Horse agistment and stabling property

Rent paddocks and stables to horse owners who need a safe, well-run place to keep their horses.

A rider training a horse in an outdoor arena beside wooden stables.
Startup costA$6k to A$30k
Monthly revenueA$1.5k to A$7.5k
Time needed15+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • A$6k-30k
  • Part-time
  • Own premises
  • Licence or permit needed

Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.

What it is

You use land you own or lease to offer paddock agistment, stables or yards, with water, feed options and shared facilities such as a round yard, wash bay or small arena.

Your first three steps

  1. Check local agistment rates, then work out how many horses your land can safely carry and what fee covers your costs
  2. Talk to your local council about approvals for a commercial horse facility and check your state's rules on property registration for horses
  3. Get public liability insurance, write a simple agistment agreement, and advertise to local pony clubs and horse groups
Who pays

Horse owners without land, riders in outer suburbs and regional towns, and families with pony club kids.

How it makes money

Weekly or monthly fees per horse, with extras for feeding, rugging, turn-out, and use of arena or float parking.

Skills that help
  • Confident horse handling and horse care knowledge
  • Fencing, pasture and general property maintenance
  • Fair, clear communication with boarders
Watch out for
  • Council planning approval for commercial horse keeping, which differs by council and state
  • Public liability and care, custody and control insurance, check what your policy covers
  • Biosecurity, such as Hendra virus and strangles, and your state's property registration rules
  • Overstocking paddocks, drought and feed costs can squeeze margins
  • Seven-day-a-week animal care, plan cover for illness and holidays

Deep research report · Australia

Everything you need to start: horse agistment and stabling property

Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a horse agistment business?

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your land, fencing, stables and shared facilities. Feed and drought can squeeze margins, so avoid overstocking paddocks.

What approvals and rules apply to horse agistment?

Things to check: council planning approval for commercial horse keeping, which differs by council and state; public liability and care, custody and control insurance; and biosecurity such as Hendra virus and strangles, plus your state's property registration rules.

How much can a horse agistment property make?

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many horses you agist and the paddock or stable services you offer. The estimate assumes at least about 15 hours a week, with seven-day animal care to plan for.

Other ways to run this business

Similar sports and fitness ideas

Photo: Juncala on Pixabay

More ideas →