If you’re an equestrian entrepreneur looking to free up more time for riding, training, or scaling your business but struggling with the delegation piece, this is for you.
Welcome to the show notes! Remember, this is a brief summary from the How to Market Your Horse Business podcast. You'll want to listen to the entire episode for all the good stuff!
Running an equestrian business is a labor of love, but it often comes with the challenge of wearing too many hats.
Many equestrian entrepreneurs struggle with the idea of delegation, fearing that handing off tasks will diminish the trusted brand they’ve worked hard to build.
However, as Nicole Berthelot, business manager at Amelia Newcomb Dressage, explains, successful delegation is key to scaling your equine business while maintaining your passion for horses.
The Importance of Delegation in an Equine Business
One of the biggest hurdles for equestrian entrepreneurs is the mindset shift needed to delegate. Many feel they must control every aspect of their business to ensure quality and efficiency. However, Nicole emphasizes that delegation isn’t about giving up control—it’s about strategically assigning tasks so you can focus on what truly matters.
“Getting off the tools” is a phrase often used in trade industries, and it applies just as much to the equestrian world.
Entrepreneurs get into the horse industry because they love riding and working with horses, but as a business grows, tasks like bookkeeping, scheduling, and marketing can consume valuable time.
Delegating these tasks allows you to focus on higher-value activities in your equine business, such as client development, training, or expanding your services.
Three Types of Delegation
Nicole breaks down delegation into three key types: burnout delegation, direct income delegation, and investment delegation. Understanding these categories can help equestrian entrepreneurs make strategic decisions about what to delegate first.
Burnout Delegation:
This involves handing off tasks that are essential but time-consuming, such as stall cleaning, bookkeeping, or social media scheduling. Delegating these tasks can help you avoid exhaustion and maintain your energy for high-impact work.
Direct Income Delegation:
This form of delegation is focused on hiring team members who directly contribute to revenue generation. For example, hiring an additional instructor allows a riding school to run more lessons simultaneously, effectively increasing income without your taking on more work.
Investment Delegation:
This is the most critical type of delegation for long-term success. It involves hiring people to handle tasks that free up your time to focus on business growth. Examples include hiring a virtual assistant to manage administrative work or a marketing specialist to develop brand awareness. The goal is to create more time to focus on strategy and expansion.
Hiring the Right People
One of the biggest concerns equestrian business owners have about delegation is finding the right people. Nicole emphasizes that hiring should be about playing to people’s strengths rather than expecting one person to handle everything.
A common mistake is hiring a single person to cover multiple, unrelated tasks—such as expecting a great groom to also be an excellent bookkeeper.
Instead, consider hiring for specific roles that align with a person’s strengths. For example, instead of hiring one general barn worker, hire two part-time employees—one skilled at handling young horses and another experienced in barn organization and maintenance.
Additionally, creating clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) can help new hires integrate smoothly into the business. SOPs provide step-by-step instructions for recurring tasks, ensuring consistency and reducing the risk of errors. They also empower employees to work independently, which is crucial in a busy equestrian business.
Setting Clear Expectations
Delegation is only effective when expectations are clearly communicated. Nicole outlines a simple framework for assigning tasks:
Define the Task: Be specific about what needs to be done.
Assign Responsibility: Clearly state who is responsible for completing the task.
Set a Deadline: Provide a timeline for completion.
Review & Adjust: Regularly check in to ensure tasks are being completed correctly and efficiently.
Holding regular team meetings is another strategy for ensuring accountability. Amelia Newcomb Dressage, for example, conducts weekly team meetings to review progress and address challenges. These structured check-ins keep everyone aligned and allow for continuous improvement in delegation strategies.
Delegating for Growth
Many equestrian business owners dream of having more time to ride, train, or compete without their business suffering. The key to achieving this balance is intentional delegation.
Nicole shares that Amelia Newcomb was able to take time off to travel and try horses in Europe because of the structured systems in place within her business. By investing in the right people and creating clear processes, business owners can step back without losing momentum.
For those hesitant to delegate, Nicole suggests starting small. Even outsourcing a few hours of administrative work per week can make a significant difference. Over time, as trust is built and systems are refined, delegation becomes second nature, allowing business owners to focus on their passion while ensuring their business continues to thrive.
Delegation is not about relinquishing control—it’s about creating a sustainable business that supports you and your team.
When you understand the different types of delegation, hire strategically, and set clear expectations, you’ll free up time for the work you love while planning for your long-term success.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed in your business, take a step back and assess what tasks you can start delegating today. With the right approach, you can build a thriving equestrian business that works for you, not the other way around.
Of course, you'll want to listen to the full episode to dig into each of the insights shared and discover how you can apply each one in your horse business!
Ready to set your equine business up for long-term success? Take the Reins 1:1 Coaching will give you a step-by-step roadmap to get there.
Links Mentioned In This Episode
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