The problem
Yards with a good surface hire the arena to outside riders, but bookings by text clash with liveries and lessons, and riders who don't turn up never pay. If a yard takes 30 hires a month at $27£20€24A$38C$38 and 3 are no-shows or never paid, that's $80£60€71A$115C$113 a month lost, plus 5 minutes of messages per booking, 2.5 hours a month.
What the AI does
LIVERYLive's FAQ says setting up an arena booking account, listing facilities and taking online bookings is free, and that you only need a connected Stripe account to take payment when riders book. Its pricing page lists a booking calendar, a listing for the yard on the LIVERYLive website and integrated online payments on the free Arena account. Riders pick a slot and pay when they book, and the money goes to your Stripe account. If the yard later moves to Pro, arena bookings are included there, with liveries and outside riders on one calendar.
A worked example
A yard in Gloucestershire with a 40 by 60 meter arena hires it to outside riders at $27£20€24A$38C$38 an hour, about 30 hires a month, booked by text. About 3 a month don't turn up or don't pay.
Before
30 hires booked by text at 5 minutes each (2.5 hours), and 3 unpaid hires a month ($80£60€71A$115C$113)
After
Riders book and pay online, with about 30 minutes a month checking the calendar
What it's worth
About $133£100€119A$192C$188 a month, against about $20£15€18A$29C$28 in Stripe fees. That is $80£60€71A$115C$113 from 3 hires a month now paid at booking, almost all profit since the arena is there anyway, plus 2 hours of messaging saved (2.5 down to 0.5) at an assumed $27£20€24A$38C$38 an hour, $53£40€48A$77C$75. The Arena account is free; Stripe charges 1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards, 50p on a $27£20€24A$38C$38 hire, about $20£15€18A$29C$28 for 30 hires.
How to set it up
- Set up a free LIVERYLive Arena account and list the arena with its size, surface and hire price.
- Connect a Stripe account so riders pay when they book.
- Block out times for liveries, lessons and clinics first, then open the rest to outside riders.
- Write your arena rules and cancellation terms on the listing, including hats, jumps and dogs.
- Share the booking link in local riding groups and on your website, and stop taking bookings by text.
What goes wrong
- Liveries riding outside the calendar still cause clashes. Ask everyone to book, even where liveries pay nothing.
- The site describes slot rules and buffer times as part of Pro; check what the free Arena account lets you set.
- Outside riders on your premises need cover. Check your insurance covers arena hire to the public.
- Decide your refund policy for frozen or waterlogged arenas before you take any money.