Ideas to expand/improve riding school services/lessons....

[lynspop]

Just wondering if I could pick the brains of anyone who is in anyway involved with a riding school- either as a staff member or someone who rides at a riding school!
My boss and I are currently trying to brainstorm and perhaps think up some new services/lessons/events we could offer our clients (and perhaps attract new clients) so what I'm wondering is if anyone has any suggestions or thoughts on new things we could try?

Background about the yard- small riding school with only 2 members of staff and 9 horses in Scotland. We offer the usual lesson options and do "own your own pony days" etc in the school holidays. We teach mostly children and most of our adult riders either come to us as complete beginners or established riders who wants to "happy hack"/ride with their children. We hire our arena out too for visiting riders/instructors/PC to use.

In terms of offering something new we are thinking along the lines of events we could offer over holidays (e.g. perhaps picnic rides) or even alternatives in terms of lessons that people might be interested in. We have previously ran small gymkhanas and clear round jumping events for our riders.

Any thoughts or ideas much appreciated!

 

[Holding]

Day rides with a pub stop.
Mock hunts/hunt training.
Dressage and jumping clinics, or just 'specialist' training days where clients have, say, a lunge lesson followed by a flatwork lesson then lunch then another lesson.
Special hacks where you box horses to nice locations, e.g. beach, gallops, etc.
Gymkhana games, as you mentioned.
Showing shows for the kids, with prizes for best turned out, equitation, etc.

 

[PorkChop]

I don't suppose you are near a beach? Always popular for riding schools.

 

[lynspop]

Unfortunately not!
We are about an hour away from the coast but blessed with very good off road hacking all around us!

 

[lynspop]

thank you for your suggestions!

 

[Goldenstar]

In the dark and distant past when I ran a riding school .
We did stable management courses for adults mainly class room based but with some practical .
They were very very popular and always filled mainly with people new to owning a horse or about to consider buying .

 

[Micropony]

In my RS days they used to put on low key little competitions for RS clients and liveries. You would pay a fee and the horse was yours for the day to groom and get ready, and then you would do the competition. Riding school grooms would be around to supervise and check tack etc. And instructors would help in the warm up. SJ and dressage days. I used to really enjoy it!

 

[teapot]

Will pm you :smile3:

 

[Kaylum]

Gymkhanas for adults love doing those.

 

[cobgoblin]

Adult pony club games.

A horse rally....with cryptic clues ( don't have to be hard), ride on to where you pick up the next clue, first one back wins.

Or a treasure hunt.

 

[Steerpike]

Treasure hunt on horse back?

 

[DuckToller]

Gymkhanas for adults love doing those.

What are you trying to achieve - do you need to increase rider numbers and income, or just offer more things to your existing clients?

We found that when we offered mid week extras such as a gymkhana, often the participants would then cancel their weekend regular lesson the following weekend - very annoying when you are trying to increase income especially as gymkhanas are quite tough on the horses!

The quietest times for riding schools are usually week days during work hours. Can you see if any local groups might wish to come for lessons ie contact your local college/uni and offer a group discount for a Wednesday afternoon (usually when students do sports), or offer a mums riding lesson via the local schools - bill it as something special, a new way to keep fit, not just a new beginners group.

Are your ponies all sensible? How about an RDA group mid week? You would need to get volunteers to help so not always ideal, but if you haven't got an RDA group nearby then it could be popular - contact the RDA hq for advice. Usually small groups come from a local special needs school.

 

[cobgoblin]

Treasure hunt on horse back?

Why not? You can always hang the treasure in trees.

 

[BayWelshThing]

When I was younger and had group lessons we used to spend a few weeks putting together a musical ride and then performing it, usually at christmas and covered in tinsel! Was always good fun.

 

[ossy]

Wasn't sure if you wanted one off fun things for existing clients or more longer term introducing new clients and more income so I've done a general brain storming dump below

Kids club - along the lines of like different belts in karate you have different kids club levels that clients training follows when they reach a certain level they graduate and move on keeps them having something to aim for.

Dressage and/or jump academy similar to above but for older clients and specific to the discipline they want to focus on.

Could you do specific bhs or nvq training lessons.

Clear round jumping evenings, dressage test riding nights.

Summer school for school holidays content unsure but so many days a week of mix of fun, learning and helping on yard.

Organising horsey days out eg bus to cross country day at Blair or dressage regionals or highland show, you'd get group purchase discount on tickets so could put a little mark up.

 

[teapot]

Are your ponies all sensible? How about an RDA group mid week? You would need to get volunteers to help so not always ideal, but if you haven't got an RDA group nearby then it could be popular - contact the RDA hq for advice. Usually small groups come from a local special needs school.

RDA won't improve a client base and/or income - it's about providing RDA sessions, it's not for profit in any way, and has to banked/run as a separate charity if you want to go down the official route. It's good for PR, marketing and reputation, but doesn't necessarily improve a riding school for clients, especially not one with only nine ponies and two members of staff.

