So this story
http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/groom-spotlight-sergio-reyes
has me interested in the lives and times, trials and tribulations, of grooms in the USA.
Is anyone who knows willing to divulge the salary/earnings range for a groom such as this, these days? I’m ASSuming that it’s still more about the glory than a really good salary, but I hope that I’m wrong.
When I was a groom (almost 10 years ago now) for a lesser-known 3* rider, I received accommodations, a truck to drive, health insurance, and $1000 a month plus tips from boarders/clients. When away from the farm I got a hotel room, a $55/day per diem, and tips from boarders/clients.
No stall cleaning, hacking duties only (the assistant trainer did the riding mostly). Barn had 18 horses.
I know nothing about groom’s salaries but I’m happy to see them get the recognition and some extra money, they deserve it. And kudos to Caroline Moran for sponsoring the grooms awards, I hope more owners follow her example.
Less than show jumping grooms…
Many do earn 20-25K a year plus housing. More if no housing is provided. And the tips on top of that. Most will be paid extra when they are on the road. A select few are paid more.
Many make less…the above assumes an experienced professional groom.
Yeeshhhh!
When I was a barn manager on the farm I got health insurance and was paid $30k a year. Largely no mucking and I got to compete some of their horses ay shows on their nickel.
At the track we made $600/ week galloping. Done by 12pm. Nowadays I know they’re paying $750 a week to gallop.
Do yourself a favor… Get 2 jobs. Gallop if you can and learn about pace and more subtle ways of adjusting your speed and balance on a horse, then work with a trainer in the afternoon. Best of both worlds and you can actually afford to live.
~Emily
Yes…but don’t forget that many grooming jobs (or barn manager jobs) come with other “salary”. Housing is big…so is giving board for a horse. And those do add up even if the cash payment is not as much. Living on 25K a year when you don’t have to pay housing, truck or health insurance is very different than living on 30K when you DO have to pay for housing.
But yes…most do work second jobs. I know I did…especially if you want to own a horse too.
[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;8523991]
Yes…but don’t forget that many grooming jobs (or barn manager jobs) come with other “salary”. Housing is big…so is giving board for a horse. And those do add up even if the cash payment is not as much. Living on 25K a year when you don’t have to pay housing, truck or health insurance is very different than living on 30K when you DO have to pay for housing.
But yes…most do work second jobs. I know I did…especially if you want to own a horse too.[/QUOTE]
Fair enough. But most people would like to be able to own their own house at some point To do that one needs to start saving for a down payment pretty early in life on $25k. Most would like to own a nice car and be able to afford a decent vacation also. Most that have this arrangement work far more hours than a “normal” job
Not a lot of job security either. Housing and truck could be gone on any day in any month. Granted IMO this is a young person’s job who isn’t too concerned about the ‘future’. But the days of getting started in what ends up to be one’s life long career latter in life are gone. Unless they plan to be self employed.
It is what it is. But serous thought needs to be given these days. Top grooms, top horse skills require a lot of time and proper mentor ship to acquire. Unfortunately the industry of horses has it’s 'pay ceiling". The majority of people who have ‘top horse skills’ can not be paid what they are truly worth and have earned. IMO
Yup, if you want to work 12+hour days.
I hear young people saying I want to gallop they pay well and I get off by noon. Yup but it is pretty much at least 6 days a week. 7 for those that freelance. Considering most horses go out to the track starting at 6 means the rider needs to be at the barn around 5:30. So they are still pretty much putting in an 7-8 hour day. Depending depending on how far they live from the track that means getting up around 4 am every day. Even on a day off we got so used to getting up it became pretty much impossible not to wake up at 4.
It is an interesting and in a lot of way a very rewarding job. But not for everyone. Not something that a lot of people want to be doing in their late 30’s let alone 40’s 50’s. There are only so many assistant trainers jobs to be had these days which is what the good ones usually move on to.
I know you know what I am talking about. Just presenting the bigger picture to others who may not.
