Would you pay to have your tack cleaned?

[E_Lister]

I, personally, love cleaning tack. I am quite a stressy person who finds it difficult to switch off and cleaning tack is a super relaxant for me through clearing my mind. (Odd as all that sounds!)

However I think I am the only person in the local horsey community who actually enjoys cleaning tack and there are one of two that maybe do it once every year if they are feeling that way inclined.

It got me thinking. I am going to uni next year and think that although I will enjoy it, it might be stressful and money will be tight. I might try kill two birds with one stone and advertise to clean tack for people for a (smallish) price.

Obviously, this is a half baked scheme and would need thinking through a lot, including practicalities, whether or not I would have time, whether the halls would appreciate the smell of leather and tack all the time etc.

But first step is seeing if this is a viable option. Would you pay for your tack to be cleaned? And if so, how much?

 

[phoebeast]

possibly a riding school or something would be interested? charge about £7 an hour!

 

[Jay89]

I would be so tempted (sp) to get it cleaned as I hate it!! ButI would not want to pay lots max probably about £6.

 

[ngrace]

i probably wouldnt let someone take my tack away to be honest, and i wouldnt pay for them to because i dont really mind doing it! but good luck

 

[brushingboots]

i know someone who does it
£1.50 for a bridel
£1 for a saddle

then a flat rate of £3 for both bridle and saddle inc. washing numnah

 

[E_Lister]

I was thinking of putting up one advert at a time, one at a livery yard, one at a riding school, one at a tack shop etc. And my main worry would be getting the stuff to clean it cheaply. (Buying in bulk would work best I guess... but where do you put 5L of natsfoot in student accomodation?

 

[miss_bird]

I would happily pay someone, but instead of an hourly rate, maybe charge a set price for saddle, leathers, bridle, double bridle and so on

 

[mtj]

I would happily pay someone to clean tack. I suppose for immaculate bridle/saddle/girth I would be happy to pay up to £10.

Have a strange confession - i don't consider ironing a problem if there is suitable dross on tv in the background.

 

[WandaMare]

Yes please, ahh I would love someone to offer to clean my tack. I would pay 10 pounds ish and have it done fortnightly, what a great idea

 

[skewby]

I have done, gladly. Paid £5 for a mate to clean double bridle and breastplate, was going hunting and stressed about getting everything done in time with working full time.

I love cleaning my tack, but unfortunately nowhere really suitable to do it at yard or at home, which adds to the stress! Horse is out during the day so takes an age to get him clean. Getting home from work at 6pm didn't leave me much time for everything. And I am obsessive and he, I and all tack and clothes/equipment have to be immaculate. I love, love love getting on him knowing we both look our absolute best. It makes getting covered in mud even more fun!

Also bridle is X full, so more of it!!!

 

[ngrace]

skewby i found a bridle hanger in the cupboard and a saddle thingy by the fridge

 

[HayleyandBob]

I wouldnt as i like to clean my tack (lightly) after every ride so i couldnt afford to pay somebody to do it !
I do know people who would though!

 

[Katie__Connie]

I wouldn't personally because I really like doing it.. especially the saddle

 

[somethingorother]

Ur a clever one OP! I wish i had thought of that. I love cleaning tack, like you it's my switch off time and i'm obsessive about getting it really suple and super clean and shiny. I probably wouldn't have time now though as i'm in my final year.

Although i would NOT want my tack being kept in halls. No way, especially after living in them. And i imagine people might be pretty fussy about someone taking away their tack for as little as a tenner unless it was someone you knew. I know i would. But i'm a cynic.

 

[spaglucy]

i would, definatly before hunting as always have a million things to do and i hate cleaning my tack! would be happy to pay up to about £10

 

[E_Lister]

[ QUOTE ]
Ur a clever one OP! I wish i had thought of that.

[/ QUOTE ]

He he I know, I too thought it would be a great idea!

[ QUOTE ]
Although i would NOT want my tack being kept in halls. No way, especially after living in them.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes this would be an issue and would be open to ideas for people as to solutions?

[ QUOTE ]
And i imagine people might be pretty fussy about someone taking away their tack for as little as a tenner unless it was someone you knew. I know i would. But i'm a cynic.

[/ QUOTE ]

True. I would have to build up a policy on that or something.

 

[catshark88]

I def. would. Agree with others that a rate by type of item would work best. I would want it done at my yard though for security (unless I knew the person doing it very well).

 

[LadyRascasse]

a lady down my last yard used to do that she charged £5 a set (saddle and bridle) or £10 for the weekend (show prep)

 

[FanyDuChamp]

Yes please! I would def. pay, most boring to do with horses.

 

[Donkeymad]

No, even with 8 of them, including leather harnesses and saddles etc.

 

[BentleyBelly]

Would you have transport?! You could be a mobile tack cleaner...drive to a couple of places at a time to clean there so they can have it straight back...would that get over the insurance and taking stuff into halls?! I would pay you right now to clean my bridle...but then it might be the dirt that is holding it together! Great idea, good luck x

 

[yeeharider]

oheer I love the satisfaction of cleaning tack imagine the scene nice warm lounge 3 litres of wine 40 sets of tack .WTF .oheer done. send it all my way and I will clean it!!!!!!!!

 

[Quadro]

i would want some sort of proof that the tack would come back................................

 

[E_Lister]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I will keep everything in mind when I go to uni and if I decide to do this!

From what has been said, most people would not be happy to let their tack go away into the hands of a stranger, but if it was someone they trusted they might consider it. However into any type of Uni halls would be a no no.

If that was the case my best bet might be to have a year when I do a mobile tack cleaning service kind of thing... the logistics of something like this would be difficult as paying for my transport would up the cost of having the tack cleaned, and, although in summer I would happily sit cleaning tack and watching the world go by, in winter it would be far less romantic and cold and unpleasant!

As I progressed through Uni (and, hopefully, moved out of the halls into smaller and more private accomodation but with more personal space) I could then consider asking if I could take the tack home if I could garantee it's safety for my older, more established customers.

Does that sound more plausible?

 

[mtj]

Realistically, you do need to factor in liability insurance costs.

Given that 2K saddles are no longer rare, you would definitely need to have cover. Whilst, you would undoubtedly be very careful with the tack, it would be a vulnerable situation if the saddle was found to have a damaged tree/badly scratched etc. There is also the risk of tack being stolen whilst in your care.

Sorry to be a kill joy, but I think doing the tack on site would be the least hassle.

On a more positive note, student union bars often offer the best wages in uni. Get yourself on the waiting list.