Yard manager...wages??

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Aleka81

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Quick question....

I'm off for an interview on Friday afternoon at a yard local to me. They have pretty much asked me to tell them how much I want to earn.
The question is I'm a Trainee Accountant at the moment and haven't done full time work with horses for quite a while so I am totally out of touch with wages.

There are 7 horses in total. All will be hunting this year. I will be working 5 days a week. All horses need riding 3 times a week and other exercise for two other days (obviously this will change if they have been hunting!)

I will have another groom to cover my time off. All horses are 16.3hh plus. One is 5 and they want it to event next year so it needs schooling.

What is reasonable to ask wages wise??
 
At the present time Minimum Wage for 18-21yr olds is £4.60 p.h. & 22yrs & over is £5.52. This will rise to £4.77 & £5.73 from 1st October 2008, I would suggest that you are worth more than the minimum wage. Grooms appear to be paid minimum wage so with the added responsibilities you will have you should get considerably more.

You need to find out the hours you are expected to work, you will need to be riding at least 4 horses a day to get all 7 exercised 3 times a week. I would also check up on insurance the yard has. Consider how much do you need to live on & you can base your salary request on that. Good Luck
 
for a yard manager position i would expect £12k to £20K plus , depending on your qualifications/capeabilities , obviously the bigger the yard & more responsibility you have the more the expected salary

believe me if you are training to become a qualified accountant , eg ICAEW etc , i'd stick with that , its far more lucrative
wink.gif
 
Sorry, but you're a trainee accountant at the mo and you're looking to give it up to work with horses?!
Even if you hate what you are doing, it's a shame to waste the effort you've put in so far.
I was all set on a career with horses but seeing the standard of living of some really experienced and talented yard managers when I was on college placements convinced me otherwise. It's really hard to earn enough to run a car, let alone consider getting on the housing ladder.
Surely you could finish your accountancy course and enjoy horses at the same time, and when you are qualified have your own horses to hunt or compete?
If you're worried about being 'chained to a desk' maybe you could offer a freelance book keeping service for small businesses etc - I know there's a lot of demand for this where I live.
OK, I know for some people the rewards of being with horses 24/7 outweigh the disadvantages, but if you have started training as an accountant do you really feel like this...
Apologies if I seem out of line..
 
7 horses sole charge? apart from groom cover for your day off?
Sounds like a very busy postion if they want plaiting and turnout for huntimg, plus being there when they return on Saturday nights. cleaning the tack, etc, after mucking out 7 and execising the others.
I'd think of that more as Sole Charge Groom than Yard Manager as no staff supervision, client liasion, etc, just hands on work.
Expect less than an accountant would earn, possibly a pound an hour over minimum wage, assuming no livery for own horse or accomodation.
Also ask re holidays, terms and conditions,
 
I agree with Ironhorse, i owned my own horse for over 20years and had 3 jobs at one time to be able to keep them. It is extremely hard work and very little gratitude in return. I know many people who work with horses and love every minute of it but they have no other profession, i would think long & hard before you give up your accountancy course. In a way you would be giving up your safety net.

All the luck in the world for your new job and i hope it is financialy rewarding for you.
smile.gif
 
When I worked at a hunt yard, 5 years ago now, I worked 5.5 days over 7, but they'd be long days, especially cubbing lol

I'd muck out 8 beds per day, groom all 8, ride and lead at least twice, usually three times, clean tack, clean the horse walker, make feeds, skip out, get them ready for hunting and be ready for their return, general yard duties such as sweeping, rug washing, tidying the muckheap etc etc Clean out the lorry......

I got £220.00 topline plus accomadation.

The head Groom, who did nothing but organise my days and smoke and drink coffee got almosgt £400 p/w plus a cottage.
 
Thanks for all your replies guys.
I know what your all saying. But my job has made me so miserable. To the point where I've been signed off sick for 3 weeks and prescribed anti depressants (I haven't taken these yet! I want to get over this on my own if I can)
I've been working in accounts for 9 years and I'm QBE. I figure I could work for myself and do small business accounts but I could always fall back on that later on.
I don't plan on giving up my studies anyway. I still plan on qualifying.
Are most grooms paid by the hour now then?
Back in the day I was always paid weekly
wink.gif

I'm quite looking forward to the job "informal chat" tomorrow.
 
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