Starting & Running Your Own Horse Business [Paperback]

Mary Ashby McDonald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 1997

This guide shows readers how to run a successful business and make the most of their investments in horses, facilities, and equipment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Be sure to pick up…Starting & Running Your Own Horse Business.  You’ll be hooked from the opening chapters on logos, barn colors, and business card designs, through the appendices full of handy forms, schedules and contact information.  In between you’ll find detailed information on management, riding programs, boarding, leasing, breeding, buying/selling, cost-cutting, and more.” – Horse & Rider magazine

 

“…helps the horseman become more aware of his responsibilities as business manager and owner.” – Western Horseman

 

“…sound suggestions to the horseman-turned-businessman translate what’s going on at the barn into generally accepted accounting principles…” – Western Horseman

 

From the Back Cover

Yes, you can do the work you've always dreamed of doing. Here's all the information you need to start and run a successful horse business!

Whether you are a seasoned professional or an aspiring entrepreneur, Starting & Running Your Own Horse Business puts you on the inside track to making money and cutting expenses. An experienced stable manager, author Mary Ashby McDonald knows exactly what works (and what doesn't) in the business of horses. Now she shares her profitable ideas and techniques with you.

This practical handbook covers:

Making the most of your investment in horses, facilities, equipment, and time

Beginning a variety of income-generating activities and programs

Managing promotional events that create interest and bring in business

Saving cash on stable management, horse care, and equipment

Plus 20 forms and contracts

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (January 6, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882669605
• ISBN-13: 978-0882669601
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,342 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Horses

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Horse business skimmed over, September 19, 2002

By 

"amykay2314" (Sparks, NV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting & Running Your Own Horse Business (Paperback)

I felt this book covered marketing of a boarding facility. It offers simple ideas on how to make extra money but I felt this was too superficial. If you need help with marketing, advertising, and promoting this book gives you that but it does not give you the basics of running a horse business. I would reccommend instead, something written by a CPA or lawyer. There are certain things I expected like; layout and design to the best advantage, things to consider when starting a horse business, laws and taxes related to a horse business....this covers none of that so if you are looking for something in depth, this is not it.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Ideas, August 13, 2000

By 

Carla Hawkinson (Tennessee, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Starting & Running Your Own Horse Business (Paperback)

I think Mary McDonald's book is full of sound and useful advice. I have boarded horses, bought and sold horses, and taught riding lessons off and on for 20 years. Recently I decided to begin teaching lessons again, having taken about 8 years off. I referred to this book for ideas on organizing, planning and implementing my new riding program. I borrowed from it liberally and feel much more goal-directed and organized than in the past. I recommend this book as a starting point for anyone considering becoming involved in the horse business.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Business Ideas, October 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Starting & Running Your Own Horse Business (Paperback)

This is a great book to get you started with a horse business. It doesn't go deeply into the legal part of business (taxes, loans, documentation other than liability forms) but it gives you ideas where other business books don't. There are plenty of books out there on business specifics already. She gives good advice about promotion and profit making activities, along with how to get the most profit out of a horse. She also briefly goes over basics, such as buying lesson horses, buildings, land, management, and accounting info (along with a few forms).

Overall, it was worth "it". It gave me lots of good ideas and insights. If you are seriously wanting to start a horse business and have not a clue about it, I wouldn't rely on this book alone; it is a good starting point however.