what do you pay your groom?

skewbald_again said:
'about three hours a day' = 5 if you're lucky and then could you just keep an eye on the children while I nip out to Waitrose for an hour and half.
That's a bit of an assumption to make, are you making it because of OP's username?
Plus Pony Club means - another three hours a week, with another mountain of tack to clean.
As far as I can see, OP has mentioned paying extra for travel and weekends, shows etc
So by the time you've finished your 15 hours is going to be 25 or I'll eat my plaiting thread.
Even at 25 hours, it's still above minimum wage, but, again, we are assuming here that the OP is set out to ''take advantage''

I don't object to anyone doing it, if they like, and can afford it, living at home with parents say, I just kind of object to its having the same job title as someone who takes sole charge of millions of pounds worth of horses, deals with complex veterinary programs, quarantines, admin, etc, and is paid a very respectable salary with good benefits.
:confused::o

It's like using the same term for a clerk and a solicitor, and then being able to swan round saying 'what do you pay your solicitor, dahling' when you mean office boy.
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And that again, is it because of OP's username?
 
martlin said:
Why would 3hrs a day stop anybody from getting another job? I mean, part time is part time, you can always get another job to go with it, surely.
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You have obviously never worked for someone of the kind who says 'what do you pay your groom?' and found out what 'about 3 hours' means. Two in the morning, one after school, and oh could you come back for Pony Club?

By the way 'it doesn't require a degree does it' - no obviously not, and obviously those people who don't have a university education get to eat and live much cheaper than everyone else? Maybe we could build them some little ghettoes to live in, nice and near to the rich people but out of sight?

What a truly offensive attitude. I saw enough of university students to last me a lifetime last week, thank you.

People like you think there is another race out here who should hurtle from one low paid job to another to keep body and soul together just to keep your **se wiped.

I am seldom really, really cross on this forum, I growl a lot but mostly in fun, but you have made me truly, truly angry.
 
I employ a groom who does two hours a day for me when I'm away with work. She is freelance, and gets £10/hr. She choses when she comes - my OH feeds, hays and waters in the mornings.. She rides one and mucks out the lot (four). She is freelance and grooms for other people, and teaches freelance. She can pick and chose what she works, and competes her horse when it suits her. She has such a great time that I frequently consider going back to it myself. Seriously!

I'd do 15 hours a week for £150, then add on the rest from teaching. It would give me time to do school runs etc. I'd love it. I got the impression that the PC/show work would be on top of the normal duties, and paid extra, so the 15 hours would be 15 hours plus overtime.

I agree that a lot of grooms are underpaid, however its these independant, freelance grooms that can make the money nowadays. Its the ones that are living in, with their own horse on livery, working all the hours god sends that are the hard up ones.

Not totally sure why this has got into a row???:confused:
 
SA - Working 15 hours a week for someone doesn't mean you can't do another job along side it! I have 3 jobs, 2 as a groom and one as a nanny/groom, the 3 jobs equal full time hours! I may not be looking after millions of pounds worth of animals but surely that doesn't matter?! I look after some lovely horses that are their owners pride and joy, just because they are not worth millions of pounds or live on a massive posh yard it doesn't mean that they don't require the same amount of care and understanding as expensive competition horses!

And do you really think that because I only work part time for someone and are not provided with the luxuries you have stated above that I wouldn't provide the correct care to an injured or Ill horse?! Once again the value of the animal or how many hours are worked looking after them doesn't come into it, a groom is a groom regardless and they have a duty of care to fulfil!

Just for the record I look after 8 for other people and they range from fluffy fat ponies to competition horses!



(sorry for any spelling errors, am using my phone and it doesn't my have spell check!)
 
As a groom, I find it offensive that other people find it offensive to call someone who's a groom a groom. What's wrong with being a groom? I'm proud of my job and my title - being a good groom is an art form IMO.
 
skewbald_again said:
You have obviously never worked for someone of the kind who says 'what do you pay your groom?' and found out what 'about 3 hours' means. Two in the morning, one after school, and oh could you come back for Pony Club?

By the way 'it doesn't require a degree does it' - no obviously not, and obviously those people who don't have a university education get to eat and live much cheaper than everyone else? Maybe we could build them some little ghettoes to live in, nice and near to the rich people but out of sight?

What a truly offensive attitude. I saw enough of university students to last me a lifetime last week, thank you.

People like you think there is another race out here who should hurtle from one low paid job to another to keep body and soul together just to keep your **se wiped.

I am seldom really, really cross on this forum, I growl a lot but mostly in fun, but you have made me truly, truly angry.
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I'm sorry to have offended you, I really am, it was not my intention.

BUT, and there is a huge but:
You don't know me from Adam, you haven't got a clue where and for whom I have worked or work, you don't know how much I earn (and nor should you), so talking about my ''attitude'', wiping my arse and all sorts of insults is just not on.

