Successful horse businesses..Who are you??

[CanadianBlue]

I feel like we always hear how you can never make money in horses. Or the how to make a million with horses? - Start with two!
But I want to dwell on the sucess stories out there.
Is it a tack store, a training business, manufacturing, online, support services like vet, farrier, and chiropractors? How about the barn and fence builers? Horse show management?

There has to be a few of you out there.. What is your story?:D

[ThirdCharm]

My husband has a very successful farrier business.... keeps the bills paid plus he can afford his hot rods, his Harley, and inline speedskating hobbies.... plus the money-pit rental properties.... I have a somewhat successful training/boarding/shoeing business--pays for the barn bills, my horses, shows, etc. plus putting groceries on the table and paying my share of the house bills!

Jennifer

[Miss Motivation]

Define successful ;)

[ThirdCharm]

Making a better living than you could at WalMart....?

If I still worked in the real world I would definitely not be able to afford two nice show horses for myself, and a spare that I don't even have TIME to show.... and I don't hate my job.... :-)

Jennifer

[Calhoun]

OK, I'm laughing as I type . . . this could be a short thread.

[Tamara in TN]

But I want to dwell on the sucess stories out there.
Is it a tack store, a training business, manufacturing, online, support services like vet, farrier, and chiropractors? How about the barn and fence builders? Horse show management?


what we have noticed is that horse owners and barns come and go on about 5 year shifts...

those who remain are good vets,good farriers,good feed stores,good tack tacks stores and the occasional hay farm

best

[goodhors]

what we have noticed is that horse owners and barns come and go on about 5 year shifts...

those who remain are good vets,good farriers,good feed stores,good tack tacks stores and the occasional hay farm

best

I would agree with Tamara. 5 years is about the most common time they last before burnout, kids are gone, whatever the reason. Those who last longer are more than dedicated. As people have said before, "horses are a lifestyle, which affects everything you are". Many come to Horses, don't last too long.

Horse business, any horse touching aspect, is intensely physical, DAILY work, and it can suck you dry. Resturant business is quite similar. Most come and go in 5 years or less. Having to be "on" with daily presentations, high standard of food and service, turnover of help, just burns out the owners.

Have to say that having husband who is into horses, helps a lot. Not sure he would have many or any horses by himself, if we couldn't help out with chore trading. At this point we share six animals as a family. He picks up the odd days when we (DD and I) have other activities. He does all the other endless "fix-it" stuff I can't. Repaired the broken bar on manure spreader that runs the chain belt. I just go "Wow, that looks really nice, works GREAT!" and figure he saved us a couple hundred not having to buy or pay for repairs.

We have had horses since both of us were kids, MANY years now. You have to go into them with your eyes open, they are a lot of time and work, never ends.

[Sonesta]

Sonesta Farms is celebrating its 18th year in business as a boarding, breeding & training facility. Does that count as successful?

[Cloverbarley]

Been running my boarding stables for a little under 20 years and still very successful and doing just fine thanks :).

[countrcanter]

Sorry to hijack, but Sonesta, I just looked on your website... Your cavaliers are too precious!! I have one and she is the love of my life. What a great breed :)

[coloredhorse]

I work for a successful (profitable enough for the owner to have a decent middle-class lifestyle) lesson program. Well-run and carefully designed for and marketed toward a thoroughly researched and realistic consumer base.

Both my equine massage mentors have BOOMING businesses; I'll be happy to do half as well when I complete my professional certification.

[N2Equus]

OK, I'm laughing as I type . . . this could be a short thread.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: You made me spit the water I was drinking all over my keyboard! This is true with my "horse business." :lol:

[Sonesta]

Sorry to hijack, but Sonesta, I just looked on your website... Your cavaliers are too precious!! I have one and she is the love of my life. What a great breed :)

Thank you! They are a daily joy!

