Freelance Groom

[Peterpiperspepperpot]

I have changed my name for this but I'm an MN regular. I qualified as a BHSAI many years ago, and ran a yard/taught at riding school/freelanced. Not done any of it professionally for years but have always had a horse and occasionally helped people out. I did a stint of pony club teaching 5 yrs ago and did a few cpd days with them/bhs then.

I have recently been made redundant. I'm well into middle age but I'm fit and have no trouble spending a morning poo picking and mucking out.

I'm wondering if those of you with horses would consider someone like me as a freelance groom on an ad hoc basis. The adverts I've seen from freelancers are all about all the things they offer from riding and lungeing to plaiting and clipping, going to shows etc. With smart websites and fb pages to match.

I was just thinking of helping out people with horses at home who find it difficult if they go on holiday or have commitments elsewhere. Just turning out,bringing in, mucking out etc. I will be insured and get DBS checks and references, and will probably go on the BHS coach or grooms register (still in the thinking about it stage)

Thoughts? Is there room for me? And if so how much would you expect to pay? Only planning part time, just for coin in my pocket and something to do instead of looking for a job at my age. Do the posh websites impress you or does the way I used to do it by word of mouth and a postcard in the tack shop suffice?

Thank you!

Good, RELIABLE grooms are always in demand. However, the easier you make it for people to find you, such as with a website, the better you'll do. Being online means I can find you when I need you, rather than just happening to be in the tack shop at a time when I know I need the help AND happening to see your ad.

As far as what I'd expect to pay it would depend on what I was needing. I regularly use freelancers for grooming/plaiting/clipping or for the day at a show, and they all have different rates or a day rate.

Thank you @gwenneh I will have to step into the 21st century, darn it! 😂
I appreciate your thoughts.

We use them here regularly. Ours charges £15 an hour

I'd certainly use you, clipping and lunging/schooling are nice to haves but someone competent and trustworthy who can be relied on to do everyday care properly for a reasonable fee and on a freelance/as and when basis for e.g. holiday cover is always going to be in demand, doesn't need to be all bells and whistles. I don't know about near you but I'd say it's the opposite problem our way - lots of very inexperienced 16 year olds advertising on social media that they'll offer the moon on a stick, schooling or sales livery, 'curing' problem horses and all sorts of other things they really aren't remotely qualified for. So a mature, responsible person that's realistic and limited in their offer and prepared to do the basics well really appeals to me!

In terms of advertising, you def don't need a fancy website, a card in the tack shop won't do any harm but I doubt you'll get much business that way. I think posts on local facebook groups are much more likely to get a response, that and word of mouth from existing clients? You could contact local DIY yards and see if they'd be happy for you to leave a card or flyers in their office or tack room or similar? You could also join pet sitting and house sitting websites and include that you are confident/experienced with horses and might get some business that way? I assume you'll have proper indemnity cover etc, make sure you include that in any advertising. And maybe set yourself up with a google business account so there's somewhere for people to post reviews as I would def be encouraged/reassured by that as an owner?

Oh yes and on how much to charge, depends on whether you'll be charging by the hour or by the job, and also if you include travel time? Most freelancers round here seem to charge by the job e.g. £5 to bring in, £2 to change rug, £1 to put on/take off boots etc which seems a bit nuts to me, surely they aren't really prepared to travel to a yard, walk to the field etc just to change one horse's rug for £2? I guess those prices are predicated on the idea they are doing multiple people horses's at the same yard on the same times regularly.

In your set-up where you are primarily looking at holiday cover etc I'd charge an hourly or even a half-daily rate, £15 p/hour is a reasonable starting point considering minimum wage is £10 and you need to account for travel expenses, insurance etc on top of that. Maybe go to £20 per hour if you will let people book 30 min slots, so £10 for a 30 min slot?

Thank you!

@maxelly thank you for your posts. They've given me a lot of confidence. And I know what you mean about young people offerering the moon on a stick 😂
I would consider myself reliable, hard working and a safe pair of hands. Probably not as speedy as I once was and I'm not about to train any bad mannered horses for the price of a bit of shit shovelling but it sounds like age and a bit of wisdom could work in my favour ( and that of my potential clients)

Thanks again for your sensible ideas. I appreciate them.

I use a freelance groom five days a week to turn out and do morning stables. She also poo picks in summer - we don't even attempt to when it's muddy in the winter! She charges £15 per hour. I think that is the going rate for a regular self-employed groom.

