Riding arena hire with day passes and memberships

Keen amateur riders, pony club and riding club members, small coaches who need a venue, and riders without their own arena.

Per-session or day fees, monthly memberships, and hire of the arena to coaches or clubs for clinics and small events.

• Understanding what riders need from a surface and layout
• Organising bookings and a simple membership system
• Basic property maintenance and arena grooming

• Planning, land-use and possibly noise or lighting conditions from your local council
• Public liability insurance and signed waivers or terms of use for every rider
• Ongoing surface upkeep, drainage and dust control, which affect rider safety and repeat bookings
• Hendra virus and other biosecurity guidance from your state's agriculture department
• Slow weeks in extreme heat, wet weather or fire danger days, so check your cash flow

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $40,000 to $200,000, depending on the surface, fencing, lighting, jumps and float parking you choose. Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on pricing and how many riders book.

Check planning, land-use and possibly noise or lighting conditions with your local council. Also check public liability insurance, signed waivers or terms of use for every rider, and Hendra virus and biosecurity guidance from your state's agriculture department.

Check surface upkeep, drainage and dust control, which affect rider safety and repeat bookings. Estimates suggest around 10 hours a week at minimum, and slow weeks are possible in extreme heat, wet weather or fire danger days, so check your cash flow.