paying to ride - what do you expect for £20

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charliecrisps

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Im paying 20 pound twice a week, due to holidays ive been home to see what goes on.... from the window!

The arrangement was to tack up etc as im pretty immobile + ride the block that takes 40 minutes to ride, twice a week

what happened today was -
she got horse in by bridle, + didn't groom the mud off the head
put saddle on, again no sight of brush.. and feet didn't get picked out
she got on and within 30 seconds was trotting up the road until I lost sight of them
she was back within 18 minutes
rug was on horse and he was back turned out within a couple of mins. I went out to check and he was still hot
Guess all in all around half hour, mostly upset as no feet picked and no warm up/ cool down!

Am I being unreasonable??? this is surely not acceptable?!! I know her to have fab reviews, produces youngsters and teaches... I feel a bit like she has been taking the mickey, probably for a while as im never here to keep an eye out or am I expecting too much for my £20?
 
You know you are right! That is not acceptable if you have agreed £20 for 40 mins riding PLUS care. If she is meant to ride him for 40 mins then she should be with you for about 1 1/4 hours really. She is taking the mick.
 
No not all if all she is doing is exercising and it's not a problem horse. (Even if was she should of groomed tack areas\ hoof picked and not left hot horse)
In fact if that's the case why don't you advertise for a sharer instead rather than paying someone?
 
Yes, a few minutes more and she could pick feet and flick mud off easy. I'm based in southeast.. currently looking for someone else now to ride if anyone has any recommendations
 
You need someone who shows some care and love for your horse - apart from the fact that this professional isn't even fulfilling the brief.
 
£20 doesn't seem a lot for what is, by your expectation, an hour's work - 40 minute hack plus catch/tack up / groom / cool down / turnout. I think it's fairly reasonable to catch in a bridle and not to groom, other than any bits which are actually muddy and directly under tack, but I'd be concerned by the lack of warm up and walking off. If he's shod I'd definitely expect feet picked out too.
 
Well you are one step further than me. Ive been trying to find someone to exercise a pony for me a couple of times a week and the only person I managed to locate arranged to come then didn't turn up or reply when I text them ! I was prepared to pay significantly more than u have paid and tack up/un tack and still cant find anyone reliable !
If you have agreed those terms with the person its bad they are not sticking to it, round me £20 is quite cheap for what you describe but then I would have expected them to advise you what you would get for the money and stick to it.
Have you spoken to them, maybe it was a one off because of a crisis elsewhere ? Although I still wouldn't b pleased if feet not picked etc, I would rather they cancelled.
 
If it were my horse she would not be coming back again. My horse is my pleasure, and I get pleasure from him being looked after like a prince. If there is no one suitable to ride then I think he would have some time off.

And, I very rarely trot one the roads. Like maybe twice a year (not twice a week!!!!).
 
Have you specifically said that you want him brushed, feet picked out and him walked round the block? If not the rider is probably just doing it in the most efficient way. Not the way I'd do it, but if you're paying you can give strict instructions and expect them to be followed. If she then wants to discuss the pay she can do so.
 
I think she is taking the mickey, I ride for people and will always brush mud off horse and pick feet out, as well as warming up/cooling down properly. Sounds like she doesn't really care about the horses well-being and just wants to get her money by doing as little as possible.
 
I pay a lot to ride someone else's horse, so if you are paying them, definitely being short-changed. Is there someone else, or maybe a sharer who you can tell what to do.
 
You say the block takes 40 mins to ride is that at walk? have you specifically told them what speed you want the horse ridden at? I.e just walked? £20 an hour isn't as lot really when you consider her fuel costs too. I personally would have a word and outline what you expect, that way there is no confusion even write down a contract so that its there in writing.
 
Tricky really as when I was a paid rider about 25-30 years ago I earned quite a bit more than you are paying now. I'd expect to pay a rider £20 per half hour in this day and age tbh. Can you not look for a sharer and then have them pay you instead?
 
I agree with SF. Presumably she has arrived at your yard by car? So there is extra time there then the fuel. If she was teaching she would probably earn £25 - £60 per 45 minute lesson. But I would have a chat with her because it is not good that the horse didn't have his feet picked out or properly cooled off, but you may have to pay a bit more to get what you want. I think you might be best advertising for a sharer.
 
I understand that people will say £20 isn't a lot for the services, which it isn't. However if you have agreed that £20 for all that you have said, groom, ride ect. I would expect to get what I pay for, even if it isn't a massive amount of money.
I would be very concerned regarding not grooming/picking feet out before riding.
I think you need to find someone else or find a sharer for your horse.
 
I charge twenty pounds to school a horse, for that I expect to just ride I'm afraid, I don't mind slinging the tack on if nec but I don't expect to have to catch and groom the horse for that I'm afraid! I usually school of 35 to 40 mins. If I was expected to catch, groom, brush off and turn out for twenty pounds then I'm afraid the schooling session would be 15- 20 mins.
Without sounding snotty , I'm there to ride , not to be the groom!
 
I would be telling her to leave IMO if you have both agreed on price and what is included and she's not doing it wouldn't be paying her. £20 is a lot of money for someone to come a treat your horse like that how rude!
 
