Rent your fenced field to local horse riders

Horse owners who board at stables without a good arena, riding clubs, and trainers who run small lessons or clinics.

A fee per hour, half day or full day, plus optional monthly passes for regulars. You can add a small charge for using jumps or for a trailer parking spot.

• Comfortable around horses and riders
• Basic fencing and ground upkeep
• Simple booking and customer communication

• Commercial general liability insurance that covers equine activities. Home or farm policies may not cover paying riders.
• Zoning and farm status: check with your municipality whether renting to the public needs a licence or changes property tax class
• Rules on rider safety and liability waivers vary by province, so check with your provincial regulator
• Spring thaw and heavy rain can make the ground unsafe, and winter use may be limited by snow and ice
• Manure handling and neighbour concerns about traffic and noise

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the state of your field, your fencing, and the poles and cones you need. Your own costs will vary with what you already have on the property.

Check that your commercial general liability insurance covers equine activities, since home or farm policies may not cover paying riders. Also check zoning and farm status with your municipality, waiver rules from your provincial regulator, and neighbour concerns such as manure, traffic and noise.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $1,500, depending on how often riders book and your hourly rate. Ground can be unsafe in spring thaw and heavy rain, and winter use may be limited, so bookings can vary by season.