Whether you like it or not, £10 per hour is nearly double minimum wage, that's a fact. We have no way of establishing if OP is going to take advantage or ''over work'' their prospective employee.
From the OP I didn't get an impression of any sort of condescending attitude... replace word ''groom'' with ''farrier'' in the title and there would be no uproar, just people quoting the prices they pay.
You obviously have read it differently. I was wondering if it was because the OP called themselves ''Footballerswife'' for the purpose of posting on this forum.

OR, maybe you just have a massive chip on your shoulder... maybe just a bad day, too.
 
Santa's Little Helper said:
SA - Working 15 hours a week for someone doesn't mean you can't do another job along side it! I have 3 jobs, 2 as a groom and one as a nanny/groom, the 3 jobs equal full time hours! I may not be looking after millions of pounds worth of animals but surely that doesn't matter?! I look after some lovely horses that are their owners pride and joy, just because they are not worth millions of pounds or live on a massive posh yard it doesn't mean that they don't require the same amount of care and understanding as expensive competition horses!

And do you really think that because I only work part time for someone and are not provided with the luxuries you have stated above that I wouldn't provide the correct care to an injured or Ill horse?! Once again the value of the animal or how many hours are worked looking after them doesn't come into it, a groom is a groom regardless and they have a duty of care to fulfil!

Just for the record I look after 8 for other people and they range from fluffy fat ponies to competition horses!



(sorry for any spelling errors, am using my phone and it doesn't my have spell check!)
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If it is 15 hours, that's fine. You'll note I said, I didn't have a problem with someone doing it if they could, for whatever reason make it work.

What made me cross was someone saying, effectively, that's good money for a groom, after all, it doesn't require a degree.

Maybe not, but (without other jobs, and if you can fit in other jobs around it, then fine but often the hours make it difficult) £150 isn't living money for anyone, whether they're a groom or not.

It's not who you're looking after, I'm sure you do a great job, and you've obviously got it sorted. I just do get very cross at people who seem to think there's a sub species whose housing food and clothing costs don't mirror theirs in the slightest!
 
Skewbald again, i found your attitude offensive. How do you think all those big posh grooms at mega expensive yards, dealing with everything and getting a decent wage and benefits, got there??? You don't walk into any job these days without having experience lower down the pecking order, and that comes with hard work, long hours and most likely minimum wage. plus, only someone who wanted the job would take it presumably? And if grooms jobs, wages and hours are so terrible then surely they would rather work somewhere else? I reckon especially students would love the hours offered on the original post. I would have done when i was at uni.
 
I actually think £150 a week for 3 hours, 5 days a week would be "a nice little job!!" I'm on 32k for 8/9 hours 5 days a week... take home just over £1800 a month so lets say that's £450 a week (but actually a lot less), also drive 25 miles there and back.. £150 for 3 hours where you can walk to doesn't sound bad to me!!

I could no way live on £150 a week, but then I wouldn't be going for a job where I was only going to be working 3 hours a day!
 
martlin said:
I'm sorry to have offended you, I really am, it was not my intention.

BUT, and there is a huge but:
You don't know me from Adam, you haven't got a clue where and for whom I have worked or work, you don't know how much I earn (and nor should you), so talking about my ''attitude'', wiping my arse and all sorts of insults is just not on.

Whether you like it or not, £10 per hour is nearly double minimum wage, that's a fact. We have no way of establishing if OP is going to take advantage or ''over work'' their prospective employee.
From the OP I didn't get an impression of any sort of condescending attitude... replace word ''groom'' with ''farrier'' in the title and there would be no uproar, just people quoting the prices they pay.
You obviously have read it differently. I was wondering if it was because the OP called themselves ''Footballerswife'' for the purpose of posting on this forum.

OR, maybe you just have a massive chip on your shoulder... maybe just a bad day, too.
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As above really, it just winds me up when people seem to think there are two different worlds out there, and in one of them, everything costs 1/10 of the other.

I don't really take much notice of the poster's names so I don't think that is it. If it makes you happy to think I have a chip on my shoulder, fine.

I actually don't have a problem with the job, as I said originally, for a youngster living at home, or for someone who actually can fit in other jobs around it.

I'm just astounded that some people seem to think £150 is a gift from the gods. Still, I suppose I worked for a good bit less when I was younger. Which is where I learned how long 'about 3 hours' is!

Aplogies for getting cross. I don't usually. Other than pretend cross.
 
somethingorother said:
Skewbald again, i found your attitude offensive. How do you think all those big posh grooms at mega expensive yards, dealing with everything and getting a decent wage and benefits, got there??? You don't walk into any job these days without having experience lower down the pecking order, and that comes with hard work, long hours and most likely minimum wage. plus, only someone who wanted the job would take it presumably? And if grooms jobs, wages and hours are so terrible then surely they would rather work somewhere else? I reckon especially students would love the hours offered on the original post. I would have done when i was at uni.
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I'm not explaining myself again. You must think what you like.
 
