My Horse University/eXtension Horse Quest live webcast on operating horse boarding facilities. Presented by Kristen Wilson, University of Maryland Extension.

1. My Horse University and eXtension’s HorseQuest
welcome you to this live Webcast.
Horse Boarding Operations:
What is Involved?
Kristen Wilson
Extension Horse Specialist
University of Maryland Extension

2. Meet our presenter:
Kristen Wilson
Extension Horse Specialist
University of Maryland Extension
Question facilitator: Jennifer Reynolds
University of Maryland

3. U.S. Horse Industry
• Goods and services valued at $38.8 billion
• 460,000 FTE jobs annually
• 9.2 million horses
• 4.6 million people are involved in the
industry (not including spectators)
(American Horse Council, 2005)

4. Facts To Consider
• Requires a considerable amount of
knowledge and experience
• May result in a loss of privacy on the farm
• Must be able to deal with a variety of
personalities
• Liability issues may be a major concern
• Expect to work 365 days/year

5. Is There A Need?
1. Current horse population
2. Current boarding operations
and spaces occupied
3. Demand in area and the
growth potential of the
industry

6. What’s Involved?
• Daily care of horses • Payroll
• Pasture management • Insurance and liability
• Building and facility issues
maintenance • Accounts payable and
• Equipment receivable
maintenance • Marketing
• Customer service • Inventory control
• Personnel
management

7. Are You Prepared?
1. Why do you really want to do this?
2. What are the goals for the business?
3. Define success

8. Business Plan
A business plan is a document that
summarizes the operational and financial
objectives of a business and contains the
detailed plans and budgets showing how
the objectives are to be realized

9. Parts of a Business Plan
1. Services Offered
2. Marketing Plan
3. Customer Service
4. Resources Needed
5. Safety Concerns

10. Parts of a Business Plan
6. Nutrition/Feeding Requirements
7. Health Program
8. Contracts & Agreements
9. Finances
10. Legal and Risk Issues

11. Part 1: Identify Services Offered
• Types of boarding services:
– Pasture Board
– Stall Board
• Think outside of the box!!
– Extra Benefits
– Additional Services

12. Extra Benefits / Additional Services
Extra Benefits Additional Services
• Vet Care • Riding lessons
• Grooming • Riding facilities
• Holding fee for farrier or vet • Horse training
• Care of sick/hurt horses • Breeding services
• Blanketing • Hauling horses
• Clipping • Horse sales
• Tack cleaning • In-house horse shows
• Field trips
• Birthday parties
• Lecture series

13. Part 2: Marketing Plan
• Location, location, location
• Techniques:
– Logo, sign
– Business cards
– Website
– Advertising in local publications
– Open houses
– Flyers

14. Part 3: Customer Service
• Facility should make
favorable impression on
clients
• Remember your clients are
the people and the horses
• Be ready to deal with
multiple personalities
• Communicate!!
• Be available and have
additional staff as needed

15. Part 4: Identify Resources Needed
• Fencing
• Pasture
• Facilities
• Customer Needs

16. Fencing
• Type of fencing safe for horses
• Should be sturdy, visible and durable
• 4 ½ to 5 feet high
• Bottom of fence and gaits should be 8 –
12 inches off the ground
• No sharp edges, narrow corners or
projections

17. Types of
Fencing to
Consider

18. Pasture
• Stocking Rates
• Utilize sacrifice area
• Rotational grazing systems
• Management considerations:
– Avoid over or under grazing
– Soil Test, fertilize and lime as needed
– Identify weeds and poisonous plants
– Choose plant species wisely

19. Facilities
• Housing requirements
– Run-in shed – 90 to 150 sq ft per
animal
– Stall – 12ft x 12ft
• Flooring
• Ventilation
• Manure Management
– Composting vs. Hauling Away

20. Customer Needs
• Clean restroom
facilities in barn
• Telephone
• Space for tack and
equipment
• Area for riding
• Landscaping /
Aesthetics

21. Part 5: Safety Concerns
• Inspect and evaluate frequently
• Establish barn rules and post them
• Recommended practices:
– Safety trainings
– Regular maintenance of facilities and
equipment
– Install fencing around perimeter of property
– Fence hazardous areas
– Store chemicals in secure areas

22. Common Barn Rules
1. No smoking.
2. No dogs.
3. Clean up poop left by your horse.
4. Don’t use others’ property.
5. Close all gates and stall doors.
6. Respect hours of operation.
7. All children must be supervised.
8. No speeding in the driveway!
9. All riders must sign a release form before riding.
10. Wear an ASTM/SEI certified helmet.
(Stable Management Magazine, August 2010)

