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Make 2025 Your Best Year in Equestrian Business: Why Resolutions Fail and What To Do Instead

Make 2025 Your Best Year in Equestrian Business: Why Resolutions Fail and What To Do Instead | Photo by Lillie Ratcliffe Photography
Make 2025 Your Best Year in Equestrian Business: Why Resolutions Fail and What To Do Instead | Photo by Lillie Ratcliffe Photography

As an equestrian business owner, you might have already set some New Year's resolutions. These might be something like: "In 2025 I will get more clients," "This year I will grow my social media presence," or "This year I will make more sales." Yet, despite the enthusiasm, statistics show that 80% of resolutions fail by February. Why is this?


The reason resolutions don’t work is that they focus on surface-level goals, rather than addressing the core issues that drive long-term success: your identity, habits, behaviors, and environment. If you want 2025 to be your best year ever in business, it's time to move beyond resolutions and embrace a deeper transformation.


Step 1: Get a clear goal

Goals need to be quantifiable and measurable. We keep a numbers based goal. If you set a goal of more revenue in your business you could find a dollar in the street- that’s more money after all- but I don’t think that’s actually what you mean. 


So set some clear goals. These could be financial, or based on client numbers, or other metrics like social media followers, number of inquiries per week, website visits, or any other number that results in growth for your business. 


Photo by Lillie Ratcliffe Photography
Photo by Lillie Ratcliffe Photography

Step 2: Shift Your Identity

Your identity is the foundation of your actions. If you see yourself as "just a small business owner" or "a local riding trainer," your decisions and actions will reflect that. Instead, adopt a growth-focused identity. See yourself as a successful equestrian entrepreneur who delivers an amazing product or service.


Ask yourself: Who do I need to become to achieve the goals I want in 2025?


  • Do you need to be someone who is more organized?


  • Someone who leads a team more effectively?


  • Someone who embraces technology or social media?


Once you define this identity, you can make decisions aligned with that vision, and take small daily action steps to become that person. 


Step 3: Focus on Habits and Behaviors

Business growth comes from small actions repeated consistently over time. Build habits that support you taking the action that you need to grow your business. 


If you want more clients, don’t just aim to "get more clients." Instead, build a habit of reaching out to potential clients weekly, posting consistently on social media, or offering referral incentives.


Habits to consider:


  • Daily Planning: Spend 15 minutes each morning planning your tasks and priorities.


  • Follow-Ups: Make it a habit to follow up with clients or enquiries within 48 hours.


To solidify these habits, tie them into something that you already do. For instance, if you always drink a coffee in the morning, stack the 15 minutes of planning with the coffee. That way the new action is easy to remember, and it will become automatic because you won’t be skipping that coffee! 


Step 4: Optimize Your Environment

Your environment has a huge influence on your behavior, identity and feelings. Is there anything in your environment that needs to change to support your 2025 goals? For instance, if you’re trying to step into the identity of a six figure equine bodyworker or trainer, but you’re running your business from the corner of the kitchen table you'll be out of alignment. It might be as simple as moving a workspace, setting up efficient digital systems or spending more time with supportive successful people. 


Photo by Lillie Ratcliffe Photography
Photo by Lillie Ratcliffe Photography

Step 5: Plan with Precision and Set Metrics

A goal without a plan is just a wish, yet so many equestrian business owners skip the planning stage! 


Planning your business like mapping out a training schedule for your horse. It ensures that everything gets covered, and you can take intentional action as you know what to do when.

 

1. Break Goals into Quarterly Milestones:

Divide the year into quarters and set specific targets for each. For example:


  • Q1: Launch a new package.


  • Q2: Attend two equestrian events to network and promote your business.


  • Q3: Improve client retention by offering loyalty programs.


  • Q4: Evaluate year-end performance and adjust for 2026.


Each quarter can have monthly sales targets, or whatever your clear numerical goal is for each month. Look at what needs to happen ‘behind the scenes’ in your business to make the next goal happen, for instance website updates, planning social media content all needs to happen ahead of a launch.


2. Track Metrics That Matter:


  • Client numbers: How many new clients are you acquiring each month?


  • Revenue: Track monthly income and expenses.


  • Repeat business: Are your clients or customers returning, and what can you do to improve this further? 


  • Marketing ROI: Measure the success of your marketing campaigns.


Remember, marketing is testing and analysing the results, tweaking and improving. Make sure you include time to review what’s working well each week or month, and what you can refine and improve further. 


Forget the short term motivation of New Year's resolutions, and instead focus on creating lasting change. Your business will thank you for it! 

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If you’d like some support with planning your best year in 2025 then scan the code to book a 30 minute complementary business strategy session with Nicola 


Photo by Lillie Ratcliffe Photography
Photo by Lillie Ratcliffe Photography

Nicola Kinnard-Comedie (Msc, BHSAI Int. SM)

is the owner and founder of NKC Equestrian Training, delivering horse care training to horse owners and business and mindset coaching to equine practitioners.


Nicola is a qualified riding instructor and has over 20 years industry experience, and now uses her coaching skills to assist equine practitioners. Nicola decided to combine her experience of equestrian science, sales and marketing, and teach this to others. Nicola works with veterinary physiotherapists, massage therapists, osteopaths and other equestrians across the world to help them build their dream business. Nicola's work focuses on harnessing the power of your mindset, together with cutting edge marketing strategies to support equestrian business owners to realise the business of their dreams.


You can find out more about Nicola here: www.nkcequestrian.com




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