Do you breed horses? If so, then chances are you probably have a few empty stalls. Have you ever considered what to do with those stalls? Why not board horses and make some money? If you want to make some extra money with your leftover stalls, this can be a great idea, but here are some tips and possible situations to keep in mind for boarding horses effectively.
Boarding Older Horses
When it comes to horse boarding, often the best way to make money is to fill a specific niche. Boarding older horses is definitely a valuable service that should keep your stalls full. Of course, you have to keep several concerns in mind when boarding an elderly horse. Necessary dental work, veterinary assistance, dietary concerns, a solid quality pasture, and a farm that is off in the country are all things that will be an asset to an older horse.
Build Stalls for Foaling Mares
Boarding a foaling mare definitely presents its own set of challenges. Besides standard boarding amenities, you’ll need larger, safer foaling stalls with some built-in monitoring systems. Simple outdoor shade shelters are good for work horses but aren’t good for foaling. Items like foaling alarms and video cameras are great ways to monitor a foaling mare without making her nervous.
Organize a Written Contract
It can be a difficult endeavor to run a profitable horse boarding operation. However, one of the best ways to create regular customers would be through providing them an organized contract. The stipulations could include such things as:
- The type of food the horse will have
- The rate for boarding the horse
- Hygiene procedures for the horse
- Allowable visitors for the horse
Of course, this is just a sampling of possible inclusions, but writing the contract is immensely better than simply doing it verbally.
Develop a Calling Schedule
The owner of the horse is going to want to make sure the horse is okay. However, this is another area where it is important for you to be organized. It might be wise for you to stipulate in the contract just how many times per week the owner can call simply because you are running a busy horse boarding operation. Don’t let the owner get too carried away with calling or that titleholder might turn into a pest.
Boarding horses is hard work! However, with a lot of patience and persistence, it can be done well. Your knowledge of horses just might become a profitable business for you.
Leave a Comment