I board at a small facility. Large barn that used to be busy but the BO is scaling back as she gets older. She has 15 horses and there are 4 boarders. I have 2 horses in full board. My monthly boarding bill is about $1100. When you give a Christmas tip, do you just calculate a percentage of your board and divi it up? Last year, (I think) I gave my BM $150 and each of the 3 workers $75 but think $200 for the BM and $100 each this year is my plan. That’s almost 50% of my total bill. What do you all do? My BM, the 3 workers and I are on very friendly terms and they are more than helpful. Is this in line, not enough…too much? I tip my farrier the amount of a full bill.
[QUOTE=CindyCRNA;7905909]
I board at a small facility. Large barn that used to be busy but the BO is scaling back as she gets older. She has 15 horses and there are 4 boarders. I have 2 horses in full board. My monthly boarding bill is about $1100. When you give a Christmas tip, do you just calculate a percentage of your board and divi it up? Last year, (I think) I gave my BM $150 and each of the 3 workers $75 but think $200 for the BM and $100 each this year is my plan. That’s almost 50% of my total bill. What do you all do? My BM, the 3 workers and I are on very friendly terms and they are more than helpful. Is this in line, not enough…too much? I tip my farrier the amount of a full bill.[/QUOTE]
Unless any of the above are moonlighting at Denny’s…no tip.
I’m wondering the same thing. I’m in a show barn situation and was planning to give a $50 gift card to the BM, and $100 to horse’s personal groom. I also have a small gift for each. Also, $200 and a gift for trainer.
But now I was reading in other tipping threads about tipping the farrier! Am I expected to do that? I’m in a boarding barn situation and I’ve met farrier only once. I wasn’t planning to tip him. Is that a faux pas?
[QUOTE=Daisyesq;7905979]
I’m wondering the same thing. I’m in a show barn situation and was planning to give a $50 gift card to the BM, and $100 to horse’s personal groom. I also have a small gift for each. Also, $200 and a gift for trainer.
But now I was reading in other tipping threads about tipping the farrier! Am I expected to do that? I’m in a boarding barn situation and I’ve met farrier only once. I wasn’t planning to tip him. Is that a faux pas?[/QUOTE]
Neither of my horses, especially my gelding, are simple. My mare requires simple shoes with stud holes but needs careful attention to balance. My gelding has been a lot of work with orthopedic shoes, farrier clinics, the whole shebang. He doesn’t take new clients. I had to have a vet referral. As for faux pas, I have no idea!
[QUOTE=CindyCRNA;7906021]
Neither of my horses, especially my gelding, are simple. My mare requires simple shoes with stud holes but needs careful attention to balance. My gelding has been a lot of work with orthopedic shoes, farrier clinics, the whole shebang. He doesn’t take new clients. I had to have a vet referral. As for faux pas, I have no idea![/QUOTE]
Sounds like you have a personal (or at least, direct) relationship with your farrier. In my situation, managing farrier services is the responsibility of the BM and I pay the bill. I wouldn’t have thought I should tip the farrier any more than I would tip my vet. Or tip my lawyer. Oh, should I tip the vet???
[QUOTE=Daisyesq;7906040]
Sounds like you have a personal (or at least, direct) relationship with your farrier. In my situation, managing farrier services is the responsibility of the BM and I pay the bill. I wouldn’t have thought I should tip the farrier any more than I would tip my vet. Or tip my lawyer. Oh, should I tip the vet???[/QUOTE]
I agree. I am the only one who uses this farrier at my barn. I am almost always there when he comes and am grateful he comes there for 2 horses but he does shoe in the area. I guess I do have a much more personal relationship with my BM, workers and farrier do to the more intimate environment. We are small and close knit.
I always do my Christmas shopping at the last minute so it’s strictly immediate family. I certainly wouldn’t mind giving little gifts to wish the farrier, trainer, etc Merry Christmas if I had my shopping act together. But I consider them to be in a professional non tipping job and hope they’ve priced their services accordingly. I do give my cleaning lady a cash gift as well as an extra large tip for my hairdresser during the holidays.
I buy the farrier a small gift, but I don’t tip him. I don’t think tipping is as big a thing in Canada as the US.
I don’t have staff, but when I was a groom I didn’t get tips at Christmas, but I did get gifts from the clients and by employers.
When I boarded, my “tip” to the BO/Staff was that I would help do morning barns on Christmas day and New Years day (unpaid).
Except for restaurants I am clueless about tipping.
But as far as rules as I know them you do not tip a business owner. So since my farrier and trainer own their businesses I don’t owe them a tip. Barn managers seem to me to fall under professional staff and should not expect a tip. If you have a warm relationship with any of them and want to give them a gift that is another story.
And I am flummoxed by groom tips (which thankfully unless horse is in full training I don’t have to worry about). Why would they only be tipped at christmas? The very few shows I have participated in with full care you tipped for the show. If like wait staff it is assumed they will live off tips it should be far more regular than annual.
