Does this sound steep to you?

PeanutButterDragon

PeanutButterDragon

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 June 2008
Messages
6,006
Visit site
I already ride/look after friend's scatty TB x mare for her as and when she needs some help keeping her ticking over. Friend has demanding job with very changeable hours and initially this was only as a favour to Friend since she couldn't find anyone else willing to ride/look after her for free and couldn't afford a freelance groom. I wasn't all that keen on mare either but have since become quite fond
smile.gif
Friend recently tried to recruit me as 'sharer' and I said I was happy helping her out as and when she needed a hand but wouldn't be able to commit more time until I graduate, did enquire as to how much she would be after contribution wise though. Hadn't heard anything so presumed current arrangement of her emailing/texting me whenever she needs help and letting me know what she'd like me to do still stood. Until an email today, saying she'd like me to help her out certain days next week and that she'd like £200 per month if I want to continue as we are
confused.gif
confused.gif


Tad confused and feel that trying to charge me £200 per month to help her out seems very steep!!
 
I'd be confused too.

Remind her that you are not interested in sharing, but happy to help her out when she needs it. And tell her that if that no longer suits, then you're happy to bow out of the arrangment.
 
LMAO - I'd tell her where to go I'm afraid. That's about £50p/w and there are some extremely nice share horses out there for around £20 p/w and some are even free (like my lad
smile.gif
) It sounds to me like she is basically trying to get you to foot the bill for her horse.
 
My horse kept entirely at my expense, doesn't cost £200 a month. This woman has made very good use of you and your good nature, and now she wants YOU to pay HER??? And you anyway. I'd make a very sharp exit if I was you, she is a complete joke and certainly not a friend!
 
[ QUOTE ]
saying she'd like me to help her out certain days next week and that she'd like £200 per month if I want to continue as we are

[/ QUOTE ]

She wants you to 'help her out' and for you to pay £200/month for the privilege?
confused.gif
shocked.gif

I think I would politely decline the 'offer', tell her to find some other mug and stick to riding my own horse.
crazy.gif
 
That does seem quite a lot to me as that's over half what I pay a month in total, but not sure what her current situation is how much she pays so difficult to say.

Seems very odd too that she is asking you to help her out but then wanting money from you. She needs to be clear if she wants a sharer for her horse.

Hope it gets sorted quickly for you.
 
Sorry - did you say "friend"?

Don't know how friendly you are, but I think that's more than a bit steep - it's totally taking the p1$$!

As I understand it, you are on permanent standby to take care of the horse as and when she emails/texts you, and she now wants you to pay her £200 a month for the pleasure of that?

Okay, so you are getting something out of it as you have a free horse to ride which you have grown fond of, but if she could not afford to pay someone to ride her, no-one else will do it for free and she doesn't have the time herself, what is she going to do if you walk away?

I supposed it depends on how much the horse and the friendship mean to you. Do you have your own or another horse to ride or would losing the ride on this one really leave a big hole in your life? If it wouldn't, then I would have a conversation with your friend, explain that you have been doing this to help her out, and if she wants you to start paying then she should look for a sharer.

Be prepared to walk away - I would!
 
that does sound a bit much... given it started as you helping her out... £200 month is alot in my book.. but i can be a little naive in how much keep might be in other parts of the country!

If you are wanting to continue working with this mare... for YOUR benifit i would say that you need to consider what you think would be a reasonable sum to be paying... if you are helping purely to make the OWNERS life easier.. i sort of feel that she should be paying you!!! lol... or at least not charging you for her getting free help with her horse!! if you were not around what other alternative would she have? you have already said she cant afford to pay someone... ?

im no expert in these things but i have been there myself... helping people with difficult or quirky horse... and TBH although i enjoyed the challange i was doing them a favour so was never asked to pay for the privalidge!
 
[ QUOTE ]
LMAO - I'd tell her where to go I'm afraid. That's about £50p/w and there are some extremely nice share horses out there for around £20 p/w and some are even free (like my lad
smile.gif
) It sounds to me like she is basically trying to get you to foot the bill for her horse.

[/ QUOTE ]


Ditto this!
grin.gif
 
Crap - I thought it was maybe a bit steep and a little 'off' but wasn't 100% sure . . . . . ! I do get a lot of enjoyment out of helping her and generally speaking Friend is a lovely person but yep - you've confirmed my fears guys! Very steep! Shall make myself less 'handy' from now on!!!
mad.gif
crazy.gif


ETS - I'm not usually quite as much of a walk over, honest!
 
Is she for real?

As has been said, YOU are helping her out!

I work funny hours and have a freelance groom who I pay £20 per hour to ride my neds, so quite frankly your friend is on cloud cuckoo land!

Email her back and tell her that you cant accept £200 a month from her, you would be happy with £175 per month for HELPING HER OUT.
That should shut her up!
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
It seems quite clear that you were not interested in being a sharer , and that she on the other hand is looking for one. Clearly you are not a very good match at this point. So just email her back saying that you are not interested in being a sharer?

Regarding the cost: Lots of people spend more than 400 a month on their horses, if they are at an expensive yard. Theoretically, if she is looking for a sharer to pay 1/2 costs and the yard she is at is expensive and the horse is on full livery, 200 a month may be reasonable. However even if 200 a month were to be less than half the cost of keep for the horse, I doubt she would find anyone in the current market.... it just depends on supply and demand.
 

If the horse was on full livery, then the friend wouldn't need anyone else to ride/look after her though. Sounds more as though she's on DIY/part livery, but actually needs to be on full.....
 
defo taking the p1ss! - It sounds as if you are doing her a massive favour by riding a difficult horse that no one else wants anything to do with and now she is trying to get money out of you!? She should be paying you
 

Then yes, that is definitely too much - I could (and would if I could afford it) keep two horses on DIY for £50 a week.

Sounds as though at the moment you are saving her money, as she would have to pay extra for someone else to turn out/muck out/bring in if you didn't do it, and that's without the riding thrown in, which presumably ensures that she has a fit but sane horse waiting for her when she does have the opportunity to ride.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'd be tempted to go back and say that is fine... and that you will be charging her £300/month for freelance grooming.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bloomin brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!
grin.gif
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'd be tempted to go back and say that is fine... and that you will be charging her £300/month for freelance grooming.

[/ QUOTE ]

Bloomin brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!
grin.gif
grin.gif
grin.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto this... great idea!!! lol x
 
[ QUOTE ]
Clarify with her that she'd like *to pay you* £200 a month for being a freelance groom.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes that is what I would do too.
 
If I need any help with horses and OH isnt available- then I pay my YO......I wouldn't expect anyone to do it for free ( ok, me and my mate help each other out now and again- but nothing regular or frequent).......I would expect to pay for someone to help me, or I would buy them wine ...or a bag of feed etc for helping me out, I certainly wouldnt want them to be paying me for it!

Tell her to trot on
tongue.gif


Also...used to have a pony that son lost interest with...I was happy to muck out etc but needed someone to ride her....I basically told said person where her tack was and said help yourself- it was doing both of us a favour and it would never have even occured to me to charge for it....some people eh
confused.gif
 
Some friend! That's daylight robbery. What a cheeky wotsit, much as you like the horse I'd be telling her to take a hike after all you've done to help her out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top