I think the posts deleted now but did Champaign say the kids did riding lessons together? How much were lessons? On Thorburns property or with horses elsewhere? That fetches a pretty penny per kid x 5 -10 per group, several afterschool groups + weekends. I know $40 an hour is cheap for such ventures. I've seen groups for 8 y.o been led by 12 y.o with horse nouse in return for free access to horses (which is a bonus for owners as horses get extra workout with caring soul)
Don't forget the ponies may have trotted around in circles on the fete and festival route along side Morning Glory, Afternoon Delight and Nothing Healthy Here. No rent for shop front, all from a van. Add this to FDC, foster care, carers allowence, rent assistance, fix and flog vintage cars, limo driving (weddings on the gold coast) plus Disability Payments, maybe compo and potential scholarships for Trent.
A lot is probably cash in hand. There may have been dark dollars, too.