There are many platforms online these days that people make use of to sell products.  For me, I am able to sell horse books via Amazon, horse educational resources via TeachersPayTeachers and horse courses via Udemy.  So I’m thinking: online horse platforms!

One thing that makes platforms so appealing is that people can sell a particular type (or types) of product.  As sales are made, then the creator of the product and the creator of the platform benefit financially.  So say you have a heap of people using your platform.  They may only each make a small amount of sales, but as the platform creator you are benefitting from all of these sales.

What if there was one place you could go to online to purchase a heap of horse resources, or to create and sell them?  Let’s consider equine digital products as the focus of your online horse platform.  You design and provide a platform where people can sell digital products that are horse related:

• horse courses
• horse ebooks
• horse educational resources
• horse patterns
• horse website themes
• horse plugins and applications

I’m going to stop there!  Who knows, perhaps this is just another niche area waiting for someone with the passion and expertise to make it a reality.  Does the idea of online horse platforms excite you?

In time, it could be possible to provide premium accounts on the platform too as a way to bring in further income.  Here’s another potential equine passive income stream!  Food for thought.

“I believe that horses bring out the best in us. They judge us not by how we look, what we’re wearing or how powerful or rich we are, they judge us in terms of sensitivity, consistency, and patience. They demand standards of behavior and levels of kindness that we, as humans, then strive to maintain.” ― Clare Balding

A friend shared this Megasus Horserunners link with me on Facebook and I love the concept – unique!  This is a new business idea and they are currently raising funds to get it off the ground.

So what’s it all about?

MEGASUS HORSERUNNERS:
The world’s first clippable runners for horses, using our patent pending Mega Lock Fastener Technology.

We have developed brand new hoof protection for horses using cutting edge technology.

Meet the Megasus Horserunners – the world’s first shock absorbing hoof protection that allows all natural hoof movements and works on any type of terrain. Think of these as the first DIY running shoes for horses!

Our patent pending high performance fastener system allows you to easily clip the Megasus Horserunners on and off at maximum convenience for both, horse and owner – without using any nails! FABULOUS!

Megasus Horserunners

There are just over three weeks left on the kickstarter website where funds are being raised to get this project going.  They were aiming for a total of 100,000 euros and had just over 104,000 pledged as I wrote this post!  You can check out their official website and also pre-order the product!  Why not have a look?

I love seeing new horse businesses starting out and being supported by the equine community.  It’s great to see that horses truly can be a career and there are some brilliant people out there making such useful products!

The world of equine podiatry is an interesting and also expanding one, with many people shying away from typical horseshoes.  It’s truly interesting to see what other products are being put forward as substitutes.

“If I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that horses do listen to you. They may not have a clue what you’re saying, but they know the tone in which you say it. I’ll sing to horses so hooked on their own nerves they’re ready to climb into the sky, and sometimes it’s one of the only things that keep them on the ground.” ― Mara Dabrishus

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I was recently reading a product review on Breeches and Boat Shoes.  The author had been sent a pair of grooming hands to try out on their horse and then write a review for.

This particular grooming item works like a curry comb.  Instead, it is a pair of gloves that you put on and use to brush over your horse.  According to the Grooming Hands website, the gloves are designed with:

• Specifically placed massage points for easy gripping and optimal pressure
• Deep massaging tips on middle and ring fingers
• Open access for thumb and tips of pointer and pinky fingers for dexterity

The science behind the gloves is listed as:

• Unique thermo plastic with anti-static properties
• Carbon filaments throughout glove to reduce static discharge
• Tested across hundreds of animals
• Latex free

It’s always interesting to see new horse related products that come onto the market.  Generally it seems they come about because someone sees a gap in horse related products and they find a way to fill it, or they see something can be done better – so they do!

That seems to be the way with grooming hands.  They are identified as pet massage and grooming gloves – so not just for horses.  But they definitely seem like a good substitute for a curry comb, to me!  I know my hands end up quite dirty when I am currying horses in preparation for a sale – having gloves to protect my hands would be welcome!

This product that is designed and assembled in the United States has many benefits:

• Use fingers to scrub the body, loosen dirt, dead skin and feel for lumps, scabs or ticks
• Ability to use the cloth of the glove to wipe around eyes or nose or face, and legs
• Able to pick up and/or hold leash, lead line, or halter
• Massage muscles at the same time as brushing
• You will never drop your brush again!
• Use while bathing or washing your pet
• Machine washable and easy to clean

Why not take a look?  Check out the website link above.

So you may be familiar with fecal worm egg counts. These determine the worm burden of a particular horse.  This in turn tells us whether it is necessary to provide them with an anthelmintic treatment.  I have recently been made aware of one such treatment that identifies if horses have a worm burden – specifically tapeworms. Interestingly, this is not carried out via a faecal test. Nor is a blood test used. The Equisal Tapeworm Test makes use of saliva to determine a worm burden and if any action is necessary.

Equisal

This is an interesting product that is no doubt beneficial to those concerned about their horse’s health.  With this test, you can quickly determine the tapeworm burden of your horse.  If it’s an issue, then you can promptly act on this by worming your horse with an anthelmintic that targets tapeworms.  According to details on the Equisal website, it is important to:

Simply incorporate tapeworm testing every six months into your targeted worming programme.

Current EquiSal data shows that only 25% of horses have a tapeworm burden.

Like with many products, if you order in bulk you make a saving.  For those who have large horse properties, the bulk investments would well be worth looking into.

The benefits of routine testing is that it may not be necessary to worm some horses.  If the worming product is cheaper than the testing product, owners may debate it is easier to just worm horses.  But a build up in resistance to some wormers by parasites indicates that it is better for horse owners to only worm horses that have a significant worm burden.

A product like Equisal for this reason can greatly benefit those who are managing horses.  It is another example of a horse related product that will benefit many across the equine industry.

“To see the wind’s power, the rain’s cleansing and the sun’s radiant life, one need only to look at the horse.” – Author Unknown

I recently connected with someone on LinkedIn who made reference to using the EquiSoft system at a place they worked.  According to their website, EquiSoft provide:

Horse Management Systems designed by experts in both bloodstock and technology

Furthermore, they can boast clients such as Shadwell Stud, the Irish National Stud, Coolmore and the Aga Khan.  Wow!

EquiSoft Live is a horse management system that they have developed.  It is available live online.  What does this mean to business owners?  That they can access much needed information anywhere, anytime – as long as they have the internet.  Great!

There are many horse software programs out their for businesses to use.  The ones that are accessible from anywhere you can use the internet, are a step ahead of those that you need to install on a computer.

Those that are designed by people who know software systems and also the horse industry are a step ahead again.

EquiSoft is able to provide software for horse and stud management and for racing administration.  Important sides of the thoroughbred industry are covered by both of these different areas being catered to.

Software to manage horses is becoming more and more available online.  However, finding software that aptly caters to what the horse industry needs can be difficult for some.  Having software that is made by those who know the industry is obviously of benefit to the horse business owner.

EquiSoft, Horse Management Software

Whether you’re a business owner looking for software to better manage your horse business or you’re someone looking for a business idea in the horse industry: have you considered horse management software?  There are many forms of management software that are available that can make a manager’s life easier.  There are also many companies out there that could make use of another passionate staff member!  Or, if you have the know how, you could develop your own software for a niche area of the equine industry.