O.K. my husband is a farrier part time and a client have asked me to work with there horse because there isn’t anybody around here that knows anything. I would in a hearbeat but I have been out of horse training for about 10 years. Even when I was in it, I never did enough horses to get completely solid, plus I’ve kinda switched over to the natural method (clinton anderson) which I’ve only practiced on 2 horses for like 2 weeks. But the client says he doesn’t care he just needs some help with his daughters young horse. So what do I do?? How much do I charge especially for being so rusty. I know I would charge him for gas money (they only live about 12 miles away) but how much do I charge after that? He wants me to come down 2-3 times a week.
This horse doesn’t have good manners on ground or under saddle. It’s a 4/5 yr old with a 13 yr old girl gren rider. I want to tell them to sell the horse but they want to make this horse work. They want to get the horse good enough to go to the fair in mid July. Horse doesn’t have a decent whoa, pulls on the bit, super rubber necked, has no back up at all, etc. There is more, this horse never had the right training when it was broke. Period. lol
Other Links
- Clinton Anderson Amazed Me | The Vegas Tourist
- Reese is Mixing Work & Horse Play | OK! Magazine – The First for Celebrity News
- NIGHT HORSE COMPLETE WORK ON NEW ALBUM | NeuFutur Magazine
I think everone’s suggestions were really helpful. I’d say that, since you’re just getting into it, aren’t really confident yet, a fair price would be to charge for gas and $10/hour or session. I wouldn’t back off from telling them that the horse really isn’t appropriate for the girl, and that their expectations aren’t very realistic, but you can say that you’ll do what you can to improve his handling and undersaddle manners. It will be a really good learning experience for you, too. You’ve been totally upfront with them, and it sounds like they’re desperate, so go for it! You can get paid for trying out and practicing some of the Clinton Anderson stuff.
(PS Many of the people for whom I’ve worked have told me about "trainers" who came out and did absolutely horrendous things with their horses, charging the going rate for training. Clearly they didn’t know what they were doing, and the owners had to pay someone else to come out and now fix the double problem. Anyone can call themselves a trainer, and the worst are the ones who took a "course" somewhere but have no real experience. This will be a great way for you to get into training horses, if that’s what you want to do, and you do already have some training experience, so you have a leg-up already)
You would have to make that decision yourself. I know at my barn, I would get paid 10$ for every horse I excersized. Once I got a little more experienced I was paid 20$ for every horse I rode. My trainer would charge 50$ a ride. Would you be riding? Or working on groundwork? or both?
What if you charged like 20$ for each horse/session?
You could always negotiate with the owners too, and ask them.
It really depends upon what the problem is with the young horse. If it’s trailer loading/ ground manners, I’d set one price. If it’s under saddle work, I’d charge significantly more. I’d also get insurance on myself before I started handling someone else’s horse for reasons twofold: one, if *I* am injured and two, if the horse gets injured (liability)
Difficult to be more specific until we know your location.
All things you mentioned considered : Depending on the economy in your area and what the client can afford, I say no less than 20 to 30 dollars a lesson
My last trainer was a 4X World Champion. He charged $45 / hr. My current trainer charges less, $35 / hr, and has probably 10 head in training on property at all times.
Both have packages available: 3 X a week for trainer 1 is $350 / month (PLUS board), for trainer 2: more like $350 (Includes board).
So, why not shoot for half that? Say, $20 a ride, or a package for $200 or something?
well it is yur decision but ill tell u nwhat my trasiner charges.
my trasiner is a well know trainer is the SHOW world(western pleaser, showmanship, HUS, Ect.) if the horse is there for 1 month it is 550 in an outside stall and 600 for a barn stall. lessons without the horse in training are 30 a day. (she rides the horse everyday and that price is not hauling fees for shows or day fees.)
I get paid through my boss (I help break her horses).. But I get about $35 a ride.
I do know a retired vet who breaks horses and he charges like $15 an hour, and he usually works about 2-3 hours per horse.
But because your out of practice I suggest asking for about $20 a ride/session until you get back into things… if the horse is extremely difficult I would charge more.
I work as a hunter/jumper trainer at a barn and I get paid $10 per ride, which is usually about 30 mins, and $25 for every lesson I give, which are 1 hr long.
I guess it depends on your area (I’m in Kansas) and what the people are willing to pay…
My trainer charges $70 for an hour, not including gas money. You have to bring your own horse down to her. That is for her to work on the ground, tack and ride.
If you’re rusty charge $50-60/hour. I honestly think if they have the money, and you’re doing ground work AND under saddle, you should charge $70-100 for one session.
I’m an advanced rider, good with horses with behavioral problems. I’m still a minor so I only charge $50/session. A session lasts until I’m done working the horse, ground manners, under saddle (but I end it after two hours). I try to break atleast one habit per session, but I always work on it every session. Then I give the owners tips on how to continue.