Maximising livery yard profit help pls

siennamiller

siennamiller

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 July 2005
Messages
2,417
Location
west sussex
Visit site
Hi all, just wondering if you lovely people could give me some advice on a project pls?
I need to know how to maximise the profit of a riding school/livery yard.
Facilities are indoor and outdoor schools and great hacking. Facilities can't be changed at all.
Thinking along the lines of clinics, competition livery etc.
Any ideas please?
 
Since no one else has answered I'll have a go. I've never run a yard but just some thoughts which may or may not be of any use.
You either need to reduce costs or increase income!

Reducing costs:
Insurance and utilities - can you find cheaper providers? Have you looked at replacing existing bulbs with energy efficient ones, putting in a token meter for lights for the schools, adding solar panels, wind turbines or similar (you may well be able to source grants for this or sell back to national grid).
Staffing - is your yard running efficiently, could you restructure your staff by taking working pupils or apprentices, how about moving to deep litter or re site your muck heap to reduce man hours.
Horse care - can you source feed more cheaply by buying in bulk? One place I worked had a really simple feed regime that the horses all did well on and had massive agricultural style hoppers which was much more economic than bagged feeds. What about moving to an intelligent worming programme, testing and worming where required has saved us money at home. Is there any possibility of you making your own hay?

Increasing Income -
Renting facilities to individuals, RC, PC.
Diversifying and specialising in something unique like riding for the disabled, side saddle, reining + western, stunt training or natural horsemanship.
Equine therapy centre.
Organising competitions, clinics, demos, Pony Care Days, Training for BHS exams.
Register yourself as a film location.
Social things like BBQ and clear round jumping days.
Horsey B and B if you are near comp centres or nice locations/hacking.
Competition, schooling, rehab or retirement livery.
Alternative revenue streams like hiring space to store caravans or campers.

Probs not much help as I have no direct experience but sometimes an out there idea from someone clueless helps!
 
Last edited:
I know that when I was looking for a new riding school, one of the things I was looking for was the opportunity to use school horses for competitions - some places will transport a lorry load of horses for a group of clients to compete at select local shows, others are based at competition centres and allow clients to ride their horses in their shows. If you could offer this, it might possibly get you some more clients?
 
I had my own riding school and livery yard for 8 years. One of the best money makers for me was being an official Pony Club Centre. I held Pony Club each Saturday for two hours and the kids did an hours riding and then the rest of the time they worked towards badges, groomed, mucked out etc. We had a two night camp once a year too.

I also ran it as an NVQ / BHS training centre too, I'm not sure if you have qualifications or not. This ran in the week and the college I was attached to got government funding which was forwarded to me.

I had about 15 liveries and some of my riding school ponies were 'loaned' out to children for a weekly fee as well.

I ran private BHS courses from time to time as well.

You'll never made loads of money (unless you own your property and have no rent or mortgage to pay) but it allowed me to have 5 horses of my own and go eventing :)

It was VERY hard work and reduced me to tears from time to time but also very rewarding.

Good luck and let us know how you get on :)
 
I don't have any experience running a yard, but some alternative suggestions - horse car boots seem to do well round here so you could make some money from stall holders. Or, my friend does dog agility and they are always looking for secure paddocks (or indoor arenas) for rent?
 
siennamiller said:
Hi all, just wondering if you lovely people could give me some advice on a project pls?
I need to know how to maximise the profit of a riding school/livery yard.
Facilities are indoor and outdoor schools and great hacking. Facilities can't be changed at all.
Thinking along the lines of clinics, competition livery etc.
Any ideas please?
Click to expand...


Could you have a cross country course built and hire out???
buy course show jumps and set them up in a field and hire out
same with grass dressage arena
run things like chase me charlie for the locals
rent the schools out
have the vet down do a lecture on certain topics
dressage competition
own a pony day
run any of the above shows and donate to charity
equestrian car boot
 
Offering extra services to your livery clients (or packages that include extras) such as clipping, trimming, pulling, plaiting, lunging, schooling, hacking, tack cleaning.

Install an industrial washing machine for rug cleaning (and general horse kit like saddle pads for liveries).

A hot water wash box with heat lamps that liveries can pay for on a meter (or pay increased livery for).

An equissage that can be hired or a trailer/box that can be hired.
 
Beach rides - depending on how close you are to the sea (that is, if you're a mile away it's probably wasted) - hire a huge box and transport everyone who's not got a lorry, have a lesson on the beach from a qualified instructor and then a good blast! BBQ on the beach after?

Given what I saw today when I put my glasses on and took a good "peer" - "sheath washing" - christ yes I'd pay for someone else to don the rubber gloves and get er... massaging!

Pony club camp for grown-ups! Why should only 7 year olds be allowed to do walk, trot & canter races?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top