Groom for Christmas Day

Dogstar

Dogstar

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Would it be rude/selfish to try to find a groom for Christmas Day? I am thinking about going to Bro's down South for Christmas; the dogs could come too but I have no one to get the horses in. Well; I do know someone, but I really could not bring myself to ask them to do Xmas day. So, what do other people do? Maybe some grooms are happy to work and charge extra? I guess I could, if need be, just leave them out 'till I got back but it would be quite late..interested to hear what other people with horses at home do..
 
I don't think they would come to any harm left out until late, you can always get someone to just check on them, and give them extra hay in the field before you went, and rug them according to the weather. Someone might also be kind enough to drop feeds off into the fields for you if you had them already done? I've done this for people before, they get it all ready, and i'll feed etc as it's all prepared in buckets!
 
Considering I know of people who will go to the yard early, give their horse a massive haynet and just go home and not come back until Boxing Day, I'm sure your horses would be ok out until you got home so long as you don't mind getting them in when it's dark!

We have a similar problem as we often go to my sister's on Christmas Day which means we either have to leave there early to get back to the horses, or find somebody to see to them which I don't like doing. I LOVE it at the yard on Christmas day! :D
 
I think they'd be ok til you got home, although do people let fireworks off around by you for no reason like where I live ?Just seems any excuse these days
 
You could try to find a groom, no harm in asking. I normally do a few peoples horses on Christmas day, but tbh Christmas at my house is pretty rubbish so I would rather be out with the horses! People also pay me extra as it is Christmas after all.

Otherwise I am sure it will be fine to just get them in later :)
 
i usually work until 7am, then go straight to yard and do all the work for the day then either back up at night to bring in or my aunt brings them in. New year my other aunt does the work that she misses at xmas so all works well.
id be more than happy for someone to pay me to do theirs!
 
Dogstar said:
Would it be rude/selfish to try to find a groom for Christmas Day? I am thinking about going to Bro's down South for Christmas; the dogs could come too but I have no one to get the horses in. Well; I do know someone, but I really could not bring myself to ask them to do Xmas day. So, what do other people do? Maybe some grooms are happy to work and charge extra? I guess I could, if need be, just leave them out 'till I got back but it would be quite late..interested to hear what other people with horses at home do..
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I definitely don't think rude or selfish to ask someone - just make sure they understand you wont be offended if they turn you down, saving any confusion!! Obviously it all depends on exactly what you want doing, but many people who work in the industry will only have either xmas or new year off, but they will be doing short hours and could poss fit yours in on their way back to work? Any racing / TB studs near you? You may well find someone trustworthy who isn't going to make it back to family this Christmas aho would be more than willing to help you out (for a bit of extra cash!!). Last year I looked after a friend's yard for several days over Christmas, while on holiday from proper work. I did hers first in the morning and in the afternoon, and mine second - but when she went away we all fully understood that xmas day and boxing day the bare essentials would be done - boxes were skipped, yards were not swept thoroughly and they would prob all end up going out a bit late and in a bit earlier than the norm! Was actually very enjoyable and even the OH came to help out!
 
I'm sure they would be fine left out till late, but you might find someone locally who would be happy either to bring in or feed or just check on them!
I am normally (still waiting for this years invite ;) ) in the MK17 area on christmas day, if you get really stuck!
 
I am considering offering to do xmas day for others. I may well be in work for a couple of hours in the morning anyway, I dont see what harm could come from having an extra 4 or 5 horses to do before xmas celebrations commence.

How much do grooms charge for xmas day muck out / feed / bring in etc?
 
Thanks for the kind and helpful posts! I'm in North Bucks; usually a lady in the nearby village does my horses for holidays, I just would feel a bit awkward asking her as she has family. I, too, would be interested in the going rates charged by freelance grooms - I would guess at least double/treble rates for Christmas Day? I think the horses would be fine out 'till late really but I do worry about them and I was pondering staying over. As another poster mentioned, we do have an unreliable neighbour who does fireworks without notification but only usually in November. I think I will wait for confirmation of our Christmas Day offer before I make a decision as its still in the air due to one relative apparently having a dog allergy :-( Thanks again!
 
I do my friends horse on Xmas day as she's got kids and she does my horse on New Years Eve so i can go out on the lash!!!

There are many people who don't celebrate or like Christmas so wouldn't mind getting out of the house to get away from the rubbish Christmas Day TV!!!

Or if i had nobody to help out then i would be tempted to leave mine in with a huge haynet to munch on and then nip in on him on my way home.
 
My plan is - stick em out in the field all rugged up toasty warm for as long as possible! Have all feeds/haynets/water etc done the night before. Give them plenty of bedding so u can quickly just skip out in the morning. Then bring them in as late as you need.
 
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