Menu

Stay in Touch
Sign up for ENews
Subscribe Now

Unlimited access >

Menu

Speak to me of Assistant Trainer/Barn Manager things

Hunter/Jumper
#1

Just looking for general advice… not “don’t do it!” but more things to think about that make for the best working conditions/living wages. I have some “meet and greet” appointments scheduled this week and want to make sure I am advocating for myself appropriately.

I know I need to discuss health insurance/worker’s comp

I know a lot of places will either pay you a flat (low) weekly rate and include housing… but that’s not necessarily still a living wage. I have a place to live but could not renew my lease if it were advantageous but it’s not a requisite at this time.

Is it standard to get a flat hourly rate ($12.50-15/hour) plus cut of lessons/training rides/show coaching/commission on sale horses etc? I know there are MANY ways in this business to handle salary but I want to hear feed back on what to look for and stay away from.

We are talking about a #2 type position at a large show/lesson facility where responsibilities include but not limited to: barn management, Assistant Trainer (teach lessons and ride client horses). Ship horses when needed, arrange vet/farrier appointments, be BO/Head Trainer’s eyes and ears when at away shows (think HITS, WEF, Devon type stuff). We are talking about a place with nice amenities in a fairly desirable area, clients show locally and rated with very good year end results.

#2

I’m not sure there is a standard, but I’ve seen an annual salary offered with some health insurance reimbursement and a week or two vacation, and then you’d get extra compensation if you had to be the #1 to ship and train clients at a local show while the head trainer was off at a bigger show.

#3

I would be very clear about what percentage of your time you are cleaning stalls, doing water and helping with turnout rather than doing “manager” type things. Around here, people seem to be paid per task or per day - ie, doing 10 stalls pays X and it is up to you to get them done efficiently, or one show day doing stalls and helping pays X. If the number is fair for the amount of time it takes, I think this helps with hard feelings on either side that a task is taking more or less time than it usually does.

Unless you were the primary rider on a sale horse or pretty directly involved the buyer’s agent/buyer, I wouldn’t expect to get a piece of the action on that money.

#4

The types of positions I am currently discussing will be barn management/teaching/training/show prep/grooming- there will be stall cleaners (although I do expect there will be the occasional day due to sickness/weather conditions of staff I expect to help when needed). If that helps answering my questions.

#5

Hourly rate? In the horse business?? That’s pretty rare for anyone past entry level, in my experience. Flat salary plus a percentage of lessons and rides would be more common. It’s a good idea to ask the hours for a typical day to get an idea of what the hourly breakdown works out to be. Also, nail down exactly what the plan is for a weekly schedule. Does it include a day (or two) off every week? Or once in a blue moon?

Health insurance and the like? Good luck. It should be standard, but…

#6

Ok thanks… this is the kind of stuff that I need to know. I want to make sure I am talking “industry standard.” I am in mid management in corporate and looking to make a move to the horse world. I have the WS and competitive background just not familiar with pay structures. Is anyone comfortable throwing numbers out there (or pm’ing?). I would be very happy with a flat salary and percentage of lessons and rides to supplement the income so that I had something to count on.

So if good barn help (stall cleaners/horse feeders/grooms) make in my area ballpark $10-15/hr should I be able to expect that or more plus the percentage of lessons/rides?

#7

There is no “industry standard” and many times “managment position” means no riding and lots of grunt work at a grunt work wage.

One barn near here has an 'operations manager", it’s the barn book keeper, doesnt touch a horse.

Definitions are non standard so be sure you ask for specifics and get those in writing.

#8

Here’s some information for you for comparison’s sake. I’m officially the barn manager. I say officially because some people think that means they just manage things, but in my case (and in many other cases) it often evolves into a Jill of All Trades position. I literally do a little bit of everything - I’m pitching in with stalls, scheduling customers, managing the employees, general health care and health management of the horses, scheduling of vet and farrier as well as working with the vet or farrier for certain issues, ordering supplies, scheduling deliveries, giving routine injections (Depo, joint stuff etc.), keeping records, paperwork… I also do the clipping for shows (ears, nose, legs) and body clipping when needed. I’m also riding, and when they are at shows, covering lessons for the customers that didn’t go. I could go on, but you get the picture.

I’m in Northern VA at an A show barn with twenty horses. My current package is $500/week; paid rent and utilities on a nice apartment in Middleburg and a week paid vacation. Believe me when I say this is not enough :eek::no:

#9

[QUOTE=laughATTACK;8092129]
Here’s some information for you for comparison’s sake. I’m officially the barn manager. I say officially because some people think that means they just manage things, but in my case (and in many other cases) it often evolves into a Jill of All Trades position. I literally do a little bit of everything - I’m pitching in with stalls, scheduling customers, managing the employees, general health care and health management of the horses, scheduling of vet and farrier as well as working with the vet or farrier for certain issues, ordering supplies, scheduling deliveries, giving routine injections (Depo, joint stuff etc.), keeping records, paperwork… I also do the clipping for shows (ears, nose, legs) and body clipping when needed. I’m also riding, and when they are at shows, covering lessons for the customers that didn’t go. I could go on, but you get the picture.

