Freelance groom/rider day rate

[Teaboy]

How much would you expect to pay a highly experienced groom/rider per hour or day? Capable of easily stepping into sole charge for holiday cover for instance. Groomed for elite event rider at 5* competitions. Ridden to advanced both eventing and dressage and work rider on race yard so very capable with fitness work. Lorry driver so could do competition grooming.
I’m wondering if it’s worth going self employed again to have more flexibility with my time to allow myself more time to produce my own horses but I’m not sure if financially it’s worth it and also whether there’s any real demand in the East Midlands area?

Any opinions are very welcome.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I'd like to know as if it was affordable I'd occasionally want one! I get very lonely eventing sometimes.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Firstly you’re way better than me but yes I’d say there is plenty of work out there. If there were more 8am’s or Sundays in a week I’d be absolutely loaded!
I’m picky, I only do nice little jobs (apart from my weekend which is a killer but pays for my horses outright)
Pay wise I charge £12.50 ph but as I say am not on your level and I only work in a very small radius round my house!
I’d say stacks of work around though for freelancers.

 

[ihatework]

Freelance £200/day if you are either doing a fair bit of riding of decent horses or grooming at elite level.

General yard work £15-20/hour

 

[poiuytrewq]

Freelance £200/day if you are either doing a fair bit of riding of decent horses or grooming at elite level.

General yard work £15-20/hour

Thing is people say that online but in reality who gets that much per hour?
I know lots of people who freelance or employ freelancers and no one is paying that.
I know people still on £10/11 ph and they are good workers.

 

[ihatework]

Thing is people say that online but in reality who gets that much per hour?
I know lots of people who freelance or employ freelancers and no one is paying that.
I know people still on £10/11 ph and they are good workers.

But do they ride to advanced level and groomed at elite level?
Are they they people that a professional could leave in charge/ride very expensive competition horses and the owners are ok with it ….

 

[Portly]

I pay £15 per hour for yard duties, then £45-£65 for someone to school my horse (depends on rider and experience)

 

[poiuytrewq]

But do they ride to advanced level and groomed at elite level?
Are they they people that a professional could leave in charge/ride very expensive competition horses and the owners are ok with it ….

No, I was referring more to the £15-20 yard work

 

[poiuytrewq]

Just to add, I’m not being argumentative! Just a genuine comment as I see people on fb regularly ask about freelance prices and the replies are always £15+

 

[fidleyspromise]

I was paying £15 per hour but my horses only took 45 mins per day to do. 3 times per week.
I stopped it because the horses weren't being fully done - their feet were to be picked out every day and they weren't plus I went up a few times and the poo picking wasnt completed. I didn't begrudge the cost but I did begrudge the work not being done to my standard.

I'm currently paying £20 per week to a non horse girl to poo pick field while I'm injured.

 

[EternalVetBills]

Just to add, I’m not being argumentative! Just a genuine comment as I see people on fb regularly ask about freelance prices and the replies are always £15+

I charge £15ph as my absolute minimum, my hourly rate can range between that and £50 depending on what I'm doing. I do a couple of yards where there's the choice between myself and another local freelancer, and have been told by multiple liveries that I'm 'much more expensive than the other lady'. For instance for turning out she charges £1, I charge £3.75 (worked out as it takes me 15 minutes-ish, so £15÷4). I feel quite justified in my prices though as I'm not short of work, am very experienced and competent, and am the sort of person (I hope!) that people can go away and not worry about their animals.

Op I have a similar skill set to you, minus the advanced eventing (too scary ) and reckon I'm far better off freelance than I was when I worked full time, both financially and time wise. I get to spend so much more time with my own horses now, which is lovely. I will say, starting up can be tricky, there were a fee months at the beginning where things were slow and I did get a bit panicky, but it all worked out eventually.

 

[Red-1]

I think the market is there. For instance, Mr Red and I have our 30 year wedding anniversary coming up. We would love to go away for a couple of days, but don't want to leave the animals.

If we found someone we trusted, we would possibly go away a whole lot more.

I look on Fb but can't seem to see any adverts. I don't want to advertise as it is just too embarrassing to then say to people, er, no.

So, my business advice would be to put a new advert in local FB groups and suchlike every week. That way, you stay current.

I have been considering these.

Pricing

Pricing page, please contact us for your bespoke quote

www.animalaunts.co.uk

I rang once, years ago, and they seemed nice and sensible. There prices would give you an idea, anyway.

 

[little_critter]

Thing is people say that online but in reality who gets that much per hour?
I know lots of people who freelance or employ freelancers and no one is paying that.
I know people still on £10/11 ph and they are good workers.

I believe my YO pays £15/hr for freelance help, she said it was around the going rate.

 

[Ceifer]

There was a groom who came in as a freelancer to cover sickness for a month about 4 years ago on a livery yard I had my horse at. She charged £20 an hour. She’d worked for some big names on the Eventing circuit and worked like an absolute fiend on the yard. She worked at twice the speed of the other members of staff and the yard was spotless.

Good grooms who have worked at high level (and still have the motivation to work) are worth the money but unfortunately most people aren’t willing to pay if there’s a cheaper option.

When I worked as a groom I went to Europe on the competition circuit to gain more experience and earn more money. My top wage was £800 a week, live in, lunch included and use of car and fuel. However when you broke that down after factoring in we worked long hours 6 days a week at the beck and call of our boss 24/7 and it was non stop the money didn’t seem that great.

 

[anguscat]

I think the market is there. For instance, Mr Red and I have our 30 year wedding anniversary coming up. We would love to go away for a couple of days, but don't want to leave the animals.
Whose that in the video? She’s interesting
If we found someone we trusted, we would possibly go away a whole lot more.

I look on Fb but can't seem to see any adverts. I don't want to advertise as it is just too embarrassing to then say to people, er, no.

So, my business advice would be to put a new advert in local FB groups and suchlike every week. That way, you stay current.

I have been considering these.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=188663900722952

I rang once, years ago, and they seemed nice and sensible. There prices would give you an idea, anyway.

 

[Red-1]

LOL, wrong link, that was one someone else had posted on another thread.

I have changed it to the one I meant!