How to Start a Horse Training Business

Horse trainers are needed the world over for owners who don't have the time or ability to turn their horses into show-quality animals. If you have significant experience with horses and the desire to work for yourself, you can start a horse training business with little or no start-up capital.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Service Contract
• Lunge Line
• Saddle
• Bridle
• Website

Facility & Equipment

1. Decide how you will run your horse training business. For example, if you have your own equestrian facility, you can operate from there. Alternatively, you can work from someone else's facility, and pay a monthly grounds fee. You can also offer to train horses on your clients' property.
2. Purchase the training equipment you will use on a daily basis.
3. Write a service contract that you and your clients will have to sign. It should include your daily, weekly or monthly fees. Write in the services you agree to provide, and choose any other terms and conditions you wish to impose.
4. Build a website to advertise your horse training business. This is the best way to attract new clients until you build a reputation, and it is a good idea to provide free information, such as horse training tips, to draw traffic.
5. Hand out business cards at horse shows, tack shops and feed stores. Getting the word out there is the first step to starting a successful horse training business.

Operation

6. Set aside sufficient time each day for your horse training business, giving each horse at least an hour of your time. It is important to give each horse the time that you specify in your contract, whether once a week or every day.
7. Update your clients on how their horses' training is coming along. For example, you can write a weekly report to let clients know what you accomplished during each training session. Be honest about what still needs to be developed.
8. Invite your clients to observe your horse training business whenever they would like. Clients often feel more secure knowing they can "drop in" any time they want, and it will give you a chance to show off your skills.
9. Give discounts for referrals if you want to grow your horse training business. Chances are, each of your clients knows at least one other person who needs a horse trainer, and your business can easily quadruple in size using this method.
10. Offer to give your clients riding lessons on their own horses so they can continue the techniques that you have developed in training. This not only makes for more effective work, but it also provides multiple streams of income.

Tips & Warnings

• Be honest about your skills and capabilities, and only take on horses that you know you can train effectively.
• Don't ever hurt or harm your horses in the name of training.