Horse pasture boarding on your land

Recreational horse owners, retired horses' owners, and riders without their own land, especially near towns and cities.

A monthly fee per horse, with extras for winter hay, feeding, blanketing or stall use. A small herd of boarders can add up to a steady monthly income.

• Comfortable around horses
• Basic fencing and land upkeep
• Clear communication with owners

• Zoning and whether boarding is allowed on your property, check with your municipality
• Farm or boarding liability insurance, and your provincial rules on equine liability and waivers
• Manure, runoff and water rules, check your provincial agriculture ministry
• Overgrazing and mud in spring, plan how many horses your land can really carry
• Long winters mean hay costs and daily chores, price this in
• Horses getting sick or injured, agree in writing who pays and who calls the vet

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000 CAD, depending on your fencing, shelter and water set-up. Long winters mean hay costs and daily chores, so price these in.

Check with your municipality whether zoning allows boarding on your property. Also check farm or boarding liability insurance, your provincial rules on equine liability and waivers, and manure, runoff and water rules with your provincial agriculture ministry.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000 CAD, depending on how many horses your land can carry and what you charge. Plan for roughly 10 hours a week or more, and avoid overgrazing.