Unreasonable?

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Mongoose11

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I have advertised for winter help - to muck out and bring in one horse (very clean stable I might add - takes 15 mins MAX, I like her to come in a bit earlier in the Winter and I want to avoid the wild walk down the stretch fom the Winter field in the dark as I won't often get there until 4.30pm.


So - I have advertised it at 30 minutes work 5 days a week, suit someone local etc. I was contacted today and told the charge would be £15. £15! Am I out of touch?

How much would you exect to pay for muck out and bring in - left in rug, hay ready....

I may need to have a rethink!
 
Depends how far I'd have to travel and if it could be tied in with other work in the area. If it could, then 8-10, if it was a separate trip then can see why someone would say 15
 
Depends on travel times & costs. A freelance groom will earn more doing a few horses elsewhere. Have you asked round your yard & others nearby?
 
I think it would take longer than 15 mins to muck out, bring in, do rugs and hay etc. I allocate an hour for our Sunday girl to do two.

When we had grooms to do that, we paid £10-12 an hour, and I think an hour's pay is the minimum really - they still have to get there etc, wouldn't be worth it for less..
 
Self employed people have to charge for their petrol and business insurance on the car, their travel time, their time and skill for the job, their public liability and injury insurance, etc. Then they have to pay tax and NI and still earn at least minimum wage otherwise what's the point. 15 pounds is reasonable if a person is to earn a living. Or perhaps you'd like to become an employer, provide insurance as legally required, carry out a risk assessment to ensure your employee is not put in unnecessary danger, provide holiday pay etc?
 
I think that's pretty reasonable to be honest! A couple of winters ago, I was cleaning out and bringing in a horse on the yard one day a week and that was £5. So you are getting a stable done and bring in for £3 a day!
 
I dont think thats that bad especially as there not onsite. My friend has a few DIY liveries on her stables. Its 10 pounds for muckout bring in a day and 20 for bank holidays and short notice. TBH thats pretty bog standard and some people wouldnt do it for 15 pounds if they had to travel. If there much more than 5 minutes away its going to cost them at least a fiver in fuel.
 
I structure my fees by each job, so £6 for full muck out, £4 if skip out, £1 for turning in or out. Minimum charge £6 within a 10 mile radius of my home, 50p per mile thereafter.

Yes I know I'm very cheap, but I'm a new business, and have never been self employed before!! Will be having a price restructure, and re-think about 10 mile radius in the new year lol!
 
lhotse said:
I think that's pretty reasonable to be honest! A couple of winters ago, I was cleaning out and bringing in a horse on the yard one day a week and that was £5. So you are getting a stable done and bring in for £3 a day!
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No, she is quoting £15 per day!
 
I think that is a fair charge, will it really only take her 15 mins to walk up, get her and walk back and 15 to do stable. I think sometimes people underestimate the time. Plus it will be winter, trudging through mud and wet etc. Are you wanting them to do hay and feed too?

Why don't you chance your arm and advertise it for £30 per week set price instead rather than by the session. You never know, that may interest a youngster looking to make some extra money.
 
Honey08 said:
I think it would take longer than 15 mins to muck out, bring in, do rugs and hay etc. I allocate an hour for our Sunday girl to do two.


When we had grooms to do that, we paid £10-12 an hour, and I think an hour's pay is the minimum really - they still have to get there etc, wouldn't be worth it for less..
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Hay would be hung up already, no rug change required, she poos in a pile by the wall.... honestly I can't make it take 30 minutes if I tried!
 
I think £15 is reasonable (sorry!). As even if they are local, its not just their time but the commitment. I can't imagine why anyone would want to do it for less - but you may get lucky. Sounds like an excellent idea to get someone to help over the winter, horse wrangling in the dark is not fun. Good luck :)
 
HBM1 said:
I think that is a fair charge, will it really only take her 15 mins to walk up, get her and walk back and 15 to do stable. I think sometimes people underestimate the time. Plus it will be winter, trudging through mud and wet etc. Are you wanting them to do hay and feed too?

