UPHA Riding Program Playbook

2018 Questionnaire

Dear UPHA Member,

We all know the old saying, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” With this in mind, the UPHA Young Professionals Committee requests your time in filling out this questionnaire. UPHA is developing a “Riding Program Playbook” to share best practices and great ideas from established instructors and riding program managers with up and coming programs across the country. We hope this initiative serves as a catalyst for growth and a valuable resource for an entire generation of equine professionals, as well as our entire industry. Please share any and all ideas, tips and tactics for any or all questions. Even one tip may prove valuable to someone, and we greatly appreciate your time in sharing your knowledge. Responses will be compiled and edited into book form by UPHA, with contributors recognized at the end of the book. Thank you in advance for sharing your knowledge for the growth and betterment of our industry and our sport.

Please provide your name, barn name, email and website address (if applicable) so that we may list you as a contributor to the Playbook.

Question Title

* 1. Contact Information

Name

Barn Name

Website (if Applicable)

Email Address

Part I: Starting a Program

Question Title

* 2. Please share ideas for acquiring equipment and/or school horses and for an instructor looking to begin or grow a program.

Question Title

* 3. Please share thoughts regarding developing a business plan and securing funding to begin or grow a program.

Question Title

* 4. Any thoughts regarding features you recommend in a riding program facility?

Part II: Attracting Students

Question Title

* 5. Please share ideas for signing up new riders. What types of special promotions, events and incentives have worked for you?

Question Title

* 6. What has and has not worked in the areas of advertising and social media to promote your program?

Part III: Safety

Question Title

* 7. Please share best practices you employ to insure a safe experience for your clients.

Part IV: Building Commitment and Community

Question Title

* 8. Please discuss how you create a FUN and welcoming environment that encourages newcomers to sign up for more lessons.

Question Title

* 9. Please discuss how you employ special events (ladies night, camps, parties, date night, etc.) to build a barn family/community atmosphere and deepen a rider’s commitment to the sport, and to your program.

Question Title

* 10. We have had several requests for lesson plans. Please share specific lesson plans you find useful in building your riders’ skills in a fun and challenging way. Tips for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders would be greatly appreciated, as well as for private vs. group lessons. A space to upload specific lesson plans is provided below.

Question Title

* 11. You may also upload lesson plans in answer to the above question.

DOCX, DOC, JPEG, GIF, JPG, PDF, PNG file types only.

Choose File

Question Title

* 12. Do you teach more than one seat in your program? If so, how do you incorporate multiple seats into your overall program?

Question Title

* 13. As pricing will vary regionally across the country, please share your pricing structure for groups and private lessons, as well as special events such as camps etc.

Part V: Academy Shows

Question Title

* 14. Please share tips for encouraging your riders to compete in academy shows.

Question Title

* 15. Please share tips for preparing a rider to succeed in academy classes, as well as what you define as a “success.”

Question Title

* 16. Please discuss how you prepare horses for academy shows, especially what you find most useful in bridling equipment. What are some common tack/equipment mistakes you see in the academy division?

Question Title

* 17. Please share your pricing for academy shows.

Part VI: Creating Horse Owners

Question Title

* 18. Please discuss how you encourage your riders to “graduate” from the academy division and become full-fledged members of the equine community by owning their own horse.

Question Title

* 19. If you employ leasing programs, please share how you make them work for you. Please include how leasing benefits your students as well as how you price and charge for leased horses to benefit your program and business.

Part VII: Merchandise/Business

Question Title

* 20. Riding students typically spend hundreds of dollars each year on related merchandise and equipment. Please share how your program benefits financially from these expenditures.

Question Title

* 1. Contact Information

Question Title

* 2. Please share ideas for acquiring equipment and/or school horses and for an instructor looking to begin or grow a program.

Question Title

* 3. Please share thoughts regarding developing a business plan and securing funding to begin or grow a program.

Question Title

* 4. Any thoughts regarding features you recommend in a riding program facility?

Question Title

* 5. Please share ideas for signing up new riders. What types of special promotions, events and incentives have worked for you?

Question Title

* 6. What has and has not worked in the areas of advertising and social media to promote your program?

Question Title

* 7. Please share best practices you employ to insure a safe experience for your clients.

Question Title

* 8. Please discuss how you create a FUN and welcoming environment that encourages newcomers to sign up for more lessons.

Question Title

* 9. Please discuss how you employ special events (ladies night, camps, parties, date night, etc.) to build a barn family/community atmosphere and deepen a rider’s commitment to the sport, and to your program.

Question Title

Question Title

* 11. You may also upload lesson plans in answer to the above question.

Question Title

* 12. Do you teach more than one seat in your program? If so, how do you incorporate multiple seats into your overall program?

Question Title

* 13. As pricing will vary regionally across the country, please share your pricing structure for groups and private lessons, as well as special events such as camps etc.

Question Title

* 14. Please share tips for encouraging your riders to compete in academy shows.

Question Title

* 15. Please share tips for preparing a rider to succeed in academy classes, as well as what you define as a “success.”

Question Title

* 16. Please discuss how you prepare horses for academy shows, especially what you find most useful in bridling equipment. What are some common tack/equipment mistakes you see in the academy division?

Question Title

* 17. Please share your pricing for academy shows.

Question Title

* 18. Please discuss how you encourage your riders to “graduate” from the academy division and become full-fledged members of the equine community by owning their own horse.

Question Title

* 19. If you employ leasing programs, please share how you make them work for you. Please include how leasing benefits your students as well as how you price and charge for leased horses to benefit your program and business.

Question Title

* 20. Riding students typically spend hundreds of dollars each year on related merchandise and equipment. Please share how your program benefits financially from these expenditures.

Question Title

* 21. If your program employs outside or part time instructors, please share how you set up their schedules and compensation.

Question Title

* 22. Please share any other tips you may have for making your enterprise profitable.