Guided trail rides from a boarding barn

Tourists, families, beginner riders, birthday and group bookings, and locals who want a ride without owning a horse.

A fee per rider per ride (usually by the hour), plus extras like private rides, small group packages and add-on lessons.

• Confident horse handling and riding
• Reading riders' ability and keeping beginners safe
• Customer service and booking management

• Commercial general liability insurance that specifically covers horse rides, as many standard policies exclude it
• Written waivers, helmet rules and rider safety requirements, which vary by province, so check your provincial rules
• Zoning, business licence and trail access permissions, especially on Crown land or private neighbours' land, so check with your municipality
• Year-round costs for feed, vet and farrier while income drops in winter
• Horse welfare and rest: rental horses need limits on rides per day

Startup costs are typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on how many horses you buy, your tack and the barn lease. Treat this as an estimate and remember feed, vet and farrier costs continue year-round.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how many horses you run, your prices and the season. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit, and income drops in winter while horse costs continue.

Check that your commercial general liability insurance specifically covers horse rides, as many standard policies exclude it. Also check provincial rules on waivers, helmets and rider safety, plus zoning, business licence and trail access permissions with your municipality, and limits on rides per horse each day.