[Vitriolic]

I find you soar like an eagle or are in the depths of despair. One day all is well, you waste, er spend, some money on capital improvements and suddenly the stallion you bred a few to is shunned by the market, your best horse won't participate/is injured, your "help" trashes something, and suddenly it all vaporizes. I think if people have enough business sense to foresee the ups and downs that they can make a go of it. I see many thinking that when things are going well that it will be the "new normal" for them. I do know enough to realize that most huge owners with very deep pockets from other industries are losing lots: even millions per year. People just see the income; not the expenses, especially the capital outlay. IMHO.

[partlycloudy]

My business is buying, training and selling horses (mostly just good all round types with basic dressage training). Make enough to keep food on the table with the help of my wonderful SO who has wonderful business sense. He keeps me (mostly)from making bad business decisions and keeps on insisting I get CONTRACTS!
Love what I do,but since I do about 90% of the work myself, wonder how long I can keep going without burning out.
Time will tell....

[hellerkm]

My mother has run Merrymount Farms since 1979, it has grown and ebbed, and changed ( we started as a lesson ,boarding barn, spent most of the 80's as a lower level show barn and became a breeding farm in the late 80's to early 90's) we now have a few boarders, teach some lessons, and breed hunters and start them on their way. So, what is that, 30 years??? We also operate a successful hay growing, and selling business as well.
My mother is the ultimate entrepreneur and has had the good sense to grow and change with the times, she also picked our whole farm up and moved it about 12 yrs ago and paid CASH for the new farm. This is how they manage the lean years, very small mortgage , buy used equip that my dad and sons repair themselves, and lots of cheap labor ( I have 5 boys LOL). My sister and I are afforded the opportunity to keep ponies for our girls at the farm at no cost , ( we pay shoeing and vet) and in return we help out on a regular basis.
There is NO WAY I could afford two ponies if we had to board them somewhere, and I know how lucky I am, I can't imagine riding or spending time anywhere but at home where what we do really matters. My girls are getting more horsemanship education then any kid who boards their horse I know. We spend at least 4-5 hours a day there and love what we do.
We are truly blessed, thanks mom!!!!

[Claudius]

I raised three kids, sent them through private schools and colleges, paid for weddings, honeymoons, first cars etc. We lived in heavenly hunt country and i hunted and made hunters, broke yearlings, did layups, made a show horse each year and sold it. On the weekends my children hunted with me, did pony club, had a variety of ponies and horses, and showed at various levels, one even showing and winning at Devon. We sold THAT horse and paid for three years of college. To have afforded the perks of the life the horse business provided, I would have had to have been a 2 -300k earner in some other career.....I would have had to be in an office, dieing to get out so that I could ride. By my definition, my horse business was a success. Lots of work, requiring a lot of thought, concentration,self awareness....but where else would I reap such rewards???? I had a barn full of horses, requiring various skills of me. Boarders that appreciated the service we provided. And always, out in the field, or in a back stall, the "cream in my coffee".....my next show horse to be!!!!

[hellerkm]

I raised three kids, sent them through private schools and colleges, paid for weddings, honeymoons, first cars etc. We lived in heavenly hunt country and i hunted and made hunters, broke yearlings, did layups, made a show horse each year and sold it. On the weekends my children hunted with me, did pony club, had a variety of ponies and horses, and showed at various levels, one even showing and winning at Devon. We sold THAT horse and paid for three years of college. To have afforded the perks of the life the horse business provided, I would have had to have been a 2 -300k earner in some other career.....I would have had to be in an office, dieing to get out so that I could ride. By my definition, my horse business was a success. Lots of work, requiring a lot of thought, concentration,self awareness....but where else would I reap such rewards???? I had a barn full of horses, requiring various skills of me. Boarders that appreciated the service we provided. And always, out in the field, or in a back stall, the "cream in my coffee".....my next show horse to be!!!!

Sounds like success to me!! Also sounds like you live close to where we grew up are you in Richboro or the surrounding neighborhoods? Have you hunted with Charlie and Doc?