How to Start an Equine Therapy Business

Part 1 - How to start an Equine Therapy business - Background

An equine therapy camp will have campers work with horses as a way of overcoming their physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. They’re primarily made for children, but there are ways to open the camp up to adults as well.

Our guide is in 3 parts:

• Part 1 - How to start an Equine Therapy business - Background
• Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
• Part 3 - Action plan to get started

What are the costs involved in opening an equine therapy business?

Costs to open can be substantial, especially if opening anywhere near a major city. Owners will need to purchase or lease the land, pay for staff, and board the horses. They’ll also need to factor in administrative and marketing costs.

What are the ongoing expenses for an equine therapy business?

Equine therapy camps will need to maintain their grounds, care for the horses (including medical), and keep up website and marketing materials. You’ll need to pay staff salaries and potentially attend ongoing educational opportunities to learn more about advancements in your industry.

Who is the target market?

The target market depends on the type(s) of therapy you want to provide. Some camps choose to work with certain types of disabled children, such as those with Down syndrome or those with cerebral palsy. Or they may work with campers with a variety of disabilities as a means of promoting tolerance and inclusion.

But another major market is children with emotional troubles. Some camps will work with troubled teenage girls only, or boys who have recently been released from a detention center. Camps may set up different sections of the grounds in order to work with a variety of kids. Advertising should be geared to both children and parents of course, but it’s primarily the parents or adult caretakers in a child’s life who need to be convinced that the camp is worth it.

How does an equine therapy business make money?

Equine therapy camps charge a set rate for each camper to cover the costs of the program. If the camp is for-profit, then they’ll usually set a profit margin onto their fees in order to have additional funds invested in the enterprise.

How much can you charge customers?

Because the upkeep expenses are substantial, even non-profit centers can charge up to $100 for a 50-minute session or several thousand dollars for a two-week experience. Most camps will offer varying programs for different budget levels. For example, they may offer group sessions at a reduced rate or a weekend experience rather than a full week at the camp.

How much profit can an equine therapy business make?

Non-profit camps obviously need to set their rates so they can cover the cost of operations, but a for-profit center can do very well if it can attract the right clientele. A week-long session with 30 campers for $2,000 will net $60,000 alone. If the cost of operations is 75% that of the admission fee, the camp would make about $800,000 in profit a year if they run programs all-year round.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Owners can consider branching out their services to include adults. They can even set up activities where employees come together for team-building days. Owners can modify the children’s activities to fit adult needs so that people can problem-solve and learn more about each other outside of the office.

Day-to-Day and Growth

What happens during a typical day at an equine therapy business?

Equine therapy camps may include any of the following daily tasks:

• Coordinating activities for riders

• Coaching staff on best practices

• Evaluating and assessing children’s strengths/needs

• Marketing/advertising

• Caring for horses

• Maintaining the property grounds

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful equine therapy business?

You should have some experience working or volunteering in a camp like this. Jumping in without any type of formal training can make it that much harder to get the camp off the ground. You should also have some type of certification for working with horses either from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International or from a similar organization.

What is the growth potential for an equine therapy business?

There may be a need for something like this in your area, even if it doesn’t seem that way at first. These programs can be life-saving in a number of ways, which means that insurance companies and authorities alike are onboard with the work equine therapy business do. City officials or community organizations may even fund these types of alternative therapies as a means of curbing juvenile delinquency.

What are some insider tips for jump starting an equine therapy business?

The first thing an owner needs to address is the liability they’re taking on. Working with kids and horses creates an infinite amount of unknowns that can be difficult for staff to handle day-in and day-out. Even the most well-trained and gentle of horses is not immune to getting spooked, which can cause damage to the property or even to the people in the camp. Having a good staff (not to mention good insurance) can go a long way to safeguarding against dangerous events.

If you’re willing to make your organization a non-profit, you may be able to get a government grant in order to start your business. This will not only cut down on your start-up costs, but it can also give you instant legitimacy in the eyes of your clientele. Ensure you have a passionate and experienced writer who can draw up a proposal that will catch the eye of the decision-maker. You should also look into how to take different types of medical insurance. Some companies will cover camps as a necessary cost of treatment.

How and when to build a team

Owners should build a professional and experienced team immediately. You need to hire people who are comfortable working under intense pressure and who want to see the kids learn and grow throughout their time there. If you skimp on the quality of your employees, you increase the odds of liability lawsuits.

Part 2 - Is an Equine Therapy business the right fit for you?

Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Equine Therapy business in 90 days