Horse sitting - help please

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HeadOrHeart

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I have been asked to look after 2 ex racers for 12 months while the owner works abroad. This will consist of going down once daily just to give a feed and check on their wellbeing in the summer months as they will be living out and twice in the winter to turnbout/bring in/mucking out/feeding etc. Will have access to a bank account for feed/farrier/vets and so on plus use of a small jeep for travelling. I have been asked to decide on my fees for doingbthis but I dont really have any idea what to charge. This will be 7 days a week for the next 12 months. If anyone could suggest a sensible price I would be grateful.
 
No, mine own horses are not at livery.This is approx 6-7 miles away, with use of a vehicle for this purpose. I dont see it being a major problem as my friend and I will do it between us but I just have no idea what I should be charging?
 
ok i personally wouls say in winter to look after 2 horses properly is going to take at least 1 1/2 hours a day of your time (do you need to exercise?) would charge at least £12 a day for both, could maybe drop to 10 once turned out, but how much would full livery be?
 
Whatever you decide, keep a record of your time, mileage, expenses, and (of course) every receipt.

Why not do a few dummy runs? Go through the actions of what you would routinely have to do and time yourself, then multiply that by a reasonable hourly rate?

But DO keep records. It is so easy to be blamed when things go wrong. Unless your employers are saints, that is unfortunately human nature.
 
For a once daily check, poo pick and feed in the summer I charge £15 for someone roughly the same distance away, and again they are friends so mates rates. A lady at the yard pays someone around £12 per horse, but they are on the yard anyway.
As for the bank account, I would scan in and email receipts on a monthly basis, so that there can be no questions. When I was abroad, I rang up and ordered feed etc myself, and paid for it over the phone. I also paid for all haylage via bank transfer.
 
Work out how long it will take to do the work, including travelling, and charge the minimum wage for your time (£6.08 last time I looked for someone over 21, but could be a bit more now). All other expenses covered by the owner, keep receipts for everything and submit them regularly so no surprises.

Using the jeep could be a problem, will you use it at other times too or just for this?
What if it breaks down, needs a new tyre, you have a bump etc?
Is owner paying for insurance for you and is it fully comp or 3rd party?
Have seen situations get very sticky over things like this so be very careful!
 
I have someone come and look after my neds if im away at all, the lady who started doing them became a good friend, but i stuck to the same rates, only seemed fair. I paid £15 / visit, same for winter and summer, the are four stables need skipping out daily, feeding and haynets then turnout, took me around an hour in morning and just to bring in pm took 10/15 mins, they walk up to their own stable so just need to open doors :)

in summer all she had to do was check over and fill water with hose, but felt only fair to still pay same, she's done this now for a couple of years and is happy with payment, my yard is almost on way to her work so just around a mile out of the way. Must add ive also done lots of favours in return, picking horse up on way to shows etc.

I do only tend to be away mon - fri so not really long term, but with you looking after for a whole year, thats a lot of responsibility added on, agree on keeping receipts/ bills and perhaps sending copies over monthly. Would keep you both safe and no cause any problems. Its a lot of commitment for such a long time, not sure i could leave mine for that long, a week at a time is enough !
 
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I pay my horse sitter £15 per day to look after my horse when I am on holiday and do not think it would be worth her while doing it for any less to be honest. This includes all fuel costs and turnout, mucking out, feeding etc.
 
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