Don't forget you will need to get your own insurance.

If you could get to a local fun ride/hunt meet/etc, giving out cards or flyers could be a cheap way of getting your name out there but I agree with pp, some sort of online presence is vital. I don’t use Facebook but it’s great to get pictures on there if your work and let people know you’re still active etc. good luck. It’s something I’d like to do but I stopped at my B+!

Thank you @Hanlonsamazer I prefer not to use Facebook but it looks like I'll have to. Sensible really as it's true that it's quick and easy to find someone. I was hoping I know enough people to just go by word of mouth, but I've now looked on FB and there are some useful advertising groups plus one or two business pages.
My son is involved in branding and he said minimum is a Fb page with a link to a basic website with pretty pics and a bit of an about me, plus insurance/qualification/BHS membership info. He also said he'll help me :)
I shall spend some of tomorrow looking into it and then put some effort into being sure it's what I want to do and making sure I'm fit enough. Will aim to start in the new year. Not in a rush and fortunate not to be desperate for the money.

Thanks for all your help everyone

Ps @Hanlonsamazer I'm pretty certain you could do it with B+. Back in the day, B test was considered competent and workmanlike enough to work on a yard, and H and A for running one ( I failed A sadly, and never re-took it)

Sorry I missed your post. Thank you. And it is indeed getting colder!

Hmm. Food for thought! Currently battling some very difficult personal circumstances which have absolutely zapped my motivation. I find myself being the opposite of the person I knew. But this will pass. And I find so much joy in working with horses. Riding is ok but caring for them is deeply satisfying for me.

Rooting for you @Peterpiperspepperpot !

Thank you @Hanlonsamazer and the very same to you 💐 🦄

Ed to say I've been facing much the same, and agree that caring for horses is satisfying on a soul-deep level.

Hello! I kind of do this as part of my pet sitting business. I'm not insured for exercise but I do bring in, turn out, feed, muck out, poo pick and change rugs and fly masks etc. as needed.

Mostly I do cats and dogs but I do have one horse I look after regularly - I charge £10 for up to thirty minutes. He's elderly and lives out so I just need to poo pick and feed him, and basically check he's healthy and not lame or injured. He's very easy and only takes me about ten minutes but charging any less than £10 just isn't worth it when I factor in travel etc. on top.

I get all my business through social media and don't have a website.

My friend was charging £15 per hour, she does it through word of mouth. She may have increased this as she works for many wealthy people. There is a big demand for reliable staff around where I live. I think you will need to advise your car insurance you are using it for work in addition to personal insurance.

Thank you so much @margotrose and @TodayInahurry that is all very helpful. I'm pleased there is still demand. Not surprised really as horses are such a commitment when they are kept at home. Even on a diy yard there is usually someone to help out if necessary. I am getting very enthusiastic now so I'm glad i posted!

Yup reliable grooms are
Worth their weight in gold. If you had your HGV then it'd be your weight in diamonds.

I have my ponies at home but use freelance grooms when I go on holiday or work trips. I just want someone; honest, reliable, competent and insured. I pay £15 per hour. Riding is a bonus but not a necessity it's more about having someone I trust so I can have peace of mind whilst I'm away. I have a couple of grooms in my phone incase my go to girl is busy.

I'll stick to gold over diamonds 😂 Not a change I'm going for my HGV! I've only ever towed. Don't think I'll start now....though anything is possible I suppose. Thank you for your post 😊

@EverestMilton (what a great horse!) Thank you for your post too. It's good to know there is demand. I probably would ride if required once I knew the horses and owners but it's not something I'll advertise. I used to 'hop on' regularly when I was teaching but I have mostly only ridden my own lad in recent years. It looks like £15ph is about right then, from this thread.

If you're in the NE, pm me me your info and I'll share it at the farm where I work - I know at least one person is looking for help over the winter! (I can't make the hours work with year sadly!)

Oh god yes! People who offer this are always incredibly busy here (north west). Only way I could keep my horses on the yard I love, as it's diy and I need part.

I'm not, unfortunately, but thank you for that 💐

You're welcome @Peterpiperspepperpot and good luck! If you do want to ride you'll likely need to separate insurance - I use Pet Business Insurance which covers feeding, mucking out etc. but it doesn't cover any form of exercise with the horses, I have to pay for that separately if I want it.