Turn your passion for horses into a successful business. Full of proven techniques to help you maximize profits and minimize headaches, this practical guide shows you how to create a viable business plan, identify marketing opportunities, and efficiently maintain your facilities. With savvy tips on reducing veterinary and feed costs, you'll learn how to make your operation self-sufficient and keep it financially sustainable. Whether you run a boarding stable or a riding camp, you're sure to find the information you need to keep your business running smoothly. Author Mary Ashby McDonald holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She is the former manager of the 460-acre Medway Ranch in Austin, Texas. Introduction 1 Creating an Image 2 Advertising and Promoting Your Business 3 Managing Your Business 4 Financial Management 5 Riding Programs, Boarding, and Leasing 6 Riding Camps 7 Moneymaking Events and Ideas 8 Buying and Selling Horses 9 Breeding Horses 10 Farm Property and Maintenance 11 Cutting Costs on Horse Care 12 Equipment Savings, Opening a Tack Shop Appendices IndeX Turn Your Passion into a Profession Your devotion to horses is the key ingredient in a profitable equestrian career. Now revised and expanded, Starting & Running Your Own Horse Business offers complete advice on putting your love for horses to work. A larger selection on safety, tax and insurance advice, and many new suggestions for starting successful equestrian businesses make this new edition the must-have book for horse entrepreneurs. An experienced stable manager and practicing veterinarian, Mary Ashby McDonald shares her money-making ideas and cost-saving techniques for launching and running a successful business. "Now this is a really useful horse business guide...McDonald includes a variety of money-saving and -making suggestions." - Horse Country "If you've ever thought about starting your own horse business, be sure to pick up, well, Starting & Running Your Own Horse Business." - Horse & Rider "The ideas in this book are accurate and solid. Unfortunately, along the way, I've made many of the classic business blunders Mary mentions [in this book]. Hopefully reading this will help others avoid the same mistakes in the future." - Olympic Gold Medalist Joe Fargis, Owner/Manager/Trainer, Sandron Farm Learn How To: - Create a business plan that puts your existing horses and facilities to work - Manage your time, your money, and your employees - Choose affordable insurance coverage that keeps your customers and your horses safe and protects you from financial liability - Operate an exciting variety of horse ventures from camps to carriage services - Develop an appealing name, logo, and icon for your business - Identify the best marketing and advertising opportunities - Offer additional services your customers need: grooming, cleaning tack, transportation, catching and holding, consulting, administering medications - Reduce vet bills: implement sound preventative strategies and do your own vaccinating and deworming - Save on feed costs

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