What do youpay/would you expect to be paid to do horses weekdays?

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H.K.D

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As per the title.

I have never paid anyone to do my horses, as I have always had the help of family or done it myself. However a new career means I will be living away for 4 week periods Monday-Friday and although my mother and some friends are willing to help, I feel I want someone else so they aren't left feeling tired!

I have three small horses!

The daily tasks would be:

-Feed
-Change rug
-Turnout
-Muck out (deep littered so takes me 5/10 mins a stable)
-Fill water buckets and haynets
-Poo pick field (small paddock, only in during day so 1 wheelbarrow)

What would you suggest I offer as pay per day or for the whole week (Monday-Friday) and would you pay per hour or just a set pay for morning? Or ask them to bring in in the evening too and do a set daily rate?

I reckon it will take just over an hour to an hour and a half to do all this. The stables are by the field, the ponies easy, stables tidy and everything close by oh and all three are easily led out together.

Any suggestions/advice would be great. This is not an advert I just want to know I am being fair in what I pay someone and not being ripped off also! I will time this myself soon (currently they are not in during the night!)

Riding is offered to them for free if they wish during winter. In the summer I will pay someone to exercise all 3 (at the same time as can be ridden and lead)
 
H.K.D said:
As per the title.

I have never paid anyone to do my horses, as I have always had the help of family or done it myself. However a new career means I will be living away for 4 week periods Monday-Friday and although my mother and some friends are willing to help, I feel I want someone else so they aren't left feeling tired!

I have three small horses!

The daily tasks would be:

-Feed
-Change rug
-Turnout
-Muck out (deep littered so takes me 5/10 mins a stable)
-Fill water buckets and haynets
-Poo pick field (small paddock, only in during day so 1 wheelbarrow)

What would you suggest I offer as pay per day or for the whole week (Monday-Friday) and would you pay per hour or just a set pay for morning? Or ask them to bring in in the evening too and do a set daily rate?

I reckon it will take just over an hour to an hour and a half to do all this. The stables are by the field, the ponies easy, stables tidy and everything close by oh and all three are easily led out together.

Any suggestions/advice would be great. This is not an advert I just want to know I am being fair in what I pay someone and not being ripped off also! I will time this myself soon (currently they are not in during the night!)

Riding is offered to them for free if they wish during winter. In the summer I will pay someone to exercise all 3 (at the same time as can be ridden and lead)
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I wouldn't base this on how fast you are able to do it yourself - someone might do a very good job but take a little longer. I would rather have this than someone do a rushed job because I am only paying them for an hour of their time. I don't think it would be unreasonable to pay for two hours work here.

It would also depend on how far they are travelling. If it is someone in the village then I wouldn't expect to pay travelling costs or for their travelling time. If the person is having to drive 20 minutes each way then they will need to be paid more to make it worth their while.

Also, just because you are happy to lead all three and save time it doesn't mean that the other person should be. I am particularly wary of leading more than one horse. I just don't do it anymore. Too many close calls for my liking.

So, if I were you. I would be prepared to pay a minimum of £75 a week for this service. If it were to include evening bring in then £95. You are effectively getting full livery (minus bedding and hay) for less that £100 per week for three animals. As cheap as you will find I would imagine!

I could have it completely wrong but as it works out about £30 a horse I think that is very fair..... I would be very, very happy to pay someone £30 a week to look after my horse..... anyone in Bedford PM me if you fancy it :)
 
The yard I work weekends at pay me £10 per hour but with a minimum amount of a tenner, some evenings we can be done really quickly but I usually get £15 still. Am happy with that!
 
For one horse I pay £2 for turn out (it's a fair walk!), £2 for bring in and pick out feet, and £5 for a muck out. So for your three you would be paying £27 for a whole day. We don't change the rugs most days.

However, this is for services on a yard where there are others to do and the groom is also on livery. Depending on where you are, you might find it's not worth people's while to travel to you for 1 or 2 hours work, or coming twice a day (might be better to get them to do one end of the day to give your mum and friends a break).
 
I think this one and a half to two hours work daily I have two self employed grooms who spilt the work on my yard I pay £9 per hour plus extra for travel if they have to return for a short time in the evening.
You can't expect someone you are paying to ride and lead two horses at the same time especially when you are not there that's just not on.
My girls do ride and lead one horse but I am usually riding as well.
You may get someone cheaper if they don't have riding skills , but with grooms you get what you pay for.
 
Based on recent help I have had with mine over the summer I would expect to pay approx. £12 an hour plus an allowance for travel if more than a few miles.
 
I would charge £20 per day to do that

i think its a fair price but I would not ride 1 and lead 2 unless I was a full time insured employee

and I would not ride for free, in your shoes i would not offer that either as I would not want to lose the person that looked after the horses if I did not agree with something they did when riding
 
To be honest I don't think many grooms/yard workers would be that thrilled by the opportunity to ride yours for free when they could more than likely find people to pay them to ride.....

I also don't know a single person who is happy to ride one and lead two....
 
I'd probably say £25 per day to do that. Any less and it probably wouldn't be worth someone's time - and it's still cheaper than you'd pay per horse for full livery.
 
Where abouts are you H.K.D? I'm in the North West and pay £7 per hour and I'm very happy with the service I get. In the past I've paid a daily rate (2 visits and all jobs done, turnout etc) and paid £8-£10 per day for one horse :-)
 
Thank you all for your replies.

I have no experience in employing someone and have gone on what certain people have suggested they are paid locally regarding what I suggested above. But it is also very useful to get feedback.

They are polo ponies and therefore impeccably mannered in the sense of bringing in three and turning out. With regards to riding, they do not have to ride at all and I would prefer they didn't during the winter, I haven't offered this and won't now after advice given.

