Full-Care horse boarding barn

Horse owners who work during the day or want their horse looked after, and riders who value arena access in a Canadian winter.

Monthly board per horse, with extras such as blanketing, medication, extra turnout or arena use fees. Income grows with the number of stalls filled.

• Strong horse handling and welfare knowledge
• Managing a daily barn routine
• Budgeting for feed, bedding and repairs
• Dealing with boarders and staff

• Zoning, building permits and any nutrient or manure management rules, so check locally and provincially
• Commercial liability insurance that covers care, custody and control of other people's horses, and rules on rider and visitor injuries that differ by province
• Heavy daily workload that includes weekends, holidays and bad weather, so plan cover for time off
• Winter costs: heating water, bedding, hay and snow removal
• Hiring help means checking WCB/WSIB coverage and employment rules in your province
• Empty stalls still cost money, so keep a cash buffer for the early months

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $20,000 to $100,000 CAD, depending on your existing land and buildings, number of stalls, paddocks, any ring or arena, equipment and insurance.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on how many stalls you fill and what you charge. The estimate assumes at least about 35 hours a week, and empty stalls still cost money.

Check zoning, building permits and any nutrient or manure management rules locally and provincially. Also check commercial liability insurance that covers care, custody and control of other people's horses, rules on rider and visitor injuries, and WCB/WSIB and employment rules if you hire help.