How to Tap Into ESA Funding to Grow Your Riding Program

If your barn offers lessons, you might be sitting on an overlooked opportunity: families using an Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) are actively looking for quality programs to spend their education dollars. With a little forethought, you can set your barn up as an ESA-eligible provider, opening the door to new students and a reliable revenue stream.

Let’s talk about how ESAs work, how to reach these families, and why this matters for your riding program.

What is an ESA, Anyway?

ESA stands for Empowerment Scholarship Account (or sometimes Education Savings Account, depending on the state). These programs allow families to use state-allocated education dollars to pay for approved educational expenses outside traditional public schooling.

Often these funds are used for homeschool materials or tutoring, but enrichment programs like equestrian instruction can also qualify — especially if your lessons are tied to clearly defined learning objectives like horsemanship, safety, equine science, and riding skills.

As of 2025, more than 20 states now offer ESA programs. That’s over 1.2 million eligible students, each receiving $6,000 to $8,000 per year to spend on educational services. That’s a pool of families actively looking for quality providers.

How to Make Your Barn ESA-Friendly

Here’s a quick rundown of how to get started:

• Check your state’s ESA rules. Some require provider approval or specific credentials. A quick visit to your state Department of Education site will usually point you in the right direction.
• Frame your program as education. Lessons should tie to learning goals—riding skills, equine care, theory, safety, horse behavior. Consider including unmounted sessions to strengthen your program's academic value.
• Create progress documentation. Parents need to show how ESA funds are being used, so offer tangible ways to track student growth. Certificates, level achievements, and written evaluations all help.

I know a barn in Arizona that offered a 12-week riding and horse care curriculum. Once they aligned it with educational outcomes and submitted their program to the state, they filled every midweek afternoon slot with ESA students. That time of day used to sit empty.

Why It’s Worth the Effort

• New Revenue & Client Base: Most barns are tight on after-school availability during the week. ESA families often homeschool or follow flexible schedules, making daytime hours much more bookable.
• Better Educational Value: Parents with ESA funds are looking for quality—not just pony rides. By offering a structured, progress-based program, you stand out.
• Strong Commitment: These families are investing in their child’s education. They’re more likely to stay long-term and appreciate a structured, goal-oriented program.

And if you’re already doing all the work of teaching horsemanship, you might as well frame it so it qualifies for funding.

How EC Pro Helps You Serve ESA Families

Once you have a program, EC Pro makes managing it easy:

• Scheduling: Fill those underused school-day hours with ESA riders.
• Registration & Payments: Parents can sign up and pay online, even using pre-paid ESA cards or invoicing if needed.
• Progress Tracking: Record skill levels, horsemanship milestones, and curriculum goals with ease.
• Attendance: Document every lesson, mounted and unmounted, so families have a clear record.
• ESA Payment Flexibility: Whether your state requires invoicing or prepaid card payments, EC Pro supports both.

We even covered this theme of structured programming in our summer camp post, which also talked about blending fun with educational value—something ESA parents love to see.

If you haven’t looked into becoming an ESA provider, it’s worth your time. Especially if your barn could use a boost during the midweek lull. It’s not just about more riders—it’s about building a program that educates, empowers, and sustains your business.

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