How much would you charge for working these amount of horses?

Question

I'm getting asked to work 2-3 horses a day  about 4-5 days a week (give or take), rotating out from 7-10 horses (rotate out so each horse is worked every other day or so). I'm also getting asked to groom, and afternoon feed on some days for these horses as well. There are 12 on the property but a few are retired. I may work more than that, but that is the least amount. I'm wondering what I would be asking to be paid.

My reason for wondering is because the girl is wanting me to bring my horse out for completely free. She wants to also provide feed and hay for her as well. She has a nice barn and facilities so I am very willing to take her up on the offer. In return for working at the barn.

? · Answer

Work out the specifics and prices such in writing. Id want my horse fed for all that grooming, You may well be so busy you never get your own horse done or ridden.  fix a schedule by the day of week who and what gets what services. That way there is quantifiable work schedule for you.
Good luck. . .many horse people have crazy expectations so keep her pinned down in writing. Especially if you are working for a workaholic.(alcoholic) they abuse themselves and think nothing about abusing hired workers.
be careful of places that have everything memorized, the memorizer often changes things and effective communications is lacking. Stall and feed cards are important for continuity of care for the horses.

Be certain about the housing and use of  your horse, I worked at a place where the main trainer changed and they put my horse in with the lesson string On my day off without letting me know.

Keep a small notebook in your pocket keep track of what you did and your hours. In case you ever need to go to labor standards about getting paid that will make or break your case. be certain they are paying industrial insurance on you should you be injured at work.

Elijah M · Answer

Generally (having worked those jobs and hired people for those jobs) in those type of "stable hand" jobs you just get minimum wage.

$:
- If she is wanting to have your mare board there in exchange for your work, then the minimum wage job would normally take off of the boarding price
- or the work is done no matter the actual time/price exchange in turn for free board (you are doing all the work to have free board no matter the amount of time that it takes you)

I don't know exactly what your "work the horses" or "taking care of them" includes..
But I can tell you:
- working at a show stable(driving/cart, not riding/in saddle), working/taking care of 30-37 horses everyday took about 5 hours max
- that included blanketing/unblanketing
- lunging and working the horses (to make it more efficient I found pairs/groups of horses that could work together)
- grooming
- tacking/untacking (being very careful, these driving harnesses are several thousand dollars each!)
- turn in/turn out
- feeding very specific diets
- they literally had me weigh each horses amount of hay
- each horse got grain and supplements (but I had all the horses feed memorized after about 4-5 days of preparing it)
- watering and cleaning buckets and pasture troughs
They had someone else who did stall cleaning

Good luck!

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How much would you charge for working these amount of horses?

2 Answers