Op, what's the main aim of improving lessons/activities? For clients, to gain more clients, up the yard's income etc? You need to decide what your business plan is first as that'll sway what the best thing to do is.

Has your RS got the scope to attract more clients of a higher standard? Who's your competition? I say that as my RDA group uses a local very basic riding school, where the clients regularly move on to the yard where I ride at, because the difference in level and quality is vast. My RDA group yard will sadly never ever compete with them, despite having the aims, determination, and heart in the right place.

 

[Bionic Boy]

Birthday parties. Bit of grooming, then a bit of riding followed by a picnic lunch.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

RDA won't improve a client base and/or income - it's about providing RDA sessions, it's not for profit in any way, and has to banked/run as a separate charity if you want to go down the official route. It's good for PR, marketing and reputation, but doesn't necessarily improve a riding school for clients, especially not one with only nine ponies and two members of staff.

Op, what's the main aim of improving lessons/activities? For clients, to gain more clients, up the yard's income etc? You need to decide what your business plan is first as that'll sway what the best thing to do is.

Has your RS got the scope to attract more clients of a higher standard? Who's your competition? I say that as my RDA group uses a local very basic riding school, where the clients regularly move on to the yard where I ride at, because the difference in level and quality is vast. My RDA group yard will sadly never ever compete with them, despite having the aims, determination, and heart in the right place.

An RDA group can hire the ponies/ make a contribution to their upkeep. That is what ours does, the instructors donate their time & skills, with volunteers helping to lead etc.

 

[teapot]

An RDA group can hire the ponies/ make a contribution to their upkeep. That is what ours does, the instructors donate their time & skills, with volunteers helping to lead etc.

Oh I know, that's what mine does in part, but unless there's demand for it and a group wanting to get up and running, it's not the most obvious solution. Setting up a RDA group really isn't as simple as some would believe, and I say that as trawling through paperwork regarding it at the moment :smile3:

 

[ihatework]

Do you have a nice, clean, warm room that can be used?

If so a couple of suggestions:

For you adult riders combine riding lessons with off horse fitness/posture sessions, Pilates etc.

For parents who are waiting around while kiddy has their lessons maybe rent room to a beauty tech to do nails/other treatments etc - kind of depends on your customer base

 

[ycbm]

Midweek leasing of riding school horses so that people 'own' the horse for two or three days a week. I did this in Switzerland and it was a great halfway house between owning my own and riding in a riding school. I'm assuming you need the horse more at weekends.

 

[laura_nash]

The last RS I went to (some years ago now) was a similar size / type. They had an "adults club" one evening a week late enough for people who worked. We mostly just had lessons or hacks, but occasional visiting trainers, talks, outings etc. It was competent adults only and you were left to get on with tacking up, turning out etc yourself. There was a social element too, most of us arrived early enough for a chat whilst getting ready. It was very popular, usually had a waiting list as numbers were limited due to the number of horses.

 

[SEL]

I'm on livery at a yard which has a riding school on site and they offer mid week lessons to a number of special needs schools and other similar organisations. It's usually 1 instructor to 1 client so not particularly profitable, but it does fill the quiet spaces in the day. It's not always riding, pony care, help with yard work etc is all part of the teaching.

If you're trying to offer more to your existing client base then I found offering post work hacking in the summer months brought in the cash - particularly pub rides! Other yards near here rent out their facilities for rider based Pilates, bareback riding classes, mums & cakes sessions, team building for local business.

 

[pardalis]

I saw a good course at a local stable. It was specifically targeted at people who had had a long break and wanted to get back into riding. I'm talking years as opposed to months. The course focused on riding and working the muscles used that hadn't been used for a long time! I think a lot of people who have had a break are nervous about their fitness but also don't need to go completely back to basics.

 

[horselady]

How about this. You can get a family to book however many ponies they need for say two hours and do fun rides, games etc. I know that this kind of thing has proved very very popular at yards I know.

 

[WelshD]

there are so many people who do not ride yet own horses or ponies these days so how about groundwork clinics, horse agility, TREC or in hand showing

Another way of boosting revenue that many other riding schools have done is to advertise for local dog groups to use the school for agility or obedience training, you have to be super strict about people cleaning up after their dogs though

 

[Wishful]

Video dressage clinic - warm up and ride a test and then watch back with sheet and comments from the instructor who judged.

In house competitions.

Clinics.

Social elements - group followed by coffee & chat - like take back the reons but for more experienced riders.

 

[QueenDee_]

Local RC has just introduced a 'Pilates for riders' course that seems to be very popular!

 

[Midlifecrisis]

I haven't read all replies but what about encouraging older returner riders during the weekdays with a ride and coffee and cake afterwards..if you have the facilities.

 

[lynspop]

Thank you all very much for the replies- much appreciated and a lot to think about!
To clarify as a few people have asked- we are looking to both offer our regular riders different activities and attract new clients.
There is some work to be done in terms of advertising and letting people know what we offer, but we are working on that at the moment!