancing and how lots the barn would be, you may get a extraordinarily good theory despite if this makes economic experience or no longer. Will your clientele exchange barns to be with you? Will you have the kit to coach for Grand Prix? section? Turnout? All issues you will might desire to make a bypass of it. i think of Grand Prix human beings often have the money for to climate this variety of economic gadget. the actual disadvantage is the displaying. Are you prepared to take others as their coach? it quite is one thank you to get your call out. If a horse you have experienced is being shown someplace, a minimum of bypass watch the prepare, confer with individuals, bypass your card around. i do no longer understand you for my section, so i do no longer understand in case you will prevail or no longer. i understand particular attributes will make contributions to fulfillment: * good with human beings! no count how good your horse skills are, you will in no way make it until you're additionally good with human beings. * corporation saavy. Accounting, coverage, contracts, hiring, firing, team administration, money administration * Salesmanship. truthfully needed. you're merchandising your self. Are you outgoing, beneficial, this form of individual who can walk as much as a team and make associates? Are you prepared to income salesmanship? If no to the two, then no. * Horsemanship. particular, it quite is the least significant while it is composed of this variety of corporation (think of Parelli). See in case you may get a partnership with somebody who does displaying - even a silent partnership, purely so your joint call gets accessible. Ask your clientele in the event that they had have an interest. seek for investment. Get to renowned absolutely everyone you are able to who ought to refer clientele - farriers, vets, horse prepare human beings (stewards, get admission to sales area, judges, mothers and fathers, riders), and so on. promote. good success! at times a dream is well worth following, even while this is risky.

Answer 10

As with any business - run it like a business.

Know your niche
Have healthy horses & equipment
Have rules that will not bend
Have insurance and good legal documents
Have good support - vet, farrier, feed etc.

I ran a public rental stable for a few years. This was the absolute bottom of the food chain - as opposed to lesson barns and board barns etc. We catered to the family who just wanted to go trail riding for an afternoon. That was our niche.

So we had 12 dead-broke horses. I mean you could shoot a rifle off their backs and they wouldn't bolt or budge. They weren't necessarily the best-bred horses - most of them were pretty ugly - but they were dead broke. I kept them well fed, vaccinated, good hoof care etc. etc.

Same with tack - it wasn't pretty - but always kept in good repair and safe/secure.

We had simple rules. No alcohol. No smoking around the barn/horses or on trail. No one went out without a guide - ever. Everyone had to ride his own mount. Everyone had to sign a release acknowledging the dangers of horseback riding and taking full responsibility for their choice to ride. No one was ever forced to ride and those who chose not to ride were respected and praised.

We had good farriers, veteranarian, feed supplier, and help. We even had a great relationship with the local horse traders - who were always on the lookout for suitable horses for our string. They knew we'd pay their price without quibbling if the horse suited our needs and we had the money.

It was the insurance that killed us. But we paid it anyway.

The cool thing was that the lesson/board barns would send customers to us - they were always getting calls asking if they did trail rides. AND when we saw potential in a rider- we'd refer them to the lesson/board barns in their area. It was a good symbiotic relationship.

Remember this - it's hard to make a living - much less prosper - with a riding establishment of any kind. You will need off-the-farm income of some kind.

Answer 11

I think you need to understand horses, know alot about them, have been around them alot but also have good personal skills. Knowing people in the horse business gets you places.

goodluck