Getting someone In to help with Yard duties over Winter P/T

[winchester]

Over the last few years I have really struggled in the Winter with the horses and working full time. I payed someone to go down around 4pm before it got dark and get them in washfeet, change rugs and put to bed (5 horses) - it was lovely and helped us out so much. As she started having a family the following year i found a different person... who basically was going and getting the horses in at mid day and giving them their night feed, and basically i was having to re-do everything - muck out/haynets etc when i was getting down there at 7pm so wasnt really helping me out at all.

We struggled on our own last year but the winter seemed to be worse & wetter than ever!

As i am only a small yard do you think i would be able to find someone to help finish my horses off over the winter for say two hours a day?

Does anyone know what the going rate is? (I am hoping they muck out for me too this year).

Anyone know of a good place to start looking/advertising for one?

 

[MudMudGloriousMud]

I do this for various people at various times, last winter I did for a friend and her 2 horses, 2 hours a day (I groomed and prepped for the morning for her too) and I charged £6.50 an hour.
I think that is probably the going rate, and shouldn't think you would have too much trouble getting someone to do that for you.
Good luck!

Mel

 

[Honey08]

I used to pay £10 per hour for a qualified, insured freelance groom to do my horses a couple of hours a couple of days a week. She would ride too if need be. Nowadays we only have a teenager that comes on a Sunday and feeds, turns out and mucks out/does haynets and waters for later. We pay £10, she does two horses and probably takes 60-90 minutes.

We also keep them on over summer, if need be doing poo picking and tack cleaning to keep their hours, otherwise you are likely to find your "slots" filled with other work by the following winter..