I’m in Northern VA at an A show barn with twenty horses. My current package is $500/week; paid rent and utilities on a nice apartment in Middleburg and a week paid vacation. Believe me when I say this is not enough :eek::no:[/QUOTE]

laughATTACK thank you so much for sharing. One of the very strong possibilities (with trainer I have known for 15 years who sought me out) is offering 3br house on property as she is moving. I am not sure if I want to commit to giving up my rental as I have a very nice living situation that is already not overly expensive and unsure I want to take living fees as payment.

What makes your situation “not enough?” Are you working 6-7 days/week? No set hours? What to know what to look out for. I can see that based on a 40 hour work week that would be a pretty low wage even valuing the paid rent. Is there also no compensation for the riding/clipping/lessons? Is that all included in your salary?

#10

I am now in my second horse-related job. I am 24, have a college degree, and made the move from corporate to the horse industry about 8 months ago. I started out in an Assistant Barn Manager position that ended up basically as a Barn Help position (which is why I made the change to a barn where I am Assistant Trainer). I had no set hours, and usually ended up working about 7am - 6pm M-F. I was basically the “Jill of All Trades” as well, doing whatever the Manager/Owner/Trainer didn’t want to do/didn’t have time to do. Also, they did not have a stall cleaner so this was my job as well (also feeding, turnout, grooming, watering, sweeping, etc.). The barn had about 15 stalls and 30+ horses. ANYWAY- My setup was $500/week ($100/day), 7 days paid vacation (which I never received)… That’s about it. I also think that ended up stretching the barn too thin. This was just barely enough $ to cover my expenses including student loans, car loan, etc.

After 6 months of physical labor for 50+ hours a week with rarely time to ride or teach, I found a position to be “Assistant Trainer/Business Development Intern”. This position is 40 hours a week, $340/week, including ($500) free board for my horse (and she has offered to let me move into an empty room in her house… but haven’t decided if that’s something I’m interested in or not). This is NOT a living wage for me, but I have enough savings to last for a while. However, I am looking at this as a way to learn the business, how to run a similar business, learn how to teach lessons and get more lesson time, etc. Now, I have only been at it a few days, so I can’t really tell you how that’s going for me.

All in all, you have to really love the sport and the lifestyle. When i made the transition, I literally calculated how much I would need to live and pay my bills. Now, I know this is not sustainable in the long run, but hoping if I work hard and follow my dreams it will lead me somewhere. I know that sounds cliche - but I am constantly trying to learn and hoping with a business degree and hands-on experience I will be able to have my own place one day or at least have a higher up position where I am more comfortable.

I am realizing that in the horse world, there are no paid sick days, rarely paid holidays or holidays at all, no vacations… That’s why I say you have to really love it. And I’ll be the first to admit I might get burnt out. I also have found that when you are an “assistant,” you will typically be doing what the head trainer/owner doesn’t want to do. You just really have to like who you are working for.

Anyway, sorry for the word vomit. Hopes it helps at all. There really is no industry standard but you have to figure out what you think you’re worth… and if you think you’re (definitely) worth more, you have to decide if the experience will help you get to where you want to be.

#11

evelynthemare thanks for all your insight. I am doing this for me and have decided I simply don’t want to look back and regret not trying. Maybe I will burn out in 6 months, 1 year, 5 years whatever… the corporate world will always be there should I change my mind. But I will want to be an old woman and look back and remember those few nice days I spent in the sun with a good horse.

That aside… while I do have a horse now I think horse ownership may be a sacrifice for “doing what I love.” Taking in $800-1000/mo boarding spot as payment for work is not going to pay my car payment… if they will throw her in the field for free… great… but I’m just trying to be wise as possible and pay the bills haha

#12

I completely agree. I had to try it. And although I am (CLOSELY) watching how I am spending things, and not having money to buy (ANYTHING) haha… I am working hard and I am not sitting at a desk being bored out of my mind. Which is what I was doing. I support you 100% :stuck_out_tongue: also, since I have a degree, I agree, corporate world will always be there. And I have learned so many management, operations, etc skills essentially helping managing a company, that I never would have imagined.

I also agree on the board thing. At my previous job, I was not receiving free board and was considering selling my horse, although I love her, because I don’t think I can sustain $ for board in the long run. That being said, my current position simply could not offer me any more money. So, the $500 board is just a big perk, and I get to keep my mare. But I agree. Horse ownership is so expensive. Not to mention vet bills, shoes, etc. that you basically can’t afford if you want to work in the business.

Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about anything in more detail! :slight_smile:

#13

If you can get any hourly wage, take it! But that’s so rare in this industry. Because if we were paid hourly, the barns would go broke.