[QUOTE=gumtree;8524610]
Fair enough. But most people would like to be able to own their own house at some point To do that one needs to start saving for a down payment pretty early in life on $25k. Most would like to own a nice car and be able to afford a decent vacation also. Most that have this arrangement work far more hours than a “normal” job
Not a lot of job security either. Housing and truck could be gone on any day in any month. Granted IMO this is a young person’s job who isn’t too concerned about the ‘future’. But the days of getting started in what ends up to be one’s life long career latter in life are gone. Unless they plan to be self employed.
It is what it is. But serous thought needs to be given these days. Top grooms, top horse skills require a lot of time and proper mentor ship to acquire. Unfortunately the industry of horses has it’s 'pay ceiling". The majority of people who have ‘top horse skills’ can not be paid what they are truly worth and have earned. IMO[/QUOTE]
I agree but to me what I quoted was for a groom. Most then move on to be barn managers (with a bit better pay and life) to running your own business. The event world doesn’t pay as well as a show groom earns. And those risks are true with most jobs. Personally, I never had trouble finding work as a groom…but if you have a family or others to support…
It was why I personally went back to school.
But if you are young and single and DO NOT own your own horse (which cost a lot and many working people would not afford)…you can make a OK living a kin to many intro white collar jobs but there is not a lot of growth in careers.
It is what it is. When I work out the salary and benefits that many are earning…it is a kin to a 40-45K job. Which is better than many earn.
Last spring, I was offered $500/week, housing, health insurance, horse field board on a different farm, and overseas travel to be a head groom/business manager for an Olympic hopeful. Turned it down to move up to a 6 figure job at my current company. Still get twinges of remorse occasionally but I figure I will work hard at this job until I am 30 and save up as much as I can and then go groom full time.
[QUOTE=CatchMeIfUCan;8524662]
Last spring, I was offered $500/week, housing, health insurance, horse field board on a different farm, and overseas travel to be a head groom/business manager for an Olympic hopeful. Turned it down to move up to a 6 figure job at my current company. Still get twinges of remorse occasionally but I figure I will work hard at this job until I am 30 and save up as much as I can and then go groom full time.[/QUOTE]
Why would you even consider giving up a six figure job to be a professional groom? You can afford to buy a very nice horse and groom him to your heart’s content while still having a secure financial future.
Gumtree, I wonder if most top grooms really plan on owning their own home someday. It seems pretty obvious to me that its a low income career and you need to be willing to make a lot of sacrifices if that is your dream lifestyle. I know Beezie and McLain have long-time grooms that have been with them for 20+ years, WFP’s head girl, Jackie, has been with him for about 24 years. Do any of them own their own homes? They are about as high up as you can go in that field.
[QUOTE=BAC;8524701]
Why would you even consider giving up a six figure job to be a professional groom? You can afford to buy a very nice horse and groom him to your heart’s content while still having a secure financial future.
Gumtree, I wonder if most top grooms really plan on owning their own home someday. It seems pretty obvious to me that its a low income career and you need to be willing to make a lot of sacrifices if that is your dream lifestyle. I know Beezie and McLain have long-time grooms that have been with them for 20+ years, WFP’s head girl, Jackie, has been with him for about 24 years. Do any of them own their own homes? They are about as high up as you can go in that field.[/QUOTE]
I had no aspirations of owning a home (still don’t). I don’t think the modern lifestyle and career demands jive with owning a property that you spend 10-30 years paying off. Especially if you have a spouse, a home that you must sell before you can move is a huge burden on top of needing to find the other spouse a job, move the horses, etc. I would rather rent for the rest of my life and be able to move whenever I want, than to someday pay off a homestead in a place I don’t want to be.
But that’s me, call me millenial. I was perfectly happy to live for free in a very expensive area, work long days 5 days a week, get to do some riding, and live the scene. The only reason I’m not still doing it is because I got a high $$ job that allows me to have a horse and do whatever I want with him on my own time - but if I didn’t have a mortgage and a car payment and a husband, I’d go right back to being a groom again.
