Every year, more and more equestrian clubs open in different parts of the world. This shows that, despite the external economic factors, it is necessary to look for new ways and unconventional solutions not only to attract new customers, but also to retain old ones.
Main source of revenue
The main source of income for the average horse club is primarily the rental of stalls. It is worth noting that in the big cities of the world, many horse owners are already quite spoiled and do not even consider clubs that do not have watering holes, hot water washing facilities and an indoor arena. Often the list of services, in addition to an ’empty stall’, includes hay, bedding, paddocks and levards (with limited time), room in the stable and access to a common changing room. The price of a stall is often higher than the price of an empty stall, and often the list includes hay, bedding, paddocks and riding stable (limited time), space in the paddock and a locker room for the horses.
Horse for rent
These days, fewer and fewer people are willing to buy their own horse for riding lessons. This is why the possibility of renting or semi-renting a horse is especially relevant. In this case, sports horses with extensive experience in competitions are in particular demand. As a rule, the cost of renting is directly related to the price of the lodging at the club where the animal is kept.
Horse hire
Only someone who has personally bought a horse can imagine how difficult it can be to find a kind, contactable, responsive, healthy animal that is safe for beginners and interesting for experienced riders. If well advertised, an equestrian club will usually have fully staffed rental groups. There are many kinds of rides, from woodland and field rides to the increasingly popular ‘fitness riding‘. It also happens that successful business owners choose equestrian clubs as a venue for team-building events and even contract corporate riding lessons.
Competitions or horse racing
It is no secret that members need to compete regularly, so the responsible club holds intra-club tournaments at least once a month, inviting competitors from other equestrian clubs. The higher level of competition attracts media, sponsors and spectators. Like any commercial event, tournaments allow to earn money on advertising, organization fees, photo and video materials, and accommodation of foreign participants. Therefore, a separate line of business for equestrian clubs is the holding of tournaments.
Sports betting is an equally important element of the competition. Betting on horse racing is extremely popular in English-speaking countries. Especially in England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and the USA. Hundreds of races take place every day at racetracks around the world. While horse racing betting sites not on GamStop are gaining in popularity these days, it’s also worth considering this as an alternative income option for an equestrian club. And for higher ranking clubs who run high profile races, there is the possibility of hosting your event on the sites mentioned above.
Other sources of income arise during the competitions. The most obvious, of course, is renting out the area around the arena, where fairs and a variety of cafés line up. Businesses either enter into rental agreements or undertake to provide valuable prizes for the winners of the competitions, which also benefits the club.
Guided tours
You can supplement the club’s budget by offering tours of the stables. School children and kindergarten students may be in demand for such a service. Children usually take a great interest in the horse and there is always a demand for such programmes. It is best to offer group excursions linked to specific days. The programme should not be too long – 30-50 minutes of introduction to the life of the club and the horses is sufficient for both children and adults.
In order to keep guests interested, you should develop a full programme. Tell visitors about one or more of the horses, the daily routine of the stables, and briefly about safety procedures. Make sure there is a horse that can be petted and a treat for the visitors. It is desirable to choose quiet, friendly animals for this purpose. It may be a good idea to offer guests a special treat for the horse.
Souvenirs
Most visitors to the club won’t mind a small souvenir. The club is a good place to buy small items for occasional guests and guests alike. You may also be interested in the athletes who come to your club for a competition. In any case, if the club is popular enough, you should try offering souvenir products to guests.
The outcome
The above examples of developing an equestrian club are not exhaustive. It is definitely possible to think of a huge list of other options to expand the range of services offered and add ways to make money for the club. We hope that our article has inspired you to take your equestrian club in a new direction or to start a new one!