Riding lesson program at a rented barn

Children and parents, adult beginners and riders who want regular coaching, plus owners who want help with their own horses.

Fees per lesson or monthly lesson packages, with extra income from summer camps, lease fees for lesson horses and small events.

• Strong riding and a good grounding in safety
• Patient teaching, especially with children and nervous beginners
• Scheduling lessons and handling bookings and payments

• Instructor liability insurance, and check whether the barn's policy covers your lessons
• Your state's equine liability law, which often requires signed waivers and warning signs, so have a local attorney review them
• Falls and injuries, so use helmets, safe horses and clear rules
• A written agreement with the barn owner on fees, schedule and who supplies the horses
• Business license rules for teaching or youth activities in your city or county, and background checks for working with children

Startup costs are typically around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on whether you lease school horses, what you agree with the barn owner and what equipment and insurance you need. Renting arena time avoids buying land.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how many private and group lessons you teach each week. Barn fees and horse costs come out of that revenue.

Check instructor liability insurance and whether the barn's policy covers your lessons. Also check your state's equine liability law with a local attorney, business license rules for teaching or youth activities, background checks, and get a written agreement with the barn owner.