OP needs to remember to factor in NI and tax payments on top of salary unless groom is self employed and paying these herself..........?
 
skewbald_again said:
I'm just astounded that some people seem to think £150 is a gift from the gods. Still, I suppose I worked for a good bit less when I was younger. Which is where I learned how long 'about 3 hours' is!
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ok just dropped in and read that thread. SA I really don't think the OP is trying to take the P or see what she can get away with, surely it's up to the groom whether they think that 3hrs a day working as a groom leaves them enough time to do something else, or indeed of they need to.

maybe it would suit someone whose kids were just starting school? or someone who worksin a pub at night? or is a student it's not for us to judge.

Grooming surely doesn't have to be a full time job-I have friends who are cleaners and have many, many different clients, and I don't see why grooming should be different.

whether the OP intends to pay the groom £10 an hour or £30 a day for however many hours they do, we will never know but, on face value, £10 an hour seems pretty good to me, whether you're grooming, cleaning or working in an office.

FWIW-even tho last year I was on over £32k, my average hourly rate at some weeks during the year was less than £4......
 
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Seth said:
As a groom, I find it offensive that other people find it offensive to call someone who's a groom a groom. What's wrong with being a groom? I'm proud of my job and my title - being a good groom is an art form IMO.
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I said some thing similar on another thread earlier. Youre right. Good grooms are worth their weight in gold.

Footballer wife my grooms work full time so they are salaried and they get included accommodation in a cottage. They each get a vehicle for their personal use and no-cost accomodation for their own horses. They work 5 days a week (6 hours per day) so when extra casual grooms are needed I give £25 per hour.
 
I got £100 a week to look after 25 horses, 3 hours a day plus shows most weekends in the summer.....

I now work for my kids at £0 a week, 4 ponies 7 days a week and shows! I prefer the latest job!!
 
jaypeebee said:
I said some thing similar on another thread earlier. Youre right. Good grooms are worth their weight in gold.

Footballer wife my grooms work full time so they are salaried and they get included accommodation in a cottage. They each get a vehicle for their personal use and no-cost accomodation for their own horses. They work 5 days a week (6 hours per day) so when extra casual grooms are needed I give £25 per hour.
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Jaypeebee, gis-a-job !
3 years ago, my 16 yr old daughter was a working pupil at a yard. Her hours were 7.30 to 5.30 mon -fri for which she got paid £40 per week. The yard was 10 miles away, which was a 40 mile round trip for me to get her there and back. Now thats a scam just like the old YTS.

Regarding the OP, I'd happily do 3 hrs a day for £10 p/h if it fitted in with the school run. With a good, fair employer, its a nice part time job.
 
What everyone seems to have missed is that the OP said the person wants to return and asked her for some work so she obviously knows the family as she's helped out before. It's about £500 a month and maybe she'll work somewhere else when not required on this yard, maybe her family are well off and its just a bit of spending money (I wish ha ha) but that could be the case, we don't know the ins and outs so ...............................
 
nokia said:
Omg what's all this # my groom # we are in 2010 they are not your groom they are an employee who does set tasks for an hourly rate. Lady footballers wife do u not think you should be asking an employment lawyer what ur obligations are legaly and how much you should be paying the staff member, not asking people on here

Talk about being condisending, and I find the term groom offensive
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Are you a little bit of a p****d off groom at the mo, or just slightly hormonal!! Is it ok to call my boss *my boss* or is that offensive too. :D

I do think you are right that the OP should consider her legal obligations towards any employee, groom or otherwise.
 
This thread makes me a little sad TBH.
The OP has some work, a girl would like to do it. She's offering a fair wage, and thats that.

But what on earth is wrong with being a groom eh?
The way you guys talk about it, it would appear we are all the scum of the earth, and it's the most pitiful job you can get. Grow up! I bet I'm happier in my job than most of you are!
I've been a 'groom' all my working life. It's not an offensive term, it's the description of the job.
I can assure you that I am NOT on minimum wage, far from it, and I get better accomodation than most people could afford! Do you think every groom lives in a caravan and gets NMW? Pah! I can assure you they don't!
I find it ridiculous that people get so wound up about people being able to afford their own staff, are you seriously telling me that if you were rich enough to afford a housekeeper/groom/gardener that you wouldn't??
A lot of you clearly don't understand whats its like being strapped for cash and on the lower end of the wage scale, £10 an hour is actually pretty good.

OP, I think what you're offering is fine :)
 
nikkiportia said:
This thread makes me a little sad TBH.
The OP has some work, a girl would like to do it. She's offering a fair wage, and thats that.

