Like there are many different topics that can relate to horses and careers that can be formed from them, there are many different aspects of that topic. Consider a horse float for example.

I have touched on equine transport as a horse related career and even the construction and sale of horse floats. Another aspect that I don’t feel I’ve covered however is the hiring and repairing of horse floats or boxes.

Now each of these could be carried out as separate jobs: a business could offer the service of repairing floats whilst another hires out floats to be used (as my local service station does).  However, how great to be able to repair a client’s float that has an issue and loan them the use of a float whilst theirs is out of action!

“As they run through arenas and open fields, past mountains and seas, moving like the wind toward heaven, we travel with them, if only in our hearts.” – Author unknown

I’ve touched on the joys of different fodder sources to provide to horses – particularly in a drought – a few times on this blog.

If you have a passion for growing plants, helping business and property owners to be sustainable and happen to like horses, then do I have a business idea for you! A nursery or some kind of plant related business that works to grow different forms of fodder and then sell these on to property owners could be an interesting niche:

• seeds
• seedlings
• established trees
• and even harvested fodder could all be sold from the one property

In a world where land doesn’t grow and stock numbers are increasing whilst the number of houses and population of a town continue to grow, being able to source food for horses can be difficult. A nursery where you can go to purchase your own fodder sources to grow or even buy it harvested to feed to stock could have a lot of appeal for owners.

It is a dream that when my husband and I purchase our own property, that we will be sustainable and not need to purchase hay or other forms of roughage to keep our horses with something in their belly.

I believe this is possible through growing your own fodder source. These trees won’t just serve one purpose; they will provide shade, wind protection and aesthetics to a property. Plus they will help to boost your sustainability profile.

What sort of trees can be fodder? Well that one probably requires a bit of research, but I am aware of:

• Willows
• Tagasaste (lucerne tree)

According to Jane Myers’ text Managing Horses on Small Properties, these species are also useable as a fodder source:

• Carob (the seedpods)
• Honey Locust (the seedpods)
• Poplars
• Lucaena
• Wattles
• Saltbush and bluebush

If you’ve a passion for growing plants and helping others, then maybe a business idea like this is worth considering.

“Horse’s comment on a car -‘150 horsepower, big deal. I’d be impressed if it ran on hay.'”