With BETA International just days away, we wanted to share another one of the brilliant businesses that applied for one of this year’s new features, Mustangs’ Corral. The first ‘round’ saw applications received from all corners of the industry, and although just four finalists have got through to the live pitching event at BETA International on Sunday 27th September at 3.45pm, we also wanted to shine a light on some of the other fantastic entries we received. Over to Max from HorsePlan…
What business/opportunity did you submit a pitch for?
HorsePlan - a horse management app that automatically keeps track of your horse's recurring care, using previous visits and care intervals to work out when their next care is due.
Was there a moment that inspired the creation of your business?
The idea came from my fiancée and co-founder Di - an amateur event rider - asking me to build her something after the existing horse apps on the market didn't meet her needs. HorsePlan grew out of that gap.
What makes you and your business different from others out there?
Our closest competitors cover a different slice of horse management - recording, riding, training, general admin.
HorsePlan is solving a narrower problem: automatic care schedules with reminders, so nothing gets missed. Most horse care runs on intervals - for example dentist every six months, farrier every 6–8 weeks, and vaccinations yearly. HorsePlan's edge is that it builds the future schedule for you: log today's farrier visit and the interval, and it works out the next one automatically, across every care type.
That matters more as horse numbers grow. One horse is manageable. Ten each on a different schedule isn't.
We see our real competition as much as the paper diaries, spreadsheets, phone calendars and WhatsApp threads people currently rely on as the other apps. Our aim is for HorsePlan to be where every horse's future care is planned - not just where the past gets recorded. That's the distinction that matters to us: we don't just help you remember what happened. We help you know what's next.
What's next for you? What are your plans for the future?
We're rolling out paid tiers (Horse Pro and Yard Pro) alongside the free tier, and we’re keen to work with more large event yards. We’re also going to try and build our media profile as two young founders, and work with influencers. We’re also excited to start fundraising through selling a Santa's Christmas Pony Sack in the run up to Christmas - a reusable insulated lunch bag filled with six pony gifts, wrapped and ready for Christmas morning.
As a young business, what's something you know now you wish you knew when you started?
Get the product out there even before it’s polished and ready, some of our best features have come from users as they experience the app.
What advice would you give others looking to start a business?
Think about your competitive edge - what is it about you and your experience that gives you unique insight into a problem? For us, it’s Di’s experience with horses matched with my tech skills.
Where can people find out more about you online/social?
Our website is https://home.horseplan.co.uk/
Insta @horseplanapp
Facebook: Horseplan
Tiktok: @horseplan1