Two outdoor hospitality industry professionals, Kim Ayers, equine insurance professional for Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance (LHRI), and Mary Arlington, director of campground owner associations in Kansas, Colorado, and South Dakota, recently led a workshop on equestrian camping during the Equifest of Kansas. During the workshop, equine owners discussed how campgrounds have an opportunity to cater to the often-overlooked unique niche of trail riders, equine lovers, and horse travelers.
Attendees were encouraged to share their needs and frustrations. With this group, equine accommodations are high on the priority list, with the human element being secondary. Hookups for the living quarters are appreciated, but the group was mostly concerned with the comfort of their horses. Many attendees shared a desire to keep their horses on site, in sight, and when possible with a run-in style cover for the horses.
“Others prefer shed row-type barns, designed with the horse facilities on the perimeter, while the rigs are parked in the center,” said Ayers.
Ayers and Arlington both recognized the need to start the conversation and align campground owners with more opportunities. “Kim and I realize that our industry work is that of being bridges between problems and solutions,” said Arlington. “Between the campgrounds and the equine population, we are aware of good campground layouts, the desires of many campground owners to expand their ancillary revenue centers, and their desire to increase occupancy.”
Ayers is the owner of 10 horses, is a horse trainer, and holds the Outdoor Recreation Professional Certificate (OHP) through the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds. She understands risk management from all sides of several fences. Running a successful equestrian campground comes with unique risks. LHRI focuses on liability insurance for equestrian campgrounds, a growing outdoor hospitality industry.
LRHI was named Leavitt Group’s “Agency of the Year” in 2016 and is a leader in hospitality insurance.
