Starting & Running Your Own Horse Business (Paperback)

by Mary Ashby McDonald (Author) "To make your business a success, it must have an image..." (more)
Key Phrases: tack sales, outside mares, tack shop, Ten Oaks Riding Center, Royal Ruth, Old Red (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"[This book] is a great guide for horse care and management on a cost-effective basis. Excellent!" -- Dr. Arden Huff, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Extension Horse Specialist, Emeritus

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

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; Later Printing edition (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: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #280,487 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #30 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Agricultural Sciences > Animal Husbandry > Animal Production
  #77 in	Books > Outdoors & Nature > Fauna > Horses

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

100 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not for professionals, January 27, 2000

By	jjh2496 (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

I had high hopes for this book, but found it nearly useless in terms of providing practical information. My husband and I are in the process of converting a run-down former Standardbred training facility into a boarding operation, and we were looking for advise on fencing, building materials, safety issues, suggested rules for boarders, etc. What we got in this book was a list of puns for promotional bumper stickers and advise on planning a tea party (I'm not joking). The author seems to be much more interested in the marketing aspects of running a stable (choosing stable colors, for example) than in the actual horse-care aspects. Her advise on things like getting the best prices on feed are basically common sense ("Buy in bulk.").

If you are a pre-teen who wants to dream about the "fun" aspects of having your own stable some day, this book might suit your needs. Unfortunately, if you are an adult interested in professional advice, you won't find it here.

21 of 21 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

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.

16 of 16 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

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.