Sharer or Mobile groom? what would you do?

Parker79

Parker79

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Hi there.

Next month I am returning to the world of renting my own field! I know the work involved and so I am trying to decide whether to opt for a mobile groom or whether to risk the possible stress of getting someone else in as I have space for 1 more.

What would be your preference? Just interested in peoples opinions.

I can afford the groom...but it wouldn't be ideal. I have a friend who can do it, I would be paying her the going rate and I do trust her, very knowledgeable.
 
Difficult to say really. In what way wouldnt it be ideal to have a groom?
Have you thought of the consequences of employing a friend if things go wrong? Would you be prepared to loose a friend? Would a sharer be more trouble than help?
Whatever you decide you need to do a lot of thought about various scenarios . If you ar eproperly prepared the chances of a happy time are much greater.
 
After posting this I had yet another 'think' on this.

I think getting a friend to do it could just get too awkward. I was also supposed to be trying to save some money in this move!

In an ideal world a sharer would be better, just hope I can locate the right one!
 
Would depend on the horses really. Would be happy to leave mine with a competent teen once I got to know them, & one is a fab teenagers pony so I would get a sharer. If I had daughters tiny, but too nippy for novice kids pony & a highly strung youngster I would try & find a sharer but resign myself to a groom.
 
littlelegs said:
Would depend on the horses really. Would be happy to leave mine with a competent teen once I got to know them, & one is a fab teenagers pony so I would get a sharer. If I had daughters tiny, but too nippy for novice kids pony & a highly strung youngster I would try & find a sharer but resign myself to a groom.
Click to expand...

Very good point - My mare is easy, but my gelding is 3, big and friendly but very clumsy! I do need someone with experience.

This is really hard, I trust my YO's but had to make the decision to move! Now I am paranoid as its hard to trust people!
 
Do you mean someone to share a horse or just share the field and cover each other when needed? I would consider such things with my upcoming field but I am just SO terrible at telling people it's not working out, I would dread it! If it was a groom I could just say I didn't need them anymore, but you might have more balls!

Employing a friend could be awkward, but then if they are competent and you are able to speak directly with each other and separate business with friendship I don't see why it would be a problem, in theory... it seems silly to employ a stranger instead.
 
Over the past 8 yrs or so its only been me at my yard.
I tried twice in that time to have a livery, 1 didn't work out after a month & the other were not interested in doing things as I liked with mine (eg, not turning up before 9 or usually 10 at a weekend in the winter etc to do stabled horse, leaving with/without rug on worng times & even putting in different field with far too much grass)

Sharer was never an option.

Have currently got lovely livery since mid Feb - she IS fine with mine, tho her horse drives me nuts! :rolleyes:

All last year & the year before, I had a horsey neighbour who I paid to come in & care for mine whilst was away anytime. This worked really well. Costings were down as no travel (unless you count walking round 400 yds to my yard from hers).
Didn't take her long but I trusted her & she fitted mine in round hers.
Payment made things so much easier to ask again each time.

Good luck in whatever you do. (If not mobile groom, then sharer poss better option?)
 
Mobile groom ,I employ a friend part time it's really not an issue at all when she working I treat her exactly as my other groom when she's not it's exactly as before .
 
Thanks everyone! I have had nightmares in the past with sharers (field not horse), but have also found that it can work.

Its going to be so strange going back to this environment...I think I am worrying too much and need to let some things happen...and not try to control EVERYTHING!! hehe :D
 
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