flexible horse help / holiday cover

[timefort]

Out of curiosity...

Would anyone be interested in someone who would look after their horses on an ad-hoc /holiday basis? I'm not talking regularly, but whenever/whatever was necessary. In my mind this could work by me going to meet owners/horse, learn the routine, reassure owner about my competence etc and then wait for the owner to call... When I had my own horses there was often an odd weekend when I was away /sick and wished there was someone I could call to do the horse for me, rather than me doing things at the crack of dawn/dead of night, with raging fever etc. Do other people feel this way - or am I the only one with no other horsey friends?


Disclaimer, this isn't an advert, I'm just wondering if people would even consider this.

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Hi Timefort, I do a bit of freelance grooming and offer this service. I work as a freelance groom so get a few calls from people wanting holiday cover. It can work but is a very irregular source of income, you'll find you get very busy in the summer then comparitively little for the rest of the year. I also have a few regular clients who I help daily which gives a good regular income, only problem then is that it makes it difficult to do the holiday cover as I can only be in so many places at once and obviously my regulars get priority. It can work so long as you have another flexible job so you are always earning enough to live off.

 

[Batgirl]

I am sure you are not the only one. My Y/O uses me to do the yard when they want to go away because I know the yard etc, I am sure there are many others. as previous poster says, very insecure income, depends if it is more for fun.

 

[timefort]

Hmm, I wasn't really thinking of it as a career (although I wonder what my boss would say to be suddenly becoming flexible..?). I was more thinking of odd one-offs, someone say wanting to go out one evening or away for the weekend but has horse on DIY /own field and doesn't have anyone else to ask, or doesn't want to pay for *full* livery for the one off. My thoughts would be that no money would change hands - I would simply do jobs in exchange for a ride. Does that sound feasible?