It is interesting to compare the salaries mentioned here to my friend that has taught school for 20 years in the same school – she makes about 36k and has raised two kids alone on that, and she’s had to pay back a private school college education + the schooling necessary to get her teaching certificate on that.
Comparatively, that makes the 40-45k a year grooming (salary + the benefits in housing cited by BFNE above) look really reasonable. Obviously, there are trade offs, and a lot of them, but I am pleasantly surprised – I was thinking it would be way lower.
[QUOTE=BAC;8524701]
Why would you even consider giving up a six figure job to be a professional groom? You can afford to buy a very nice horse and groom him to your heart’s content while still having a secure financial future.
Gumtree, I wonder if most top grooms really plan on owning their own home someday. It seems pretty obvious to me that its a low income career and you need to be willing to make a lot of sacrifices if that is your dream lifestyle. I know Beezie and McLain have long-time grooms that have been with them for 20+ years, WFP’s head girl, Jackie, has been with him for about 24 years. Do any of them own their own homes? They are about as high up as you can go in that field.[/QUOTE]
Because it is not the same. I don’t think you can understand if you haven’t done it. It is not about “brushing the pretty pony.” It’s about coordination, learning to be the best, trying new things, problem solving, working hard, traveling around, and seeing them succeed. One horse is very boring to someone who can groom 10 at a competition and take care of 40 at home. It’s like playing t-ball after retiring from the major leagues.
People leave good jobs to “follow their dreams” all the time. Exhibit A and then try googling stories for people that leave high powered jobs to do non-profit work. My dad did, and he is much happier. Money does not equal happiness. And as stated previously, living on $26,000 a year when you have minimal expenses is really not that hard. I calculated out the total salary + benefits to be worth around $40-45k. That’s more than most of my friends my age make. I ultimately didn’t leave my job because I don’t have the safety net I want if an accident were to happen due to the fact that I have owned horses and chose to invest heavily in my 401k.
Honestly, I don’t get the “own a home” thing, especially if you want to have a mobile life style. They aren’t really that great of investments now anyways. What is inferior about choosing to invest in other things?
[QUOTE=Bensmom;8524776]
It is interesting to compare the salaries mentioned here to my friend that has taught school for 20 years in the same school – she makes about 36k and has raised two kids alone on that, and she’s had to pay back a private school college education + the schooling necessary to get her teaching certificate on that.
Comparatively, that makes the 40-45k a year grooming (salary + the benefits in housing cited by BFNE above) look really reasonable. Obviously, there are trade offs, and a lot of them, but I am pleasantly surprised – I was thinking it would be way lower.[/QUOTE]
I do really think our teachers are very under paid. That said…my brother is a teacher and they do get a large amount of time off! He has a business on the side to supplement his earnings.
Just as when I worked with horses…I often had side jobs. But the hardest thing is the job is dangerous…and you get hurt. And without a safety net, that is what sent me back to school to earn a higher living.
I miss working in the barn. And now own a VERY nice one…but am not able to be there as much as I would like. It is why so many of us keep buying that powerball ticket 
The summers of 1982 and 1983 I worked as a groom on the road for a h/j barn. I made $100 a day with all expenses covered (transportation, food, lodging.) Generally worked 12 hour days and would go on the road for weeks at a time with no days off. I was still on my parents health insurance.
As my husband says at any given time you are makin’ money, spendin’ money or sleepin’. Since I had no time to be spendin’ money I ended up the summer with a boat load of money for a college kid.
Doesn’t sound like after almost 30 years that the numbers have changed or even adjusted for inflation.
I’m not a groom per say but I work for a well known 4* rider and do some grooming in addition to barn work and a lot of riding. I get the equivalent of full training board for one horse (4-6 lessons a week), housing, and $200/cash a week. I also do have opportunities to make some extra money including doing trailering, clipping, chores for the farm owners, and teaching lessons.
My days greatly vary. I work between 10 and 18 hour days but that time does include time spent with my own horse and I do get to compete my own horse. I get one day off a week, if time allows, but sometimes it does not!
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.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
