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I agree with Willow Girl - charge based on what you see and discuss when you get there. I would never hire someone based simply on their rates, I want to interview them regarding my horses and how to properly turn-out, whether they know how to blanket, wrap, etc. Even cleaning stalls is an ART form here, I have one mare that gets hock sores if underbedded so she gets extra bedding. Stalls here are cleaned twice daily, waterers and feed buckets are rinsed daily. Fly spray every two-three days, etc.
I think if you are going to fool with equines of the sort that people will make it worth your while to do, you should not charge a "flat rate" but charge according to what is needed and how long you estimate you can do the job.
Also, can you handle young stock which may or may not want to lead that day if having to be put in or out of the barn? What about stallions? What about broodies and babies?
One way to get that type of experience is to work for a breeding farm or a large training stable and then you can use them as a reference. Otherwise, I hate to say it, but horse folks are darned "funny" about their horses.
BTW - I pay 30.00 a day to feed and turnout but it's my daughter and I trained her - lol...she does two in the barn and one in the paddock - feed, turnout, clean stalls, wash water and feed buckets in barn (have to turn the auto waterer off), replace bedding if needed, and then feed the outside horse/mule, check hooves, spray with flyspray and check outside waterer. Give hay to all outside. In summer she has to bring two in the barn in the morning and at night turn out, reverse that in the winter. Oh and most horse folks I know will want you to come over a day or two before hand and go over the entire routine with you, then have you come back that same day (afternoon) and watch you do it. We also call forty gazillion times a day until we know we can trust the person caretaking..lol..hope you have unlimited cell phone minutes.
She grooms my walker and cleans all hooves once a day.
But if I were paying an outside source, the cost would be more like 30.00 per day per animal. I have paid a hundred a day for 3 horses, 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 2 geese. Dogs are outside dogs, cats are outside cats, geese were rather well behaved and only fed once per day, water filled once per day. Dogs fed twice daily, cats once a day (otherwise they won't hunt). I made up in advance each horse's feed packet with their name on it for morning and evening feed (no one could remember all the stuff that goes into one and who gets what), so all caretaker has to do is find the right packet, dump in bucket and put empty gallon bag into a trash bag for reuse later.
Just some ideas as every horse person has their own way of doing things, and can get downright fussy if they know Pookie didn't get their hoof supplement or loose minerals or whatever. I checked your website, it's nice, but if you want to do horses of the sort that will pay enough to make it worthwhile, you need to include how many years of experience, whether you have show horse experience, etc. and provide checkable references. I have one horse here that is insured, if you fool with insured stock, it is best to have basic veterinary skills as well and be familiar with colic, choke, cuts/wound care in case one of those spazz cases happen so you know when to call the vet. Include any vet tech experience or groom experience.
And never, ever agree to exercise someone's horse for them - I would just tell them that is not covered by your insurance as one wrong step can result in a suspensory and a suit (very expensive and hard to heal and takes MONTHS and many ultrasounds and stall rest..ask me how I know this!) so I would not agree to do that. Of course if someone knows you can ride, you may be asked - but for the sake of your business, I would just say no and tell them that you only provide feed and grooming services.
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Last edited by sidepasser; 07/21/09 at 07:38 PM.
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