I’m in Southern California and have a reputation for bathing horses. It has been a while, and I’m seeking opinions on what is the going rate that I should be charging per horse.
My Bathing includes pre-grooming, full shampoo and conditioning, detangling, sheath cleaning, scraping, and hand-walk to dry, then grooming.
Any ideas on what I should charge? How much have you paid or would you pay for this service?
Thanks very much!
aren’t you in a drought?
I used to charge $25-30 for sheath cleaning alone, for what it’s worth.
If it’s a bucket bath about $10-15. If you have lots of water and can do the whole deal, I’d pay you up to $20-25.
That gives you enough to kick back a bit to the BO if they want a cut of any income you earn on their property. Do check with them first.
[QUOTE=PeanutButterPony;8218976]
aren’t you in a drought?[/QUOTE]
Hahahaha! I thought that might come up?
Yes, the “drought” is well publicized. And there are some folks that think we’re not in a drought at all, based on the fact that in northern cali they are draining lakes, etc… Me, I’m not sure about all the politics of it, but I have always tried to conserve water anyway.
However, dirty horses must be washed. The show must go on!
About the sheath cleaning, yes, that’s helpful. Thanks!
[QUOTE=findeight;8218985]
If it’s a bucket bath…[/QUOTE]
Thanks for your reply…that’s helpful.
And I just love your signature quote! Hilarious and TRUE!
[QUOTE=MissC;8219001]
Hahahaha! I thought that might come up?
Yes, the “drought” is well publicized. And there are some folks that think we’re not in a drought at all, based on the fact that in northern cali they are draining lakes, etc… Me, I’m not sure about all the politics of it, but I have always tried to conserve water anyway.
However, dirty horses must be washed. The show must go on![/QUOTE]
Its not political. We’re in year 4 of a severe drought. Wasting water is lame. Please take that into account and maybe offer bucket baths and vacuuming or hot toweling instead. I live in N CA and everything is dying here - trees, gardens, the lot.
Whatever money you make you’re probably going to have to end up giving the property owner when they get fined for too much water usage.
Honestly, I would be pretty annoyed if I boarded where someone was running a business washing horses and Im over here doing bucket baths (or no baths. My GREY horse hasn’t had a bath since last summer) trying to conserve water. Unless the horses are going to an A show, they really don’t need a bath. Maybe change your business model to grooming, bucket baths, mane pulling.
Here’s a bit more realness for ya:
june 1, 2015
"ARCADIA, Calif. (KABC) –
New mandatory water restrictions went into effect across California on Monday. The goal is to beat the state’s historic drought.
Gov. Jerry Brown’s executive orderrequires statewide savings to average 25 percent.
Some local water agencies are being required to cut back anywhere from 8 to 36 percent."
http://abc7.com/news/mandatory-water-restrictions-in-effect-across-california/760026/
How long does it take you to do the Full Monty service?
Start with a good hourly wage, then add the cost of materials…. and then consider 1) How lazy/meticulous your clients are, 2) The lack of access to someone else who could do what you do.
To wit: I think I can bathe a horse well. And I know how long the Full Monty you describe would take me. I haven’t considered hiring someone else to do all that because I don’t know anyone who would.
Now I could see a Pre-Show package being a money maker for you. To the Full Monty, add clipping and mane pulling. And if you wanted to go further, you could add tack cleaning or-- with some organization-- trailer packing.
I know that the day before the show work takes me a long time. If I could, say, practice with my horse and then hand him to you while you did the next 3 hours of work, I’d be psyched.
Wow! It’s so strange and amusing to read the assumptions that some people are making about water usage!! Geez! Where was it written that I was engaged in wasting water??? And what other kind of bath is there besides a bucket bath??? My goodness!! Also, I believe an assumption was made that I’m offering this service to boarders at a boarding facility. Not so, although after folks see my results, I’m often begged to do their horses! I’m mostly engaged by show/breeding/sale barn owners to clean their stock, and was paid fifty dollars per horse, and was tipped well, but that was twenty years ago, and I wondered if my prices should be adjusted with the times.
Anyway, thanks again to those who replied with helpful comments.
