Tips for Opening a Riding School
Do you love horseback riding and want to pass that love on to others? Perhaps you’ve entertained the idea of starting your own riding school. While many factors to consider, it can be a very rewarding adventure. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Find a Facility and Equipment
If you don’t already have a barn and space, you’ll need to find an appropriate facility to offer lessons. You’ll need to have arenas for practicing, which can either be covered or uncovered (or you may have both). You’ll also need horse jump equipment, equipment to take care of the horses, and (of course) a reliable group of horses.
On top of all that, you will need a place to store all the equipment and the feed for your herd of horses. I highly recommend looking into metal buildings for this type of storage.
Hire Experienced Staff
You’re likely not going to be the only one providing lessons and taking care of the horses. You’ll want plenty of experienced hands to help, such as a barn manager, riding instructors, and caretakers.
Figure Out What You Want to Offer
It’s not just about giving lessons. You’ll need to figure out if you want to provide lessons for adults or children, what types of classes you want to offer, and how long you want them to be. You’ll also need to figure out if you want to offer boarding services to clients with their own horses. Offering more options allows you to cater to more clients, but you need to make sure that you can handle everything that you say you’ll provide.
Set Your Pricing
You can charge what you want, but you should price competitively. You don’t want to charge significantly more than others in the area, but you also don’t want to undersell yourself and barely scrape by each month. To figure out what you should charge, research other riding facilities in the area. Give them a call directly to inquire about their pricing. You can also consider offering incentives to jumpstart your business, such as new client discounts or discounts for referrals.
Get Your Name Out There
As with any other business, advertising is essential. You can go the old-fashioned route and advertise at tack stores, feed shops, showgrounds, and your local newspaper. You can also take your advertising efforts digital. Create a website and optimize it. Consider setting up social media accounts as well and updating them regularly.
Turning your dream of teaching others to ride into reality takes a lot of hard work and dedication. With proper planning and the right team, you’re sure to attract clients and pass along your love of riding.
