Freelance grooms - does anyone work as / employ a groom?

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FleabittenT

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If so, for grooms, do you find it's worthwhile, in terms of money-making? :)

For those that use a groom, can I ask what services you use, and what you pay? Is it a regular thing for you, or holiday cover, for instance? How did you find your groom?

I'm thinking of advertising as a freelance groom, to help subsidise my income. I have good experience and references, I'm just looking at how much to charge, and wondering how to make it add up. Taking travel & diesel into account...

When I say 'freelance groom', I mean assisting with all aspects of care - turning out/bringing in, rug changes, feeding, grooming & show prep, riding and groundwork, the lot really!

Any thoughts would be really welcome :)
 
I had help from a groom last week. While my sister who helps me was on holiday. As I have two small children its hard to get down the yard to do morning feeds.

She was a old school friend of my sisters who now freelances as well as working full time for a lady who has 15 horses that she looks after and helps exercise.

She helped me monday to friday so 5 days and she charged us £75.

For that she went down morning and night and fed and hayed the horses as they live out and made sure they had water. She also changed their rugs as it rained quite a bit that week. She poo picked for us aswell, but I dont know how many barrows she did.

She only lives about 2 miles down the road from the yard so it wasnt to far for her to go.

With the economy like it is, I dont know if their is much call for grooms really as people seem to be cutting back on holidays and stuff. There are loads of adverts in my local tack shop of people offering grooming.

I thought it was quite good value, but from her view i would say quite good money as feeding them etc only takes 15/20 mins. So its quite a good rate IMO.

good luck
 
We pay a girl £8hr for yard duties, during the summer she rides, poo picks and helps at shows as and when. She also covers holidays and odd days.
 
I have lovely freelance groom who means I have so much more enjoyment time with my horses and I enjoy them so much more when I have this support.

But I know she is finding work hard to come by .... Especially if you are looking for good quality customers - there are some v funny 'horse' people around???!!!
 
I freelance aas well as do a 9-5 office job. Some weeks I have got up at 5.30 to do 8 holiday covers before work!!

If I could learn to say no and manage my diary better it would be perfect. I make extra money, anything from £150 - £1000 pm, that pays for my horses livery, feed, shoes etc so all my office money is for everyday spends and my horsey money is for me ans my horse :)
 
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