08/30/2026
I saw a post the other day that said something I think a LOT of small business owners, especially those of us in the horse world, have probably thought at one time or another.
Why is it so easy to pay a big company whatever price is on the tag… but when it comes to a small business, suddenly the price is up for negotiation? 😅
We’ll pay $8 for a coffee without blinking.
We’ll pay what the restaurant charges.
We’ll pay what the big box store charges.
We’ll pay the mechanic, the vet, the hotel…
Complain about it but spend it again the next day.
But sometimes when a small business owner gives their price, the first question is:
“Can you do it cheaper?”
And I think what gets forgotten is that you aren’t just paying for the hour you see us working.
Being an equine massage therapist has given me a whole different perspective on this.
When I work on your horse, you aren’t simply paying for that hour.
You’re paying for the education and certifications that got me there.
The equipment I’ve invested in.
The continuing education.
The miles on my vehicle and fuel to get there.
The countless hours spent learning horses, anatomy, movement and different techniques.
And most importantly, my time.
The same goes for your farrier, trainer, photographer, hauler, saddle fitter, lesson instructor and just about every other small business owner in the horse industry.
Most of us do what we do because we genuinely LOVE it.
I know I do.
I’ll talk horses all day. 😂 I’ll answer questions, share what I know and probably give away more information than I should because I truly want to help the horse and the person standing beside it.
But loving what you do doesn’t make your time less valuable.
And being good at something can actually make it look easier than it is.
What you’re paying for is everything it took for that person to KNOW what they’re doing during the hour you’re watching them do it.
Years of learning.
Years of experience.
Mistakes.
Practice.
Investment.
Time.
So I loved the reminder in the post I saw:
When you support a small business, you’re supporting a real person who has invested a whole lot into being able to provide that service.
You don’t have to understand every expense behind their price.
But you can respect that there’s probably a whole lot more behind it than the hour you see. ❤️
Support your local small businesses.
Especially your horse people.
Because we all already know one thing for sure…
Horses aren’t exactly the hobby any of us chose because we wanted to save money. 😂🐴
Kari Welling-Monroe
