Weekend trail rides with your own horses

Local families, visitors, small groups and people celebrating a special occasion who want a simple trail ride.

Price per rider per guided ride, with higher prices for private or small-group sessions and seasonal weekends or holidays.

• Confident, safe horse handling
• Guiding and managing beginner riders
• Basic marketing and booking admin

• Commercial equine liability insurance, since personal horse cover usually does not cover paying riders
• Check your state's equine activity liability law and what signs or waiver wording it requires
• Written landowner permission and any rules for use of public land, which may need a special use permit
• Horse welfare and workload, so horses get enough rest and are not overworked
• Trailer or transport needs if you move horses between sites
• Ongoing costs of board, feed, farrier and vet whether or not you have bookings

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your horses, tack, insurance and any trailer or transport needs. Board, feed, farrier and vet costs continue whether or not you have bookings.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many horses you use and how often you run rides. The estimate assumes at least about 8 hours a week, and revenue is not profit.

Check for commercial equine liability insurance, since personal horse cover usually does not cover paying riders. Check your state's equine activity liability law and waiver wording, get written landowner permission, and check any special use permit for public land.