Fundraising Ideas With Horses

Whether you have access to horses and would like to involve them in your fundraising efforts or you're interested in raising money to help horses in need, there are plenty of horse-related ways to generate money. You can sell items, offer various riding opportunities, provide horse-related education or plan fun "wagering" on virtual horse races.

  1. Sales

    • Bake sales can raise money to help horses.

      Sales can be an uncomplicated way to raise money, especially with donations from an organization or group for a bake sale, garage sale or even an auction. If it's for a charity that helps needy horses, include photos and descriptions of the animals, offer sponsorships and solicit direct donations. Collect and sell gently used horse equipment and memorabilia. Offer horse-related items for bid at auction, like riding packages, grooming equipment or artwork.

    Riding

    • A fundraiser could be someone's first time riding a horse.

      It may seem obvious, but riding and other activities directly involving horses are a natural source of funds, assuming you have access to suitable animals. Some ideas include trail or corral rides, wagons pulled by horses or ponies and organized trips for horseback riding. Any riders should wear protective gear and appropriate footwear. Keep in mind that you need liability insurance coverage should someone be injured, and you may want to require people to sign waivers.

    Educational

    • Teach someone the basics of horse care for a fundraiser.

      Many people and groups don't have the opportunity to be around horses. Some may have a little experience, while others may have no idea how to care for or behave around these animals. That's why equine education is a fundraiser that can also provide a service. Consider running short classes on care, tack, grooming and saddling and riding. Contact groups like the scouts, clubs and home-schoolers to gauge interest and provide yourself with an entire group rather than just individuals.

    Virtual

    • Betting on pretaped races doesn't involve real money.

      Also called armchair horse racing, virtual horse racing involves "betting" on videotaped horse races. You can tape races on your own, find videos of races online or order kits available for purchase or rental. To keep the wagers legal, winners receive points or play money they can trade directly for prizes or use to bid on better items. To run this fundraiser, you need prizes of varying values and a screen for airing the races.