Depending on how far she has to travel, I think you are being short changed. If she was there for half an hour, and you paid her £20 she is effectively earning £40 per hour - not bad going and a figure most of us on here can probably only dream of earning. However if she hasn't just travelled from round the corner, as others have said you have to factor in her travelling time and costs - so if she has a half hour journey to get to you and another half hour journey home, then £20 isn't really very much.
 
Why are you paying? You don't mention what the horse is like but there a lot of people out there that would pay YOU to ride him!

Brushing mud off where any tack sits and picking out hooves is the pure basics before riding. I would never let anyone ride my horse if this were not done. And as for not warming up or cooling off....I'd have a fit!!! My horse therefore my rules!
 
Firstly, are you sure there wasn't a specific reason she came back early? I would guess in some parts of the uk, roads might be icy, or there could be an obstruction or something? If there's only one route, there may be a reason for this.

I do think you need to make your expectations very clear about what you want done, if you haven't already. However, if she feels your expectations are unrealistic, then she may chose not to work for you any longer or ask for more money.

Are you sure she didn't cool down? I would not expect a horse to get that hot in 18 minutes of riding, if he has a rug on, he will probably feel pretty warm to the touch. That said, I would expect some kind of warm up in this weather.

I do agree it's reasonable to have some concerns, but I think if you want a proper professional rider, you have to pay proper money, or you could look for a sharer who might do everything for free or pay you, but they may be less reliable or the standard of riding may be lower.
 
charliecrisps said:
The arrangement was to tack up etc as im pretty immobile + ride the block that takes 40 minutes to ride, twice a week
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did you discuss what 'etc' was to include?

bring in, brush off, pick out feet, un-rug, tack up, warm up,ride for 40 mins, cool off, rug-up and turn out is an hour and a halfs work. If a horse has just been bought in from the field I personally don't see why they need anymore warming up it is not like they have been stood in the stable for hours.

£20 for me would be pick out feet,tack on and ride.bring in rugs turn out etc would be extra-if the dressage rider at works comes to school the horses at work I get paid to get in brush off and tack up-I just hack them at work
 
whiteflower said:
Well you are one step further than me. Ive been trying to find someone to exercise a pony for me a couple of times a week and the only person I managed to locate arranged to come then didn't turn up or reply when I text them ! I was prepared to pay significantly more than u have paid and tack up/un tack and still cant find anyone reliable !
If you have agreed those terms with the person its bad they are not sticking to it, round me £20 is quite cheap for what you describe but then I would have expected them to advise you what you would get for the money and stick to it.
Have you spoken to them, maybe it was a one off because of a crisis elsewhere ? Although I still wouldn't b pleased if feet not picked etc, I would rather they cancelled.
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If you're in my neck of the woods I'd be happy to oblige!
 
I would be peeved if I was paying for a service that wasn't being provided. Regardless of the amount being paid, she must have agreed to the £20 in return for grooming, riding etc if this wasn't enough money then she should have asked for more at the time or said no.
The riding instructor at our yard charges £15 for half hour and you take the horse ready to go to him. I'm not sure how much he charges off yard.
Was it a one off, could it have been because it was New Years Eve, maybe she got called away...not making excuses but until you talk to her you don't know why she left so abruptly.
 
A firm reminder of her obligations - for £20 I'd expect to have the horse properly quartered, tacked up, warmed up properly and exercised for at least 45mins. Then brought back cool, sponged and brushed over - feet picked out, rugged and put away.

If she is schooling the horse then I'd expect the work to be around 30 mins - but quartered before and brushed over after.
 
marmalade76 said:
If you're in my neck of the woods I'd be happy to oblige!
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sadly you are too far away, im west cambridgeshire/herts/beds border. im just amazed that i cant find anyone reliable no matter what i pay them !
in OP's case i think its definitely worth discussing what is expected on both sides as it may just be a miss communication.
 
It would depend on the standard of the rider, I would expect to pay 20 for half an hour of 35 for an hours schooling by my instructor, about 2/3s of that for "suitably qualified staff". The horse would have a quick brush, be warmed up and down, sponged off if necessary, rugged and turned back out. Now that's at a professional yard where all the riders are BHSAI or pony club B or A test holders. For less qualified riders obviously you should expect to pay less (or nothing).
In years gone by I used to ride for a few people, basically if it was a horse I was riding for my own pleasure I would expect to get it ready etc, contribute to it's schooling and care with no money exchanged, if it was a horse I was schooling for someone I would probably expect it to be got ready for me if possible and maybe get a drink off them later ;) I never charged as I wasn't insured for professional services.
 
Tnavas said:
A firm reminder of her obligations - for £20 I'd expect to have the horse properly quartered, tacked up, warmed up properly and exercised for at least 45mins. Then brought back cool, sponged and brushed over - feet picked out, rugged and put away.

If she is schooling the horse then I'd expect the work to be around 30 mins - but quartered before and brushed over after.[/QU

Really? No wonder the equine world is the worst paid! If I did all that for £20 and took my travel costs out of it it wouldn't be worth the effort to be honest.
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I suppose it does vary around the countryside though. I now get reduced rates when I need help but that is because my horse is now on the yard of the rider who trains us. Previously my expectations would have been that my horse would have been in his stable and clean. She would tack up, ride, untack and put away.
 
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