Wanting to Start from scratch

[Hop-Scotch Bunn]

My wife & I are renting as of right now. We want to get back to the older simpler life style. After getting out of the military I am simply trying to find peace and quite. We want to live a self-sufficient life style. We also want to start up a horse stabling operation.

The problem is that we have little money, no family, and are starting completely from scratch. We have some ideas about a house and for the stabling layout. We were wondering if anyone could guide us in the right direction. Grants, funding of some sort to get the stabling operation up and running. Any ideas at all would be great and we thank anyone in advance for any help at all.

Hop-Scotch Bunn

[SFM in KY]

I think the first thing would be land and I suspect that would have to be owned by you before any kind of $$ would be available for expansion into stabling, etc. and it would need to be somewhere that there are no restrictions on that kind of situation.

Then, what kind of experience do you have with horses? Do either of you have training experience in a discipline that is common/popular in your area? That may be a key to bringing in boarders.

I'm not at all familiar with your area, but I do know an older couple who have a farm (midwest but fairly near a good sized urban area) who retired from active farming, leased some of their cropland and started a horse boarding operation. Very low-key and minimal investment.

They are in an area where there is easy access to some state lands people can trail ride in. Their boarding operation is basically 'do-it-yourself' ... a small pasture for each horse (or horses) with a 3-sided shelter and small attached tack shed. They provide pasture in summer, hay in winter, keep horses watered and clean the shed periodically with a small tractor and loader.

That is as much work/ responsibility as they want at this point in their lives. Depending on your experience and interests, if you are able to train ... or are a farrier ... in other words, have additional skills that could add to the interest in your boarding operation, it would be advantageous.

However, as someone who has worked at a boarding stable ... and who has had boarders occasionally ... it is not a business that lends itself to 'peace and quiet' ... you are dealing with people all the time.

[Wisconsin Ann]

SFM hit the important parts right on the money. If you have a horse background, it could be doable. Horses and horse people are not easy to deal with. Think of it like a long term campground operation. Someone is always going to want something from you.

HOWEVER....it's certainly a different lifestyle than military life, that's for sure. More laid back, more things on your own schedule. Done right, with everything thought out and a "roll with the punches" attitude...it could be a great life

I would put together my thoughts of what I want to do down on paper. Start a list of what you need for the operation: Land, buildings, fencing, turnout paddocks?, reliable feed source, reliable hay source, (of course those last 2 depend on your final location), hiring someone to do mucking out?, tractors needed, insurance(talk to an insurance agent to get the idea of what you'll need), advertising.

THEN start looking at finance sources. As ex-military you should have some options there to explore. There are also some good "woman owned business" loans and grants to explore (that would mean the the business is in your wife's name, of course). I would guess that there are some farm grants you could explore. I don't have any sites for you to look at, but googling <grants business military> might generate some nice things. Or <woman business grants>

Talk to your banker. IF you have a plan, they'll be more likely to say yes than if you go in with a nebulous "we'd like to have a horse boarding facility somewhere". Pick up a book (or search online) for how to create a "proposed business plan" to get some ideas.

[wwubben]

I don't know of any grants to start a place.You will need to operate with cash and loans.Lenders around here are leery of anything to do with horses.Many people have lost their hind ends with horses.Some have been successful too.Educate yourself well.It can be done.

[Our Little Farm]

I am simply trying to find peace and quite.

I would not think that running a horse stabling business and peace and quiet go together well at all.

[SFM in KY]

Originally Posted by Our Little Farm

I would not think that running a horse stabling business and peace and quiet go together well at all.

I have to really re-emphasize this. I've worked and taught classes at a stable (not quite 3 years) and I've had my own barn and leased stall space/riding space to one or two boarders off and on over maybe 10 years time. I've also trained horses for other people.

I stopped taking in outside horses for riding training years ago. I am an experienced stallion handler and have taken stallions in occasionally to train to collect for shipped semen. The owners leave the stallions and pick them up 2 to 4 weeks later, they don't arrive at unscheduled times on unscheduled days. Since I stand stallions, I will take in outside mares for breeding, but my actual preference is to ship semen to the mare owners.

I have turned down potential boarders the last several years because I choose not want to deal with the people on an ongoing daily basis. What it comes down to is your time and schedule is not your own, it revolves around what your boarders need and want.

[Wolf mom]

If it's really horses, you need to have knowledge about them first - and running a business - Yes, as that's what a large bording stable is. I owned a stable with 18 borders. Pretty small for some around N. Phoenix.

Go to school - I took a bunch of equine science courses at a community college in Phoenix that taught nutrition, stable managment, etc. You're dealing with live animals - think about the ramifications. If you're truly interested in making this your business, not just a backyard operation with a few friends horses since you dont know anything about horses.

This is truly an investment when you consider land, stables, fencing, arenas, lighting, hot walkers, etc. Then there's the babies that come along, cribbers, how & what are you going to do for your borders, feed costs, what to do in earthquake/fire situations, tack storage, theft and lots of small daily decisions....

This is a hands-on operation - unless you live on another property and have a barn manager. You can set up rules to keep borders away from your house - fences work - but part of boarding was keeping customers happy & that meant interacting with them.

Right now, lots of people are selling/giving away their horses in my area due to the expense. Not something I'd get into now.

As a former owner, PM me if you wish.

[ronbre]

last fall on Craigslist there was a wonderful huge piece of land with barns and outbuildings on it already for around $100,000 in Michigan, don't know if it is still there, check Northern Michigan Craigslist..there are a ton of forclosures too

[Txrider]

Just because it is an older lifestyle doesn't make it simpler..

[oregon woodsmok]

In order to board horses, you need a location that has access to lots of good riding trails and you have to be located close in to town, where people who own horses can not keep them in their own backyard.

