Hey - does anyone out there groom for fee? I have been harnessed (pun intended) into grooming by members of my barn, and they offer to pay me, but I don't have a clue what to charge for various jobs. What do people typically charge for:
braiding?
body clipping?
general care, bathing, tacking, etc for a show?
I am accustomed to national shows and their prices, so here are the numbers that come to mind...
A full body clip of a really hairy horse is over $100.
Braiding: Does $30 sound about right?
For a show, I would charge by the day. Depends on how long you will be with the horse and what you will be doing. Not less than $100 for braiding, bathing, tacking, mucking, feeding. Too low? Too high? Depends on the type of show as well. Fees for a schooling show would be different than fees for a national show. Also, it depends on how many classes the rider is going in.
Yes, Barbara is right. Fees do vary by state somewhat, and by level/rating of show a lot! But generally, Barbara's pricing for body clipping and braiding is pretty correct for the going rate here (in FL). For being the show groom, $100.00 per day would be if it were doing everything for 1-2 horses, from beginning to end (which could mean 4am to 10pm), and no motel room. "Professional" show grooming is grueling work for not much compensation...but it gives you one heck of an education!! I usually ask one of the students to do it in trade for lessons (and I provide the transportation and meals), and they are wonderful! :-)
$100/day seems to be the going rate for a show groom as advertised on our website. I agree with the fees that are described here - they all seem about average.