With regards to the riding and leading when it comes to it, I already have someone lined up with polo experience who is happy to do this so this needn't be an issue. I agree it is an unfair request with most horses, but polo ponies again are very well behaved. This will be paid during polo months as it is necessary that they are kept fit.

I have had 20 replies in 24 hrs from my advert so will begin to sift through them all. Thanks again for the advice.
 
I believe you are now morally obliged to tell us how much you will be paying.... :) just because I am nosey and may well advertise for someone myself.
 
H.K.D said:
Thank you all for your replies.

I have no experience in employing someone and have gone on what certain people have suggested they are paid locally regarding what I suggested above. But it is also very useful to get feedback.

They are polo ponies and therefore impeccably mannered in the sense of bringing in three and turning out. With regards to riding, they do not have to ride at all and I would prefer they didn't during the winter, I haven't offered this and won't now after advice given.

With regards to the riding and leading when it comes to it, I already have someone lined up with polo experience who is happy to do this so this needn't be an issue. I agree it is an unfair request with most horses, but polo ponies again are very well behaved. This will be paid during polo months as it is necessary that they are kept fit.

I have had 20 replies in 24 hrs from my advert so will begin to sift through them all. Thanks again for the advice.
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Also suggest that you ensure that you are covered insurance wise. Either by your own cover, or make sure that your employee has cover.:)
 
Many thanks. They won't definitely have to ride and lead. But if they were happy to and capable of then this would help.

I've been a polo groom and led some horrible annoying ponies. And have to say with mine I'm fortunate enough you don't even notice they're there they are so quiet!

All riders will be insured. Thanks
 
We used to have a girl do similar. We paid £12/hr and for two big horses and two small ponies it was about an hour and a half's work, so £18/day. She was a freelance groom, so also had insurance etc, which is important.

I would rather pay £12 to someone I trusted than £8 to someone inexperienced with no insurance...
 
Billie1007 said:
I also don't know a single person who is happy to ride one and lead two....
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Well I would, I was brought up doing it and I'm sure there are others too.:D

FWIW, I believe OP was talking about leading the 3 out to the field together, not the exercising.

OP, if I was to do it and you were local to me, I'd probably want £25 - 30 a day depending on whether I had to go back at night to bring them in too. I do this for someone regularly and do all the jobs in the morning so I only have to fetch in and feed at night. I'd want more if I was travelling further of course.
 
Maesfen said:
Well I would, I was brought up doing it and I'm sure there are others too.:D

FWIW, I believe OP was talking about leading the 3 out to the field together, not the exercising.

OP, if I was to do it and you were local to me, I'd probably want £25 - 30 a day depending on whether I had to go back at night to bring them in too. I do this for someone regularly and do all the jobs in the morning so I only have to fetch in and feed at night. I'd want more if I was travelling further of course.
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OP was talking about riding and leading as clarified in later posts. I wouldn't do either but then I have less experience and courage than many people here.

I also said I didn't know anyone who would do it but didn't say that nobody would :)

I would love to have the experience to do this. I also think that people who do are very brave :o I can only imagine the disaster I would manage to get myself in to.
 
H.K.D said:
I've been a polo groom and led some horrible annoying ponies. And have to say with mine I'm fortunate enough you don't even notice they're there they are so quiet!
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The set i was looking after were all Hi Goal nutters!! What i would have given for some of the nice quiet ones! Still i did my 6 months and escaped with my life...barely...
 
Hourly rate of £10 per hour which would be same for riding/leading out etc as well as yard duties.

I don't think riding 'for free' would appeal imo. Why would they ride for free in the summer but be paid for doing it in the winter?

£75 a week plus riding time minimum would be my guess and is what I've paid in the past.
 
I pay my girl £.7.50 an hour, she does one hour each weekend morning.
In the summer she will feed, change rugs and poo pick (out 24/7), in winter change rugs, turnout, feed, muckout. It takes me 40mins in winter so I allow her an hour. I often pay her for 2hours as she often does other jobs for me e.g. levelling arena etc.
So helpful to have the backup and let me go away for the weekend or even just to have a lie in!
 
You all pay quite well! I must be in the wrong area.

I have been keeping half an eye open for yard type jobs and the one I saw advertised today asked for someone to take sole charge of a stable (and doing all feeding, mucking out, turnout) of eight horses, including mares, foals, and competition horses, 6 days per week, all for a whopping minimum wage.

I don't think so.
 
i pay £5 a day for change of rug, turnout, muck out, haynets, feed, water, and bring in with feet picked out and rugs changed back!

no poo picking of the field (usually have to catch up when i get back from hols)
 
I pay my groom £8 per hour, and there is always a minimum of 2hrs work a day...normally more if i need extras doing...holding for farrier, working more than just the usual 2, tack cleaning etc...She might not be the fastest worker in the world but she does a brilliant job and i can trust that everything will be done how i like it, and the horses are looked after incredibly well!
 
Caol Ila said:
You all pay quite well! I must be in the wrong area.

I have been keeping half an eye open for yard type jobs and the one I saw advertised today asked for someone to take sole charge of a stable (and doing all feeding, mucking out, turnout) of eight horses, including mares, foals, and competition horses, 6 days per week, all for a whopping minimum wage.

I don't think so.
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This is kind of what I was thinking though... Why is there such a large diference in pay between working for a couple of hours a day for a private owner and working on a big yard e.g. riding school or livery yard. I work/have worked at yards 8 - 6, for 5/6 days a week and get paid £100 per week. Yet you're all talking about paying almost this for 2 hours 5 days a week... I've had to pay these sorts of rates too when paying someone to look after mine, so I know you are talking realistic prices... But it just seems weird...
 
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