Equestrian Entrepreneur Permission Slip

You’re allowed to make money in the equine industry. 

Whether your business generates money with or in horses; it is okay to make money..some money.. lots of money.. life changing money. Profit isn’t greed, it’s the purpose of business.

Money can hold a lot of emotions; the list is nearly endless. Guilt is something felt by many in the industry whether we’re making a lot of money or not. If you’re looking for permission to make money in the equine industry; you’ll have to give yourself the slip. Find a piece of paper and pen and write yourself the permission slip to make money on your own terms. 

Let’s shift how profit is perceived. 

We’re not talking about grocery store-level profit.

The level of profit that allows business owners to pay employees their value, including themselves. Stable profitability is the goal here; to be able to pay our bills, to spread the money, provide financial stability in operations, fund the horse girl dream, and sustainably continue the horse girl hustle. Profit is purposely created to protect our passion from burnout or bankruptcy. 

While you have that pen and paper from writing your permission slip let’s continue re-writing your horse girl story. 

Here are some prompts to consider along with some examples:

Ways money and horses have created feelings of guilt, shame, and anxiety:

• When I spend money on my horse, I feel guilty for not using it on more practical things.
• I feel ashamed when I can’t afford to participate in certain equestrian activities or events.
• I feel anxious about the financial uncertainty of owning and caring for horses, especially when unexpected expenses arise.

Ways money has allowed me to pursue my dreams:

• I was able to purchase my dream horse and pursue my passion for riding and competing.
• Money has allowed me to attend clinics, shows, and other events that have helped me improve my skills and grow as a rider.
• I have been able to invest in my equestrian business and build a brand that represents my values and goals.
• Exchanging my money for time with horses makes me happy. 

How money will continue to be used as a tool to create the equestrian entrepreneur empire and the horse girl dream:

• I will use money to invest in marketing and advertising to grow my business and attract more clients.
• Money will allow me to attend industry events to network, learn, and invest in expanding my business knowledge.
•  Time to focus on my own riding goals.
• Money affords time for vacation, to be able to rest and recharge.

Hidden lessons money has taught me in the struggle and suffering:

• Horses are expensive, no way around it. Money has taught me the importance of budgeting and financial planning in order to avoid debt and financial stress.
• Horses and money have taught me perseverance and creativity to find solutions.
• I don’t need to live outside of my financial capability to feel “enough”. 

By focusing on the positive ways money can be used in the equine industry, we can shift our mindset and create a more empowering relationship with money. We can use it as a tool to build our businesses and pursue our passions, rather than feeling guilty or ashamed about making money in the industry. Write yourself a permission slip whenever you feel the need, even in moments it feels hard to make money in horses.