I make $32k per year + board for one horse. No housing, training, or commission. I do have subsidized great health insurance and real days off. (I work for a University, so it has it’s plusses and minuses.)

I would try to negotiate 2 full days off a week. That will generally get you 1 day “off” most weeks. That is very important. You will probably be making a lot less than you’re worth, and it’s way too easy to become bitter if you haven’t had a day off in months AND can hardly pay the bills.

If you’re happy where you are, no not give up your place for housing. Maaaaaybe if it’s off property, but “housing” usually either means an apartment on property or a room/apartment in the trainer’s house, which means you never really go home.

Ask about holidays. In the cooperate world, it’s the lowest on the food chain who work holidays. In the horse world, you may very well be expected to work all major holidays to the staff can have it off.

Commission is great as long as your base pay is enough to pay the bills. Unless you’re the head trainer, you probably won’t have a ton of control over the number of lessons, quality of sale horses, etc. so be sure you can survive without it. Also work out how much your get paid for services like body clipping, etc.

Good luck. The experience is invaluable and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but don’t sell yourself short. Set yourself up success. Realize that you will probably only get 50% of whatever is offered (time off, commission, free lessons, etc) while working twice as much as you agreed to. BEFORE you accept the job is the time to negotiate.

#14

Also if you haven’t already, I would visit www.yardandgroom.com and look at all of their job listings. That way you can see what the going salary/benefits is.

#15

[QUOTE=evelynthemare;8092310]
Also if you haven’t already, I would visit www.yardandgroom.com and look at all of their job listings. That way you can see what the going salary/benefits is.[/QUOTE]

haha looking at similar job salaries and they are: “varies,” “competitive,” “TBD,” “based on experience” :lol:

#16

Two bigs things, coming from a former barn manager…

-Housing is a HUGE draw. To know you don’t have to look for a place, have security in a home, and have it all included is a massive draw. Even if you say you’ll cover it but they have to find it - what happens if everything he/she finds is more than what you want to pay? It happens.

-Hours are home vary hugely from hours at shows. At home it might be 7-4 with an hour lunch break (8 hour work day.) At shows it might be a 12 hour day with no lunch. The problem with this is that for a salaried position, if you work a 72 hour work week at a horse show and do the math, your hourly rate is abysmal. If you’re working long hours at away shows even just one week every month, that averages out to your employee working 50 hour work weeks every week, and their salary should reflect that (which very few do.)

#17

On the flip side if you lose your job not only do you need to find a job but you need to find housing at the same time. If your horse is there add needing to find a new place for the horse. As if job hunting or moving or finding a new boarding barn aren’t all stressfull enough by themselves lets do all three at once. I personally would not want my living quarters tied to my job.

If the housing is on the property you may never get any privacy. Some clients think you are available 24/7 even for non-emergency stuff.

#18

[QUOTE=SonnysMom;8092659]
On the flip side if you lose your job not only do you need to find a job but you need to find housing at the same time. If your horse is there add needing to find a new place for the horse. As if job hunting or moving or finding a new boarding barn aren’t all stressfull enough by themselves lets do all three at once. I personally would not want my living quarters tied to my job.

If the housing is on the property you may never get any privacy. Some clients think you are available 24/7 even for non-emergency stuff.[/QUOTE]
Both very, very valid points on the housing question.

#19

[QUOTE=SonnysMom;8092659]
On the flip side if you lose your job not only do you need to find a job but you need to find housing at the same time. If your horse is there add needing to find a new place for the horse. As if job hunting or moving or finding a new boarding barn aren’t all stressfull enough by themselves lets do all three at once. I personally would not want my living quarters tied to my job.

If the housing is on the property you may never get any privacy. Some clients think you are available 24/7 even for non-emergency stuff.[/QUOTE]

But then you also don’t have to factor in getting out of a lease on a house in your decision to leave your job. Most people I know in the industry at the barn manager/assistant trainer level relocated for their job and would have no reason to stay in the area without it. Or they were lucky enough to find a job near where they already lived.

Your second point is definitely true and that could be another note for the OP. When you live on the farm its easy to get sucked in to things on your day off or once you’re done for the day (I’m not including true emergencies like colic/etc in this.)

#20

So it sounds like to some that decent housing can be a huge plus but comes with pros and cons.

Great awesome points guys and all really good ones to think about. All personal experiences and feedback are great. No way of knowing what the right or wrong answer on housing is until I get exact details… lots of pros and cons… If on property I can go home for a while and let my dog in/out… possible lack of privacy… is the value of the house more than I want to “spend” or is it a great opportunity… It does come at a good time where my personal lease is over at the end of July so I can resign or not.

Add in fun things like SO is a volunteer firefighter and won’t want to leave current area (god forbid we are 40 minutes away)… but that is another long story :wink:

Get your Digital Subscription here - only $29.99 / year

Subscribe here
See gift options

Sign up to our monthly newsletter!

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.

Copyright © 2023 The Chronicle of the Horse