The horse training business is difficult to navigate, and unless you set up the parameters of your operation in advance things will become confusing. One of the most important things you’ll have to decide is whether you want to train horses at your facility or at your client’s.
For some horse trainers, there is no question. If you don’t have a facility at which to train, you’ll have to go somewhere else, and this usually means the places where your clients board their horses. However, even if you don’t have your own farm, you might want to consider cultivating a home base for your horse training business.
Benefits of Horse Training at Your Place
- Comforts of Home. You know your own horse training facility, and therefore you are more comfortable there. You can easily find the equipment you need and it’s always right where you left it.
- Insurance Coverage. If you operate your horse training business at home, your liability insurance coverage protects you. However, working at someone else’s facility means you might not be covered at all, so this might limit your ability to do your job.
- More Clients. Travel takes a lot of time, so working at home means fitting in more clients. You won’t have to drive from one place to the next so travel won’t eat into your profits.
- More Income. In addition to fitting in more horses, you can make money other ways when you train horses at your own facility. Clients will have to board their horses with you, which means better income potential. They might also take riding lessons, hire you to take them to horse shows and more.
- Better Facilities. You never know what kind of amenities are available at someone else’s facility. If they lack a round pen, indoor arena and other things, your options will be limited. Keep in mind that you might be doing the bulk of training at someone’s home.
- More Control. There’s a reason why they call it the “home team advantage.” Working at your own horse training facility means you control every aspect of the horse’s care. You know what the owner is doing between training sessions and you can make suggestions accordingly.
Most horse trainers prefer to train at their own facilities. It is simply more convenient for them and it creates a more professional atmosphere. Of course, this isn’t always possible if you don’t have the resources to build your own barn.
Benefits of Horse Training at Clients’ Facilities
- Low Overhead. Assuming you don’t have your own equestrian facility, traveling to clients’ barns means low overhead. You aren’t paying for water, electricity, grain, hay or anything else. And although you might spend more money on gas, you can factor that expense into your fees.
- Convenient for Clients. Your horse training clients will appreciate a concierge approach to horse training. It saves them time and money if you go to them.
- Comfort of the Horse. Some horses have difficulty adjusting to new surroundings, which can complicate the horse training process. When you train at your clients’ facilities, the horses don’t have to move and they are therefore more relaxed and responsive.
- Developing Contacts. You’ll meet more people going to your clients’ barns. Many horse trainers find that they become self-imposed recluses, rarely leaving their own property and therefore rarely meeting new people. Traveling forces you to develop new relationships.
For some horse trainers, traveling to their clients’ facilities is a matter of necessity rather than choice. However, it might be a viable option even if you can train at your own facility.
The Third Possibility
If you don’t have your own horse training facility but you don’t want to travel, you might consider partnering with someone who does own a farm. You pay a fee for training from their facility, and in return you get to use their equipment, land and other amenities.
This can be a win-win situation, as your partner will see an increase in horse boarding and will get paid a grounds fee. Talk to other horse trainers in your area to see if this might work for you.
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About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.
