Anyone on here run their own riding school?

[SouthWestWhippet]

I just wondered how people get started? Particularly with regards to the actually 'starting up' process of getting land/stables/ponies together. Do all/most riding school owners either inherit their school or have substantial capital to set it up? Is it the sort of ambition that you need money behind you to fulfil?

I'm BHSAI, I work as a freelance riding instructor and I love teaching, especially groups and especially kids. I've worked at two large riding schools in the last 8 years, doing a mixture of able-bodied and disabled ridings. I've also had some involvement in the business side but not much. Enough to be aware of how complicated and time consuming it is though - I'm not naive about this. But if I was to ever have my own small riding school - and i have plenty of practical and imaginative ideas and lots of energy and enthusiasm - how would I take the next step?

It may be that this is just one of those dreams that can never be fulfiled baring in mind I have no capital behind me and no land but I'd love to hear from people how they got started.

 

[be positive]

It is not easy and not helped by the insurance required.

I found it impossible as I wanted to do small scale 1to 1 lessons with no staff and a handful of ponies.The insurance companies I contacted had high quotes to cover numerous staff and could not reduce in scale to me and 5 ponies,it would have been costing more to insure than I would have made.You may find one that will do so,they also would not give insurance without a licence,no licence without insurance

I do know that some places have started in a small way with various schemes such as pony shares and gone legit once they are up and running.They have already owned the land and had liveries then started.

One way would be to approach a small RS in your area and see if you could go in as an instructor/manager/partner many people running RS may be glad of new ideas and ways to make some money.

 

[Kaylum]

started off with 4 ponies on loan and one horse on loan (all from the same place they used to have a riding school but closed down a long time before we got the loans). Rented a stabled block and two fields, made a school in one of the fields, had to apply for change of use on the property and riding school licence. But thats how it started. Had 3 14.2hh, 1 13hh and 1 15.2hh and expanded from their moving to new premises where we got up to 12 equines in all. Also that included a couple on working livery so no upfront cost for buying.

 

[Tnavas]

So much easier to do in NZ where we don't require a licence.

3rd party insurance is all thats required because we have ACC here. We contribute through our wages or through the tax we pay each year.

I leased an existing school - all the land and ponies and gear - 18 in all. Hard work built the school up until I had 32 horses & ponies and 300 customers a week.

Friends started thier schools as their children grew up, using the outgrown ponies. One has made the effort to become a qualified instructor and the level of her riders reflects this, the other hasn't bothered as she gets customers but the quality of the tuition shows and her riders are not taught well.

Finding suitable ponies is probebly the hardest part. They need to be free moving enough to not be kicked to oblivion but sensible enough not to run off with the riders.