But what on earth is wrong with being a groom eh?
The way you guys talk about it, it would appear we are all the scum of the earth, and it's the most pitiful job you can get. Grow up! I bet I'm happier in my job than most of you are!
I've been a 'groom' all my working life. It's not an offensive term, it's the description of the job.
I can assure you that I am NOT on minimum wage, far from it, and I get better accomodation than most people could afford! Do you think every groom lives in a caravan and gets NMW? Pah! I can assure you they don't!
I find it ridiculous that people get so wound up about people being able to afford their own staff, are you seriously telling me that if you were rich enough to afford a housekeeper/groom/gardener that you wouldn't??
A lot of you clearly don't understand whats its like being strapped for cash and on the lower end of the wage scale, £10 an hour is actually pretty good.

OP, I think what you're offering is fine :)
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aw thank you nikkiportia. this thread has absolutely amazed me.ive just looked at th OP to see what all the fuss was about and i still think i asked a perfectly reasonable question and made it clear that i think the girl is capable hardworking and professional and can make all our lives better! for the record my daughter cleans her own tack and in the holidays and weekends she mucks out - properly - 3 ponies on straw. in my house if you dont muck out you dont ride! i would love to employ this girl full time and give her a cottage on the estate - wouldnt we all - but its not an option! thank you everyone who gave sane and constructive advice. xx
 
I've just read this whole thread, and S_A, you really have a chip on your shoulder, you have been horribly rude and incredibly defensive, either you had a very hard time as a groom, or you feel very hard done by, either way it isn't a nice colour, and I agree with Seth.
 
nokia said:
Omg what's all this # my groom # we are in 2010 they are not your groom they are an employee who does set tasks for an hourly rate. Lady footballers wife do u not think you should be asking an employment lawyer what ur obligations are legaly and how much you should be paying the staff member, not asking people on here

Talk about being condisending, and I find the term groom offensive
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:rolleyes: Why on earth do you find the term "Groom" offensive? Is "Cleaner" also offesive to you? Both are correct job titles for specific paid employment. Maybe you would prefer the term "Equine management facilitator"? would that make the job better? how would it? both still require daily shovelling of s**t.
On the census return when asked my occupation I put "housewife". Some people dont like that ,strangely. MY husband puts " HGV driver " yet another working class occupation,but we dont find it offesive in anyway to be called a Lorry Driver or Housewife. ASs for the term "My Groom" whats wrong with that? I say "My vet and my farrier, so whats wrong with my groom ?"
 
RunToEarth said:
I've just read this whole thread, and S_A, you really have a chip on your shoulder, you have been horribly rude and incredibly defensive, either you had a very hard time as a groom, or you feel very hard done by, either way it isn't a nice colour, and I agree with Seth.
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Actually, RTE, I had a fine time as a groom, and don't particularly have a chip on my shoulder, however, I was rather rude last night, as I was particularly unwell and had decided to risk a glass of wine on top of medication.

I have apologised both publicly and privately for my rudeness.

Now, what's your excuse? :D
 
footballerswife said:
aw thank you nikkiportia. this thread has absolutely amazed me.ive just looked at th OP to see what all the fuss was about and i still think i asked a perfectly reasonable question and made it clear that i think the girl is capable hardworking and professional and can make all our lives better! for the record my daughter cleans her own tack and in the holidays and weekends she mucks out - properly - 3 ponies on straw. in my house if you dont muck out you dont ride! i would love to employ this girl full time and give her a cottage on the estate - wouldnt we all - but its not an option! thank you everyone who gave sane and constructive advice. xx
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If you have a good groom, look after them, they are worth their weight in gold. You did ask a perfectly reasonable question and it was hijacked, Good luck with your girl (am i allowed to call her that:D)
 
skewbald_again said:
Actually, RTE, I had a fine time as a groom, and don't particularly have a chip on my shoulder, however, I was rather rude last night, as I was particularly unwell and had decided to risk a glass of wine on top of medication.

I have apologised both publicly and privately for my rudeness.

Now, what's your excuse? :D
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I read all this thread and was about to add my horrified/indignant response, but having just seen this, s_a, may I say congratulations on being big enough to apologise:) (and I'll apologise if that sounds at all patronising, especially as I employ "grooms" too:p).

Perhaps laptop manufacturers should design a breath-test facility to stop us from posting whilst under the influence? ;)
 
Baydale said:
I read all this thread and was about to add my horrified/indignant response, but having just seen this, s_a, may I say congratulations on being big enough to apologise:) (and I'll apologise if that sounds at all patronising, especially as I employ "grooms" too:p).

Perhaps laptop manufacturers should design a breath-test facility to stop us from posting whilst under the influence? ;)
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Thank you, and can I say, you know on the Benylin bottle where it says don't drink alcohol? That's a really good tip.
 
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