Capitalize on the growing popularity of reining among riders coming from other disciplines and newcomers to horses.
By Jennifer Paulson
There’s no doubt about it, people are gaining interest in our industry and our way of life. While you might dream of getting that next high-roller customer who saw reining on TV, it might be more realistic in some barns to focus on another type of client: the beginner rider.
Reining is a sport that requires some level of horsemanship that beginners simply don’t have. While you could turn away these riders and recommend other lesson barns, why not start them in your program—and keep them there—for the rest of their horse involvement?
The biggest obstacle to adding this component to your barn is likely horseflesh. Where are you going to find suitable horses to fit your new beginner rider program without breaking the bank? Here are a few ideas.
1. Maintain connections in your horse community. Staying tuned in to your entire horse community in your area, not just the reining barns, means you have information about horses for sale from all backgrounds. They might not be reining horses, but they’re solid mounts to get your new riders started. With these connections, you know when these mounts are available, and they might come to you at the low cost of a care-lease agreement.
2. Look for partnerships. Is there a summer riding program in your area that has horses standing in a pasture the rest of the year? Consider an agreement with these types of facilities to keep those horses in condition year-round by bringing a couple into your beginner lesson program.
3. Keep an open mind. Look into the rescues in your area or on rescue websites. There are hidden jewels in many of these programs that can fit right in with your needs.
4. Enlist an expert. You don’t have hours a day to spend staring at for-sale listings in Facebook groups. But you might have clients who enjoy that so much, they do it every morning over coffee. Make a list of requirements, and set your client loose. You can incentivize them with a percentage off their bill or a small payment for a finder’s fee.