Right now, I am seeing foreclosed horse properties selling for less than what it cost to build the house. It's like you get the land and barns and fencing for free. Those would be bank financable. Are you eligible for a VA loan?

[Whisperwindkat]

We ran a boarding stable years ago and I would not do it again. There is no peace and quiet when people are coming and going. Not to mention you always have the one or two boarders that are never happy and very demanding. Blessings in your ventures, Kat

[Laura Zone 10]

Originally Posted by Hop-Scotch Bunn

My wife & I are renting as of right now. We want to get back to the older simpler life style

I am finding the more I learn, the less "simple" the lifestyle is. It is (can be) back breaking work. There is not a lot of 'sit on my butt and relax time' in the simple life!!

After getting out of the military I am simply trying to find peace and quite. We want to live a self-sufficient life style. We also want to start up a horse stabling operation.

Are you two willing to relocate, anywhere in the US to obtain this dream?

The problem is that we have little money, no family, and are starting completely from scratch. We have some ideas about a house and for the stabling layout. We were wondering if anyone could guide us in the right direction. Grants, funding of some sort to get the stabling operation up and running. Any ideas at all would be great and we thank anyone in advance for any help at all.

Hop-Scotch Bunn

It's a buyers market right now.
Find an agent that knows how to find 'foreclosed' properties like what you are looking for. Be willing to compromise a bit, and add later if the deal is sweet enough. Be willing to relocate anywhere in the US.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by Laura Zone 5

Are you two willing to relocate, anywhere in the US to obtain this dream?

It's kinda sad that being anywhere in the US counts as relocating for someone in the military. I hope everyone here born before 1982 is proud of having supported the troops. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Apropos of nothing, the girl who works for my wife is married to a guy who is in Iraq right now. He's doing the same thing that he was doing in Iraq seven years ago- on the same road. He's taking more fire now than he did in 2004 when I was there with him. Hop-Scotch Bunn, I hope you and your wife find peace now that you're home- wherever in the US that you decide to plant your roots. Welcome home, and I wish you the best.

[Laura Zone 10]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

It's kinda sad that being anywhere in the US counts as relocating for someone in the military. I hope everyone here born before 1982 is proud of having supported the troops. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Apropos of nothing, the girl who works for my wife is married to a guy who is in Iraq right now. He's doing the same thing that he was doing in Iraq seven years ago- on the same road. He's taking more fire now than he did in 2004 when I was there with him. Hop-Scotch Bunn, I hope you and your wife find peace now that you're home- wherever in the US that you decide to plant your roots. Welcome home, and I wish you the best.

Hey fat charlie, no need for the thumbs down. It was a legit question.
I know young men who have come home from Iraq (work with two) who once they GOT home.....didn't want to move anywhere for a long long time. They felt like "rolling stones" and wanted to put down stakes, deep.
I didn't know if this was the case for the OP, and was taking that into consideration when I replied.

As for this young man's service, questioning my support? You are barking up the wrong tree.
My children are SARS and DARS
My great uncle went down on the USS Indianapolis, Marine
My Uncle served in Viet Nam, 2 jungle tours, Army
My Father served in Korea, Army
My Uncle served 'around' Korea, Navy
My Cousin served, Desert Storm, Army...............
I have two solider's I support via www.adoptaplatoon.org right now.

Don't talk to me about gratitude for my men and women of the Armed Services.

[plowjockey]

Not sure about CA, but I'd re-think the "stabling" part, nearly everywhere else.

Owning, feeding and boarding horses, was an option, when costs were "reasonable" and people had jobs that could afford, what is definetely not a necessity.

$5-14 per bale hay, increased boarding fees, insurance, vet bills (if you can find one) 10% unemployment, etc. has made owning a horse(s) more of a liability, than a recreation. Often horses are given away around here, since they cannot be sold for slaughter. Many stables have closed down around here.

IMI, to get in on the cheap, look anywhere else than CA, buy a fixer-upper (that still qualifies for a VA loan) with some acreage, that is not in the middle of nowhere. research if there is a market for stables, or look at other ventures.

Go from there.

Good luck.

[OUVickie]

Originally Posted by Hop-Scotch Bunn

My wife & I are renting as of right now. We want to get back to the older simpler life style. After getting out of the military I am simply trying to find peace and quite. We want to live a self-sufficient life style. We also want to start up a horse stabling operation.

The problem is that we have little money, no family, and are starting completely from scratch. We have some ideas about a house and for the stabling layout. We were wondering if anyone could guide us in the right direction. Grants, funding of some sort to get the stabling operation up and running. Any ideas at all would be great and we thank anyone in advance for any help at all.
Hop-Scotch Bunn

Since you are starting from scratch and have so little to start out, have you thought about working at a stable first?

I'm asking because that's a good way to start and you might be able to find a ranch or boarding stable that needs you and provides housing. That way you could get the experience you need, save money for your own place and also make the contacts you need to start that type of business.

I have a friend who works for a ranch that breeds mares and some of the workers live on the property.
Also, I used to work for a trophy buckle company and one of my customers was an older couple who ran a boarding stable and riding school. They were looking for a younger couple to live on the property and help them. The housing was free with the job. They paid the salary and the boarders would only be responsible for their own utilities.
I have a cousin who started out in a similar way, only they worked on a Dude ranch. They loved it and did it for several years before moving to Washington so his wife could go to Vet school. It gave them the experience they wanted, while living a simpler life until they had enough money to move and get what they wanted.

Sometimes it takes a bit when your start out. We rented before we owned and it gave us time to figure out exactly what we were looking for.
Just some food for thought. Good luck in your endeavors!