I wish if staff is expected to budget According to expected tips that barn owners/trainers would simply lay out expectations in contract so we would not have to guess.
Our show barns does a minimum of $50 per groom, per horse. I only have one there so I do $75 per groom and we have three full time guys. They work VERY hard and appreciate the cash. An email is sent out to clients usually around Thanksgiving about this.
I am not tipping, but giving small useful gifts. Seems more personal than a tip…
I am the BO and head chore girl since my horses are at home so with that being said…it was so freaking GOOD to see you today CindyCRNA!!! You smile and infectious laugh should be bottled and spread across the country!!! 
[QUOTE=CHT;7906890]
I buy the farrier a small gift, but I don’t tip him. I don’t think tipping is as big a thing in Canada as the US.
I don’t have staff, but when I was a groom I didn’t get tips at Christmas, but I did get gifts from the clients and by employers.
When I boarded, my “tip” to the BO/Staff was that I would help do morning barns on Christmas day and New Years day (unpaid).[/QUOTE]
It is in the Maritimes.
To me, a tip is something you give at the time of service. I don’t tip anyone that works with my horse at any time. I do give thank you gifts around Christmas. I am very appreciative of my farrier and the entire crew of vets who have helped me this year. I will also give a thank you gift/bonus to my barn owner and the barn workers as they have also gone above and beyond.
A sincere recognition and thank you is never in bad taste, no matter how expressed!
I can report that, in my area, giving money at the holidays is the norm–whether you call it a tip or a gift is irrelevant. I give my farrier the equivalent of one shoeing. I give the barn manager and the stall cleaners varying amounts of cash. The BO and my trainers get gifts… and I pray to god that I don’t see my vet at all.
At a small private barn I don’t expect or give a tip. In a barn with grooms it is different, but I would feel kind of weird if my boarder gave me a tip! A small thoughtful gift, carrots for all the horses or something, is different and very nice, but not expected.
In a barn like yours with grooms, which I would consider not that small at all, I think tipping is fine and the amounts you suggest about right.
I tack on an extra $100 to my Dec farrier check. I have 4 horses and he is good about coming out and tacking stuff back on for me in a pinch, and I want to keep it that way. I did the same amount in DC when I had one horse but spent about the same amount per shoeing cycle.
I don’t tip my vet, but OMG, I have spent so many thousands there I don’t think he needs any more money from me this year. Let’s just say a couple of weeks ago he got a “Christmas abscess” and pray that is the last of it for 2014. I think all he wants for Christmas is not to get any more texts from me starting “you aren’t going to believe this, but…”
Personally I use Christmas to thank people who work for me year 'round. So I do give gifts to barn owners/managers, farriers, & vets. At a minimum, I would give a nice bottle of wine and a hand-written card. All the people I mentioned have gone above & beyond for me this past year, so I am doing a little more. Oh yeah, and cash for the barn staff. Can’t forget them, they are the linchpins.
I’m not allowed to receive gifts in my job (public service lawyer) and am supposed to return anything I get. The only thing I’ve kept is flowers and even that was awkward.
I can’t imagine tipping my vets anymore than I would tip my doctors even though both have gone above and beyond for me. To say I am grateful to my primary vet (who happens to be Jewish) is an understatement, but I would feel very strange sending a gift. Maybe a “fruit basket” to the office would be appropriate, but I’m not even sure the vets are ever in the office.
I used to give a gift to my farrier but haven’t done it in the past couple of years. I do give something to the barn workers. I’m also giving each barn owner (2 barns) an ornament and a “gift card” where they can use the money to support a charity of their choice.
I was raised to think that over tipping is vulgar, but maybe I’m just stuck in the past.
Having been caught up in this dilemma over the years, I finally asked myself the following question: I am the CLIENT. I chose these people and pay appropriately. Why cant I think of another instance in which it is normal for the CLIENT to buy gifts for the Service Provider??
Many years ago one barn owner got each of his boarders a nice little gift.
More recent barn owners have had Christmas parties for boarders.
I’ve NEVER had a trainer that bought clients Christmas gifts
I don’t buy my pilates trainer a gift. Or my dentist. Or my doctor or hairdresser. Or the vet who shows up at all hours.
Back in the days when I worked at a “big bank” the service providers sent US small Christmas gifts because we gave them business.
Call me Scrooge???
I am at a relatively small semi-private show barn (beautiful large facility but only a handful of clients.) I do always tip the grooms ($100-ish, plus a small gift) for Christmas because they work hard and frankly, I want them to be happy about looking after my horse.
This year, we have a new guy starting with the group and I may tip him a bit more, because he has a better skill set (he rides and is more of a BM type person than a groom, but also he has a wonderful, super helpful attitude.) I would like to let him know that I really appreciate the “little” stuff - he really pays attention and offers to help without anyone having to ask.
My BO is also my trainer so she gets a nice Christmas gift. I usually get her some splurge-y clothes from our local boutique type tack store. In years past, I have found some very cute Asmar riding clothes that she seems to enjoy, for example.
