What would you think - re grooms...

Honey08

Honey08

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I've had a few freelancers over the years, still have one on Sundays at the moment. Hubby about to have an op and I work away, so when I heard of someone advertising freelance I got in touch. Arranged for them to come the next morning, nobody turned up, had a message on FB about six hours later saying they hadn't come due to the snow (first day of snow), but would come the following morning. Again they didn't turn up, sending another message at 9pm that they would try and come the next day. I was away the following day, so said we'd rearrange the following week. This happened in summer too, someone who was going to be paid to ride my horse never turned up twice! If I hadn't had previous good grooms that I get on well with I would think it was me!

What do you think? Would you give this person another chance? Difficult as I know them in the local horsey world. It does bother me that I could be many miles away at work and not know if someone has turned up or not. I didn't ring either of these people to see where they were, as I don't particularly want someone you have to chase. I can quite understand people being late or struggling in the snow, but a phonecall wouldn't go amiss..

Good freelancers are like rocking horse doodoo!
 
What do you think? Would you give this person another chance?
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Good grief no. They'd have been 'sacked' after the first day of not turning up and not ringing you at 7.00am to tell you the snow was too bad for them to get to you.

You need your own groom, rather than a freelance - someone who'll have some loyalty to you, the job and the horses.
 
amymay said:
Good grief no. They'd have been 'sacked' after the first day of not turning up and not ringing you at 7.00am to tell you the snow was too bad for them to get to you.

You need your own groom, rather than a freelance - someone who'll have some loyalty to you, the job and the horses.
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I know, the irony is, it was more for her, she is a friend who has lost her job and is now freelancing to make money. Its just awkward that I know her.

I don't think we have enough work for a proper groom. There are only two horses, and I am off a lot, so its only really a couple of days a week. And its really to cover while hubby is recovering from his op - otherwise we get by, although haven't had my mare event fit since we had a groom/rider! We used to have a wonderful freelance girl who covered when I was away. It worked very well for two years, but she was old school, and wouldn't dream of letting you down.. I like to think we were good back. She ended up getting a full time horsey job.

I think, if I can't get time off, it may be better just sending the horses to my friend on full livery for a week or two.
 
That's appalling. My sister is a freelance groom, and has 7 'regulars' and then another part time lot on top of that. She's in the middle of rural Norfolk, which was hit by the snow really hard, and yet saw to every single horse without canceling. She's 18, and drives a tiny Citreon Saxo... If she can keep her part going, I'm pretty sure anyone can.
 
i wouldnt.
understand the 1st time (if I got an early phone call, the snow wasnt a surprise ws it)
I had someone arrange and agree to exercise mine a couple of years ago. she kept re arranging etc and I kept giving it a go. then I went away and he was in for the winter (moved since!) she didnt go and exercise him and didnt tell me (so I didnt have any chance to call someone else to do it) he ended up in his stable all weekend:mad: (had paid for feed, muck out etc so that was ok thank god)
the signs were there, so I'd say no!
 
First time,maybe as if she didn't have four wheel drive,it may have been Im possible for her. Second time,No way. Need one with four wheel drive!
Good reliable freelancers seem to be in short supply. I recently needed one,and she turned up fine,the promised contract never materialised,and when she did a trial,couldn't cope with one of ours,not even sure why as no one else has ever had an issue! She seemed genuinely scared of said Horse!
To my mind,a freelance groom shoud be Able to handle any equine,as long as it has manners and ours do!
 
I can just about understand her not making the appointment due to the snow (although LauraWheeler was posting on here the other day about the 3 hour round trip she did on foot to check on her employer's horses!!!), but there is no excuse for not calling you first thing, explaining and apologising. I am afraid she sounds irresponsible which would be a huge problem if you were actually relying on her to do the horses.
 
No way in hell would I trust them to turn up when I was at work etc.
I was looking for part loaners and a few re-arranged. After the second time of re-arranging and no one turning up I started ignoring their contact attempts. If they can't show common courtesy then neither can I.
Don't do it, this will stick in your head and you'll worry in the back of your mind when you aren't around.
 
I wouldn't give them a second chance - im a free lance groom and if i did that to someone - which i wouldntt without a phone call i wouldn't be expecting amother chance! :)
 
Honey08 said:
I've had a few freelancers over the years, still have one on Sundays at the moment. Hubby about to have an op and I work away, so when I heard of someone advertising freelance I got in touch. Arranged for them to come the next morning, nobody turned up, had a message on FB about six hours later saying they hadn't come due to the snow (first day of snow), but would come the following morning. Again they didn't turn up, sending another message at 9pm that they would try and come the next day. I was away the following day, so said we'd rearrange the following week. This happened in summer too, someone who was going to be paid to ride my horse never turned up twice! If I hadn't had previous good grooms that I get on well with I would think it was me!

What do you think? Would you give this person another chance? Difficult as I know them in the local horsey world. It does bother me that I could be many miles away at work and not know if someone has turned up or not. I didn't ring either of these people to see where they were, as I don't particularly want someone you have to chase. I can quite understand people being late or struggling in the snow, but a phonecall wouldn't go amiss..

Good freelancers are like rocking horse doodoo!
Click to expand...

I wouldn't be happy - my daughter is a freelance rider/groom and would never let her clients down
 
Absolutely not. Completely unforgiveable. I suspect she possibly doesn't want the work, underneath it all. Either way, I think this is a useful escape route for you as, given you know her, it may have been even more awkward if you'd gone further down the road of getting her involved in working for you.
 
I think that she has probably taken too much on, and doesn't realise, but needs the work/money. I think the snow probably made her morning longer than usual. We had ridden out together the day before and she had been really keen to do some hours for us.

The snow made our lane unpassable, but its literally a minute walk to us, and I think they have a 4x4. I don't mind plans changing in severe weather, its the lack of communication, as someone said!

I was just taken aback that two people have done this in the last six months now. I should go freelance - we seem to lack reliable people round here!
 
I would forgive for not turning up the first time as the snow came as a bit of a shock to everyone (doesn't it always!) - but I'd expect a phone call. But doing it twice & not getting in touch with you to let you know, I wouldn't give her another chance as I wouldn't be able to fully trust/rely on her x
 
Not excusable, I freelance and wouldn't dream of letting a client down, I've been known to walk the miles to and from everywhere when snow hit previously, at the end of the day I'm being paid by the client to do the job, can't just say sorry not today after promising to be there!
Maybe would of forgiven the first time, but only if you'd been notified before she was due to arrive at the very least!
 
I wouldn't give them a second chance, sorry.

Every time I've needed a freelance groom I've advertised on Yard & Groom, and been inundated with freelancers. Wish we could have employed at least 6 of them full time, they have all been stars.
 
Definitely wouldn't be giving any more chances, friend or no friend! If she was genuinely unable to get to you the first time due to heavy snow then fair's fair, but she should have let you know BEFORE the time you were supposed to meet, with a phone call rather than text or FB message. A second let-down with no phone call would be the nail in the coffin. The last thing you want when you're away is to be worrying about whether the horses are okay or whether they're still languishing in a field of mud, whether their rugs have been changed etc... and if you're hubby isn't going to be able to step in at the last minute due to his op it's going to be more hassle than it's worth. If they can go to livery with your friend you're all going to be so much less stressed!!
 
I agree, no help better than unreliable help. Send them on livery to your friend in this instance. You'll have enough to worry about with husband in hospital. I have a super freelance groom. Where abouts in NW are you?
 
No it is not the not turning up as sometimes people are unable to get to work but the not calling you to let you know so that you could change your arrangements.
 
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