A Step By Step Guide To Starting And Running A Successful Horse Boarding Business

This book will open your eyes to the world of horse boarding and all that it encompasses. One of the most often asked questions I get from people who want to start a boarding business is, "Where do I start?" Great question! Most people, including myself, usually start with a couple of horses and then progress into boarding. This book is a step by step guide on what you need to do to get your barn or stable up and going and how to maintain a strong and healthy boarding business. Whether you want to run a large facility or a small stable this book will cover everything you need to know to help you start off with a strong foundation for your business. I have included a current business plan (designed especially for the horse boarding industry), boarding contract and barn rules which is only the beginning. This book will walk you through every step and give you tasks lists and suggestions for every part of your business from designing your barn to seeking a loan. This book includes designing a barn or stable, your tack room, horse stalls and riding arenas. It covers extensive pages on herd management, turnout and paddocks and how to design them and what to think about before you put the first post in the ground. It will include business insurance, accounting and lawyers and what they mean to your business. I discuss the financial part of business ownership throughout the book and how to streamline your chores and hire employees. I discuss conflict resolution, the barn manager's role and client relations and the intention of this book is to help you avoid some of the common pitfalls of barn management and business ownership and that is only the beginning. The topics that are covered in this book are extensive and you won't find a more current book on running a boarding business. This book will benefit any size boarding operation. A large boarding barn equates to a large scale effort and risk. A small boarding stable carries lower financial risk but requires the same planning to be successful and can have many of the same issues as a large facility. Every area of the horse industry is impacted by the boarding stable and no matter the size; each plays an integral part in the success and stability of the equine industry.

"This author will walk you through every phase of business ownership from purchasing your permits and applying for a business loan to opening your doors for your new clients and their horses. The book also includes a comprehensive look at barn management and how to create a stable that is operating efficiently, consistently and retains boarders. This book includes: Designing your barn or stable with all four seasons in mind; Walking through size and cost verses revenue that you will generate; Writing a business plan for the bank and yourself; Permits and zoning; Designing your riding arenas (indoor and outside); Determining barn amenities, including tack rooms, lounge and bathroom; Designing your barn with chores and weather in mind; Hiring employees; Boarding contracts; Setting and adjusting your boarding rates; Insurance, accountants and lawyers for your business; Barn rules and arena etiquette for safe riding; Chores and how to make them easier and more efficient; Hay, grain and supplement considerations; Issues that are generated in a boarding business; Trainers and your barn; Special requests from your clients; Herd management; Barn owner/barn manager differences; Yearly horse health care; How to set up training clinics and workshops; Conflict management; Creating invoices and billing your boarders; and so much more!"--Back cover.

Revised edition as of March, 2015. Building a large barn and starting a horse boarding business was my dream but it turned out to be a lot harder than I imagined. What was even harder for me was learning to become the business owner I needed to be to run a successful boarding stable. This book is about what it takes to work in the horse industry and what barn management is really all about. This is the story of Vinland Stables in Neenah Wisconsin. My name is Sheri Grunska and I wrote this book to show you how we built our barn from nothing and what it took to get our business off the ground. It is really about what it takes to become the business person you need to be to run a boarding facility efficiently and with confidence. This is the most honest total barn management book you will ever read and it is really two books in one. The first few chapters of this book is about my family's journey of building our barn and all that it took to get the loan and get the barn up and open for business. The reason I wrote the first part of the book is to help others that want to build a barn and show them all that goes with the building process both good and bad. We made a lot of mistakes in the building process so now I hope to help others so they don't end up with the mess we did. The rest of the book is about actually running a barn on a day to day basis with clients and horses. It is the most complete barn management you will ever read. In this book, I will show you how to write a business plan if you are applying for a loan and give you examples of what our business plan looked like ten years ago and what it should look like now. I will show you what my boarding contract looks like and what you should have in your contract. Running a horse boarding facility is about so much more than feeding and cleaning stalls. In fact that is the easy part. In this book I will discuss subjects like: - herd management and the boarder - What do you do when two horses don't get along and how do you know when it's time to move a horse - How do you give a 30 day notice to a boarder - When do you raise your rates and how much? - What are the boundaries between the barn owner and the client? - How to write a business plan for the equine industry - Boarding contracts and barn rules - No drama policy at the barn - How to find the right trainer for your facility - Are you willing to ask a boarder to leave - barn hours and why they are important - What do you do when a horse gets hurt on your property and the owner wants to blame someone. - Special request and when to say "Sorry but we do not offer that here." You will not find another book on the market that addresses these real situations in the horse business. I will share with you what we have learned over the years through many trials and errors. I will give you the tools to handle the most stressful situations. If you feel sometimes like you are alone in running your farm and no one else would understand the problems you are having, than read this book. You will find out very quickly that what you are dealing with is very common in most barns. Let me teach you how to become a leader and take control of your business. To this day, I love going out to the barn every morning for work. It wasn't like that the first couple of years. Learning to become a barn owner and business person takes time and sometimes a few years. I will share all that we have learned over the years with our business. This book will educate and inspire you and I hope to help you in your day to day life of running your barn. We made many mistakes in the beginning and it was because we didn't go to anyone for advice. I tried to find the answers in books but was not able to. Let me help you start off with the tools you need to become a successful business person in the equine industry. It is a great life when I step into my office and hear nickers every morning. It can be a great life for you too.

Turn your passion for horses into a successful business. Full of proven techniques to help you maximize profits and minimize headaches, this practical guide shows you how to create a viable business plan, identify marketing opportunities, and efficiently maintain your facilities. With savvy tips on reducing veterinary and feed costs, you’ll learn how to make your operation self-sufficient and keep it financially sustainable. Whether you run a boarding stable or a riding camp, you’re sure to find the information you need to keep your business running smoothly.

Do you want to make much needed changes at your barn but are not sure where to start? Are you struggling on how to effectively communicate and resolve issues with your clients regarding their horse? Why do some barns have a waiting list and others don't? These are just a few of the questions many horse professionals ask and you are not alone. If you are ready to make positive changes in your barn and business than this book is for you. My new book The Total Horse Barn Management Makeover will discuss everything that has to do with horse barn management and the client. This book will inspire and encourage you to make the changes you have wanted to make but didn't know where to start. Remember, you are not alone and learning to resolve the issues you are having will not only better your barn but will help you grow as a business person. Everything that happens at your barn will affect your clients and there are going to be times when they want an answer to some of the decisions you have made. This book will talk about the relationship between you and your clients and how to make decisions with confidence under difficult circumstances. This book is about changing from the inside out and becoming the leader in your barn and gaining strong barn management skills along the way. You will learn to stream line your business when it comes to barn chores and I will discuss what the clients see on their side of each situation and how to come to a place where issues are resolved easily. You will learn quickly that taking care of the horses will be the easiest part of your day. I am so excited about this book because I really believe it can help you work through the day to day problems that horse professionals deal with. I truly believe once you embrace your new role as barn owner or manager, your job will become easier on a daily basis. You are going to see barn management in a whole new positive way.

This acclaimed guide examines every aspect of initiating a horse business venture, and is widely used in equine departments at major universities across the nation. In this extensively revised and expanded edition, Janet E. English, CPA, presents advice on how to structure a business plan,attract investors,manage records and funds, and handle accounts. Agreement forms and contracts are conveniently included in ready-to-use formats, and will lay the groundwork for solid business affairs. Every horse owner can benefit from this book, but it should be especially helpful for those who wish to succeed in the horse business!