Just wanted to get some outside thoughts on this arrangement. Relocate to Wellington for the winter (Jan-March). 6 day work week (Tues-Sun). Very wide range of responsibilities including but not limited to, riding at home and at the show, grooming at show, occasionally help with stall cleaning and other chores around the barn. Living arrangements (studio apartment on premise) provided. Car may also be provided. Pay between $800-$900 a week.
Does this seem typical to you? Below average? Above average?
Thanks
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Probably about average, depending on the person’s experience. And on whether that amount is before or after taxes.
Spending the winter in t-shirt weather: priceless. Lol.
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For the same amount of work with 12 horses I got $600/wk and lived onsite. I don’t think it was worth it 
Yeah that works out pretty low. But @faultfree two or three hundred more plus a car when you need to run in for food seems pretty sweet, plus the experience and nicer weather. I mean, you won’t be saving up for a Maserati but it will pad a bank account assuming you aren’t leaving a rental/mortgage payment behind.
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Ask about the tip arrangements if there are clients.
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Without housing expenses? That feels like a solid deal depending on how many horses you’re responsible for.
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I did a similar gig two seasons ago, but it was just an on-site barn manager job for 10-18 horses, no riding, 6 days a week Tues-Sun. That paid $2000 a month under the table, but my housing was provided, a car if I needed it, and any time we went out to dinner, that was paid for, so my expenses were minimal. Even if you do have to pay taxes, that sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
It depends on the barn really. I know there are grooms making 6 figures a year and there are ones making about $500 a week.
As mentioned, if it’s a boarding facility there may be tips involved. I’d ask about how those are split.
Ask about housing. Some people’s idea of housing is private rooms, sometimes it’s a shared hotel room, and sometimes they think a couch In a room of with 5 others is adequate. If it’s a couch situation, run. That lack of consideration will continue into everything else.
Also, be prepared that you likely will not get every Monday off.
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It would depend on the amount of horses you are responsible for IMO.
Thanks everyone for your replies. I’d be responsible for 7-8 horses. Housing is a studio apartment located on farm. Nothing fancy but totally fine for one person.
Would you be doing full care on 7-8 horses by yourself?!?
That’s a lot. For any pay.
Typically people take care of 3-4 showing horses, mostly without also riding them.
I would be asking a lot of questions in advance to make sure all the details are spelled out.
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Is your farm hacking distance to the show? Riding seven or eight a day is a big full time job all by itself if you have to get them ready and put them away.
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No, I will be going more in an assistant trainer type capacity, we won’t be staffed quite the way we are when we’re home hence me maybe having to sometimes help out with stall cleaning, but they are bringing one of their guys from home who does stalls/feed/water and grooming/tacking. I’m expecting to do more grooming and tacking than I would at home too, but the head trainer will be riding as well so I’m not going to be riding 7 a day 6 days a week.
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Honestly, I would say that’s a pretty good deal, especially with getting to ride, even if you occasionally have to pitch in with chores. Keep in mind that it’s only 3 months too. When I went down for my stint, I went for the experience of being in Wellington for the winter, which did not disappoint. I’d say as long as the pay covers your expenses, just go for it (so long as you like head trainer, as 3 months is a long time to spend with someone you don’t like or will treat you miserably).
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Thats a pretty good deal imo. most entry level workers make 100$ a day which includes doing stalls. Riding i consider a bonus but i understand some don’t want to ride at work. I guess it depends on if you are getting tips and working night classes.
That’s a pretty good deal. A studio apt in Wellington for the season can be $3000/mo by itself.
Typically horse jobs in Wellington include the housing plus a paycheck. Otherwise most people could not afford to work there.
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Agreeing that it’s a pretty good deal if it includes livable housing (not a run down trailer on property that you can barely sleep in) and real help with 7-8 horses.
Expect that one of those days you will be sole charge because whomever is going to be helping you will also have a day off and you may be expected to pick up the slack that day. It’s not a huge deal, but it does make having a day off a little less since either the day before or the day after you’ll have double duty. Unless they get a third hand to handle the days off / pitch in.
Going to assume you’re used to a 6 day a week schedule at WEF - January to March is going to be a heavy lift. If property is a long distance from show grounds it’ll be a little harder. One other thing to consider when thinking about the workload for the pay is what classes will the horses be showing in? If they are spread out during the week, that’ll be easier than if you have, say 7-8 pre-green hunters all going on the same days in the same rings to try to juggle with all of the other responsibilities.
But the cost of the housing doesn’t matter. She wouldn’t be there, otherwise. If they wanted her to work just for money, they’d have to pay her enough to cover the cost of housing.
it factors in to the total value of compensation. She doesn’t get housing if she doesn’t work, therefore, it is part of the pay she is earning.
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