DoubleU's post about Mary Kay made me wonder.  What types of side jobs do you all do to support your horse habit?  I make ultrasuede fringe shirts (see my profile for the link), but mostly just for me.  I'd love to find something else to do that would be a money maker.  What kind of things do you do?

I really wish I could invent something and sit back and watch it boom, like the pop up barrels that are advertised in the WPRN, but I'm sure that girl is working her butt off now.

It'll pay off for her though.

That sounds fun, but I have a brown thumb.  I don't think I'd get much business! OR, maybe that's how I could get repeat business - having to go do it again.  I'd have to be sneaky though so they don't catch on!   

No kidding!  Pop-up poles???

Why not try and market your shirts a little more?  Maybe sell a few on ebay or donate 1 or 2 for a drawing or an award at a barrel race, you'd be surprised and the response you'll get. 

I make rope halters, reins, headstalls, etc.  I have gotten a great response locally at the shows and rodeos I attend.  When my job is over in a couple weeks, I plan to do it full time.

I teach 7th and 8th also. I know those days.

I am either going to have to:

A: Sell a horse.

B: Stop eating anything except canned tuna.

C: Sell plasma to help pay bills.

I think I'll go with B and C!!  Just kidding, but the horse thing has been a lot of "out go" lately, without any "income". 

My sister sells candles on the side and she makes enough money to support her shopping habit.

Cool!  What kind of gardens?   I garden, am landscaping our place in Montana, but moved here from New Mexico, so have had to learn what works up here in the "GREAT FROZEN NORTH!"   

Back when I was "younger" and "struggling trainer" I worked several jobs. My side line was to clean and reshape hats at a western store. I went in only when they had hats for me. I also back then would chalk them to match show outfits.  It kept me going  on the road.

You know what I wish I could find in my area is a horse sitter. Now there is a money maker!

Originally written by teehaha on 2004-04-14 2:32 PM

I had to learn all over again when I came to Wyoming from Calif.  I am as passionate about my garden as I am my horses   I have planted the area that leads to the arena with alot of color, (about 200 tulips and tons of annuals) and benches for people to sit on.  I just wish the evergreens grew faster!  The horse manure is pretty handy to have around.

Me too!  I'm either on a horse or butt-up in a flower bed on my time off.  And guess what my fertilizer of choice is?  I've learned about hardy roses, too!!!

Teehaha,

How long have you lived in Cheyenne?  Just wondering, because I grew up there, well Burns, actually.....

Teehaha - your place sounds beautiful!!

I don't know about your zone but here VINCAS!!! they are so pretty and hardy!

Another thing that's nice is tubs of 4'o'clocks.  When everyone is done roping, which is usually about dark they emit this heavenly smell that is kind of nice to chat by sitting on the benches.  My degree is actually in turf management.  I wanted to design parks and golf courses.

We're actually in Carpenter, just down the road from Burns.  Do you know Ron McDonald?

Start them from seed.  They grow really fast and are hardy but the smell is really wonderful in the evening.  I have some of those oak half barrels that I just fill with them and put some trailing plants like lobelia over the edge to soften the look.  4 o'clocks grow 12-18" and come in gold, pink, magenta and a kind of marble.

Can I start them in the tubs or do I need to start them inside? 

Thank you very much for the advice and help!  I've got some tubs I wanted to plant something different in this year and I hadn't thought about 4 o clocks.  They're by our deck and we do sit out there in the evening, so .... Great Idea!

Are you going to the NWBRA 2-day barrel race in Sheridan over Mothers Day weekend?  They have $1000 added each day to the Open and we got some really nice buckles donated.  Let me know if you want some information about it.

I'll do it.  Talk to you later.

This is my dream!!!  A horse boarding facility on a highly travelled rodeo route.  Stalls, wash racks, round pens, arenas, camper hookups.  And a place to rent out work space for a shoer and vet to work there too.  Anybody want to front me $3 million so I can make a go of it?

I also agree with Ebay........that's IF you have stuff to sell continuously.....

I'm lucky enough to make very good cash bartending every other weekend and fill in once in awhile during the week. The tips alone are nice, as long as ya have a personality to boot it's a good 2nd job. I agree Burn3WI, workin at somethin like Hooters must be great tips!!

I thought about the ebay thing, but don't know where to get stuff cheap enough to make any money from it.

I have a brown thumb too. I can grow weeds and cactus. Anyone interested???

Thought about sewing scrubs (for the nurses at work) but I am not real good at sewing. The fruitcake we are buying our place from offered to teach me, but......I just didn't get around to it.

I am learning to weld currently. I think I am going to try my hand at making all that lovely horseshoe furniture I see at the Arts and Crafts shows. I am sure I could throw a few pieces in the trailer and go to a j/p and sell them here and there.

I refuse to try or wear any make up other than Clinique so I wouldn't be any good at Avon or Mary Kay. I thought about selling Advocare or Herbalife, but most of my friends are already skinny and even though they have "nutritional" products that aren't there to make you lose weight...most people (JMO) aren't interested.

I've already checked into practically every scam there is out there. They all sound great, but most aren't anything....someone asking you to send them $X in exchange for how to get a business like theirs, then they either never reply to you or they send you directions on how to ask other people to do what they just did to you.

You would be surprised at what will ebay...you can go buy all kinds of stuff at garage sales, flea markets etc and turn it for nice profits on ebay.  Have done it for years and buy stuff there all the time.  Just like the other day the hot water heater went out in my LQ trailer.....bought a new one off ebay for $71 just like the old one that went out.  if I would have purchased it through a dealership it would have been $300.  We buy everything from printer cartridges for about $6 to horse tack you name. JMO 

I just sold a circle y used saddle on ther that was worth about $350 and got that for it in 3 days.  I could have hauled it to barrel races, but ads on the internet etc and still not gotten sold...but it is gone and I the $$$ in hand....

How do I get your job??

I'd be willing to part with a couple of hours a day too!!  Where do I apply...............