Way off topic --- horse/stable business

[funkill]

Anyone have any experience owning/operating a horse boarding stable? I'm interested in a property for sale in GA that has boarding & training - along with several other interesting activities. Would love to chat with someone who has some intimate knowledge of this type of business.
Laura

[Jammer]

I have some close friends who do it.

Their income comes primarily from lessons, from officiating at horse shows, and from hauling horses. They have also made some money by organizing horse shows at their stable, often hiring nationally or internationally known trainers and riders to conduct clinics or make presentations.

The basic boarding, breeding, and training activities have rarely proven profitable for them.

Horses are their life and they spend little money on anything else.

[Wayne&Sam]

We bred/showed/trained National Champion Appaloosas for many years, back in the 70's and 80's. We did some boarding, but usually only for mares to be bred by our stallion.

My take on it is that horses are a lot of work (it would be difficult to go away in your AS unless you had reliable help); many horse people love their horses but they're not so much in love with paying their bills; if you don't love horses it's not a business for you.

But if you love horses, don't need the board money on time to pay the mortgage, and don't want to spend any time away from farm, go for it.