Wow! It’s so strange and amusing to read the assumptions that some people are making about water usage!! Geez! Where was it written that I was engaged in wasting water??? And what other kind of bath is there besides a bucket bath??? My goodness!! Also, I believe an assumption was made that I’m offering this service to boarders at a boarding facility. Not so, although after folks see my results, I’m often begged to do their horses! I’m mostly engaged by show/breeding/sale barn owners to clean their stock, and was paid fifty dollars per horse, and was tipped well, but that was twenty years ago, and I wondered if my prices should be adjusted with the times.
Anyway, thanks again to those who replied with helpful comments.
Maybe just offer sheath cleaning services? If you charge 30 bucks for that without all this drama that seems pretty good.
Where was it written that I was engaged in wasting water??? And what other kind of bath is there besides a bucket bath??? My goodness!! What other kind of bath is there?
Perhaps you’re not very experienced in the horse world, but at the track, and all the boarding barns I have been at, a horse bath involves a copiously running hose, loads of suds and goodness knows how many gallons of water flying around.
That’s why people feel that balancing a squeaky clean horse over the environment is a tough call, especially when a good grooming provides lovely results too.
Anyway, thanks again to those who replied with helpful comments.
I’m guessing you didn’t find it helpful to be told that the drought is real, not a political gambit? Anyway, you got what you paid for here on the COTH discussion forums! 
Even when you come back 18 months later to be annoyed! 
But still: http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/01/1…vernment-says/
"Due to ongoing rain, 44 percent of California is now in severe drought, down from 49 percent a week ago, while 42 percent is out of drought entirely. "
Only 44 percent in severe drought!? WOOT!
Up here in the PNW, we have a warm water hose in our washrack, and no water restrictions except maybe in the middle of summer when the houses in the suburbs have to water their lawns on alternate days. So when I think horse bath, I think hose. That’s what I’ve always seen and used.
I think it’s unnecessary to beat up on the OP guys. It sounds like OP is going to other people’s barns and using their facilities, and therefore their water. Whether or not OP offers this service it is likely that the horse is still going to get a bath. The only difference is who is giving it.
Some horses need baths more than once a year. Whether it’s for showing or their health, it’s ok. I doubt there are many owners out there that would pay OP to come out four days a week to bathe their horse for them, but I bet there are a lot who would love for someone to come and bathe the day before a show. Whether or not OP offers the service, that horse is still getting a bath.
WHO ON EARTH TAKES TWO YEARS to reply to a thread they started?
Are you still mulling over prices two years later?
[QUOTE=enjoytheride;9017802]
WHO ON EARTH TAKES TWO YEARS to reply to a thread they started?
Are you still mulling over prices two years later?[/QUOTE]
I think this is the question that needs answering.
OP, have you done any bathing in the last two years? What did you end up charging?
For the record, here in NY we use the hose to bathe a horse. Bucket bath only happens in the middle of winter when you are trying to get some crusty spot clean. (Generally speaking. Clearly there are exceptions.)
[QUOTE=MissC;9015490]
Wow! It’s so strange and amusing to read the assumptions that some people are making about water usage!! Geez! Where was it written that I was engaged in wasting water??? And what other kind of bath is there besides a bucket bath??? My goodness!! Also, I believe an assumption was made that I’m offering this service to boarders at a boarding facility. Not so, although after folks see my results, I’m often begged to do their horses! I’m mostly engaged by show/breeding/sale barn owners to clean their stock, and was paid fifty dollars per horse, and was tipped well, but that was twenty years ago, and I wondered if my prices should be adjusted with the times.
Anyway, thanks again to those who replied with helpful comments.[/QUOTE]
You came back two years later… in the middle of epic flooding in CA to tell us how wrong we were/are?
And if you think a bucket-bath is the only kind out there, I don’t see how that makes you a pro. An amateur horse bather since I was a kid, I assure that there is more than one way to bathe a horse.
I think you might not be making more than the original $50 plus tips you mention unless you are still doing this for a big sale and include clipping/mane pulling. I think the average person not this close to making money on their horse won’t pay $30-35 per hour for grooming labor.
That’s just my sense of things.
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