Competition grooms horse:groom ratio?

I'm meticulously organised and we have wall planners, whiteboards, competition diary and major events (farrier, dentist, worming, Physio etc, etc) are all flagged etc, etc.

Mr W does the all riding but there is scope for someone to ride and train with him if they wanted to, our current HG doesn't ride but she does lunge or walk in-hand if required.

We have invested in things like a pooh Hoover, muck trailer for dark evenings and bad weather to save trips to the muck heap.

I'm well aware of my nickname as the Duracell bunny ;) so I'm just conscious that I don't want to overwork someone as I am quite happy to go and on but is our business and home so the drive and passion is there on a personal level.
 
hobgoblin said:
6:1!!!! I could only do three properly lol!
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You don't ride six a day though.

Ideally each horse is exercised 6 days a week, ridden at least 5 and hacked at least once and you can lunge to save time, and riding and leading is invaluable. Monday is normally the horses day off and the day for cleaning out the lorry after the weekend and mass tack cleaning operations and yard maintainence ensues.

it is 50% good routine, 40% good staff, and 10% co-operative horses :D
 
I don't work on a competition yard, it's just a big full livery yard (with staff exercising some of the horses most days), but we have around 1 groom for 8 horses. There's 35 horses and 4 members of staff do the morning yard jobs and then one member of staff goes home to leave 3 doing the afternoon yard jobs.
Things are done to quite a good standard but probably not 'competition standard'. I think 6 is a good number to ensure everything runs smoothly and is done properly :)
 
I had sole charge of a yard for a little while. I had 4 event horses, 2 hunters and 2 liveries. I didn't have to work the liveries but every horse got turned out daily, walkered and exercised. Properly groomed (incl strapping, hot clothing and any trimming) mucked out, fed etc etc. It was do-able but some days were 7am-7pm and if we were competing it was hectic. With half a day off a week you fizzle out pretty quickly.

I would say 6 would be acceptable especially if there is no riding.
 
Worried1 said:
I'm meticulously organised and we have wall planners, whiteboards, competition diary and major events (farrier, dentist, worming, Physio etc, etc) are all flagged etc, etc.

Mr W does the all riding but there is scope for someone to ride and train with him if they wanted to, our current HG doesn't ride but she does lunge or walk in-hand if required.

We have invested in things like a pooh Hoover, muck trailer for dark evenings and bad weather to save trips to the muck heap.

I'm well aware of my nickname as the Duracell bunny ;) so I'm just conscious that I don't want to overwork someone as I am quite happy to go and on but is our business and home so the drive and passion is there on a personal level.
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Organisation wise we were the same but sounds as though your facility is better, it was a hard slog sometimes I must say!
 
I remember one of the other working pupils being almost in tears once when the HG and rider were away at a 3 day and we couldn't find the book with our work list and tack/boot list in! Its surprising how quickly you do become attached to diaries, feed boards, work lists, certain wheelbarrows and brooms etc!!
 
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