Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Winder.
Hi Sara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Gypsy Farms started after I had been talking to someone about my horse, Gypsy. They asked if I offered riding lessons. I thought about it for a minute and thought, “why not?” So I said, “I can try”. I went out and bought a kids saddle, and started with 2-4 lessons per week, which was great considering I was still working full-time at my day job.
Eventually, we were open 3-days a week with six to eight riders each day, and now we are open 5-days a week with over 100 riders each week. I still tell people that we are a small business and very family-oriented, which is how I want our business to remain.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We have been very fortunate, the riding lesson industry is always in demand, especially through COVID. Our biggest struggles are not having a covered riding area in the dead of summer, (the covering runs about a quarter-million dollars), and not being able to keep up with the demand (not enough room, space for horses, parking, and instructor availability).
However, we recently purchased some more land and we will be moving the farm right up the street hopefully this year.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We offer horseback riding lessons for all ages above six. We are known for being professional, focusing on safety, and maintaining a barn family where everybody feels welcome and a part of what we do. We have volunteers that come help most days and train new instructors as well.
We are home to a lot of families and are fortunate to be the place where many of our riders come to relax and get away from the challenges of life. We are proud that we are able to maintain a family-oriented riding lesson barn. We are also proud that we started out rescuing horses and are able to find a meaningful purpose that was destined for a terrible fate. Gypsy, my main horse, is one of those horses.
In addition to riding lessons, we offer photography services which include photography with horses. For more information about our business, you can read up on us and book lessons from our website at www.farmergypsy.com.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
We are still constructing our new farm, but we hope to add a few more boarding spots, more birthday party options, trail riding services, as well as an area where kids and adults can just come hang out and enjoy the ranch (possibly a play area or jump pad for the little ones who are waiting for their siblings to ride).
Pricing:
- Private lesson $60
- Group lesson $45
- Photos with horses $150
- Birthday parties $220-$300
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.farmergypsy.com
Image Credits
Sara Winder