23. Part 6: Nutrition Requirements
• Feeding program should be tailored to meet
nutritional requirements of each horse
• Management tips:
– Establish and maintain feeding schedule
– Horses consume 2 to 2.5% of b.w./ per day
– At least 50% of diet should be from forages
– Provide fresh water

24. Part 7: Health Program
• Generally responsibility of horse owner
• Establish an emergency plan of action
• Management tips:
– Require health certificate, negative coggins test and
isolate new horses
– Vaccination program
– Deworming program
– Record keeping

25. Part 8: Contracts & Agreements
• Have written contracts and agreements
• Boarding agreement should include:
– Description of horse
– What services are included
– When fees and charges must be paid
– List who is responsible for each area of horse care
– Termination
– Risk of loss
– Right of lien
– Waiver of liability

26. Part 9: Finances
• Decide on rates of services
• Identify expenses
• Develop a sample budget
• Bookkeeping

27. Rates of Service
• Dependent on industry and
market demands
• Price realistically
• Use caution when bartering or
offering “in kind” compensation
to employees

28. General Expenses
• Feed
• Hay
• Bedding
• Labor costs
• Pasture management
costs

29. More Expenses To Consider
• Utilities • Payroll taxes and
• Insurance benefits
• Advertising • Workman’s comp
• Office Supplies • Maintenance and
• Taxes improvements to
equipment and
• Licenses and fees facilities
• Accountant fees • Vehicle expense
• Horse trailer expense • Mortgage / Rent

30. Budget
• Unique to your operation and location
• Costs differ depending on business
location and availability of supplies
• Keep business goals and objectives in
mind
• Stick to budget
• Research! Research! Research!

31. Sample Budgets
• Virginia Tech -
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/446/446-048/446-
048.html
• Penn State University –
http://agalternatives.aers.psu.edu/Publicat
ions/horses.pdf

32. Bookkeeping
• Record every transaction
• Take time to categorize each transaction
• Track income and expenses
• Re-evaluate the financial situation often

33. Part 10: Legal & Risk Issues
• Insurance
• Licensing
• Form of Business Entity
• Environmental and Zoning
Regulations

34. Insurance: Things to Consider
• Financial stability of the business
• Value of horses
• Level of risk
• Level of personal involvement
• Likelihood of experiencing a covered
loss while insured

35. Insurance Policies
• Commercial liability
• Fire and theft
• Property
• Care, custody and control
policy
• Individual horse policies
• Workers’ Comp

36. MDA –Licensing Policy
• MHIB inspects and licenses stables
• Five or more horses rule
• Fee: $125
• Contact information:
www.marylandhorseindustry.org
(410) 841 - 5861

37. Business Entity
• Several forms of doing business
• Becoming a corporation ensures:
– Separates business from personal
assets
– Only operation’s assets are at risk
– Lower taxation rates on income

38. Environmental and Zoning Regulations
• County Zoning Ordinances
– Restrictions on land use, horse density, horse
facilities including shelter requirements,
manure disposal, horse disposal, etc.
– Contact County Planning and Zoning Office
• Soil and Water Conservation Plan
• Nutrient Management Plan

39. Conclusions
• Profits can be low
• Hard work and dedication
• Business mentality
• Re-evaluate what your doing often
• Continually educate yourself
• Success doesn’t happen overnight
• “It’s not necessarily a good living, but
it’s a good lifestyle.”

40. Helpful Resources
Complete Guide for Horse Business
Success (2nd Edition)
by Janet English
Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage
by Cherry Hill

41. Additional Resources
Soil Conservation District
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/home
eXtension Horses –
http://www.extension.org/horses
Land Grant Universities
State Horse Industry Board and/or Horse Council

42. Give us your feedback!
• You will receive a survey by email. Please take
a few minutes to give us your feedback on this
webcast. It will help us to better serve you!

43. Upcoming Webcasts
• Managing Live Horse Events
March 27 | 7PM EDT
• Tractor and Machinery Safety
April 24 | 7PM EDT
• Pasture Rotation
May 1 | 7PM EDT

44. Thank you for attending this live web presentation!
For more information about
My Horse University please visit us at:
www.myhorseuniversity.com
info@myhorseuniversity.com | www.myhorseuniversity.com | 517-353-3123