Why don't you chance your arm and advertise it for £30 per week set price instead rather than by the session. You never know, that may interest a youngster looking to make some extra money.
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Honestly if you have read my fat to fit thread you will know that I am fat and unfit and I can do her stable (beautifully) and turn her out in under 20 minutes!

Good idea about the fixed price. Thanks.
 
My yard charge £2.50 to bring in and £10 to muck out.

Only way I think you would get cheaper is if you find a teenager who want some cash in hand? But if they are bringing in the horses before it gets dark they are probably I school at that time!
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
Self employed people have to charge for their petrol and business insurance on the car, their travel time, their time and skill for the job, their public liability and injury insurance, etc. Then they have to pay tax and NI and still earn at least minimum wage otherwise what's the point. 15 pounds is reasonable if a person is to earn a living. Or perhaps you'd like to become an employer, provide insurance as legally required, carry out a risk assessment to ensure your employee is not put in unnecessary danger, provide holiday pay etc?
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Self employed by any chance ;). I am happy to pay a fair price, I just think that the equivalent to £30 per hour is too high for a labour cost requiring little expertise. My instructor charges less for lessons.
 
When I used to freelance my minimum charge was for 1 hour, I had to account for fuel, travel time, tax, NI, etc etc etc. If you start to charge per half hour people expect you to break your back for £5, & drive there too. Sorry but I think £15 is not unreasonable if you are expecting someone to travel, they will have to tie it in with other jobs in the area. First or last thing are also the most popular & so easy to fill times, so you will have to pay to make it attractive as they may be able to earn more on a bigger yard doing several horses elsewhere.
 
littlelegs said:
Depends on travel times & costs. A freelance groom will earn more doing a few horses elsewhere. Have you asked round your yard & others nearby?
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There is a yard about 300 yards away - worth an ask, one of their girls might want to do it on their lunch hour! Good thinking!
 
Why not do the work yourself in the morning (part of your loose weight and get fit campaign)? And get a friend at the yard to bring in for you?
 
Offer £10 per day and see what answers you get,or just muck out and ask for horse to be brought in. Must admit it takes me longer than 20 mins to muck out and turn out but my lot are on straw.:)
 
I don't think that's bad. I am self employed and you need to consider petrol and insurance before the jobs and time come into it.
 
amymay said:
Why not do the work yourself in the morning (part of your loose weight and get fit campaign)? And get a friend at the yard to bring in for you?
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This is a good idea except yard work in the morning is difficult as I usually totter down there washed and dressed, touch her as little as possible and quickly give her a kiss and turn her out without getting stinky. If I were to go down to do the jobs and then go home to wash and change I would have to throw her out at 6am - she is not going to like this as there will be nobody else out at this time.

Getting someone else on the yard won't work as they all come down and bring in about 4.30-5pm, the same time that I can be there myself. I hate being at work at 3pm, it howling with wind and rain and knowing that she is waiting to come in. It will be a stress free winter if I can get someone to go and get her in about 2pm.

I can see that I am going to have to be prepared to pay properly for the peace of mind though. It may well be worth it.

I do think I may have to rethink my mornings..... can I really get up EVEN earlier?
 
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wipeout said:
Could you just get someone to put her in a dirty stable and you muck out when you get there?
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I did think of this but then I wondered if I would struggle getting someone to come out just for a bring in, I thought if I was going to pay I might as well get the stable done. But if I managed to get a girl from the yard up the road this is an idea to consider further.
 
God i'd love to be able to get to the yard at 430 in winter!

Mine are out at half 6 in the mornings and not in much before 6 at night - and there are many others who are out a lot later!

I think advertise £10 a day and see if you get any response, you may get someone local who just wants a bit of extra pocket money.

I wouldnt do it but theres a girl at our yard who does it for someone else for peanuts at stupid o clock in the morning.

It may only take you 20 mins but they will have to factor in travelling time too.
 
Why don't you offer to turn someone elses horse out in the mornings and they get yours in of an evening??

That way you can turn her out at 6am and she will have company??

Or get ready and take a change of clothes?? I did it for years and so do plenty of other people at my yard. Needs must!!
 
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