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| Not something I can do right now but making future plans to take in a horse or two each month for starting the pattern or tuning the horse already going. I'm looking or tips on rules you set with the owner, what expenses owner pays for and just in general what to watch out for.  |
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| 102 views and no comments. Does anybody take outside horses anymore? |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
  
Location: Texas | I charge one fee for horses who bring their own feed/hay and add like $50 per month on horses who I feed my own stuff too. Usually they at least bring feed and I charge just for the hay they use.
Everything I have done so far has been verbal agreement- they want 30 days or whatever, and nothing is signed. I've never had to sign anything for when I sent mine off, but in the future if I take more outside horses, I will probably have a contract written up. I've never had issues with bad checks either but I haven't taken many outside horses.
If I haul a horse, which I have always been on green horses so they never left home, I charge for any exhibitions and don't charge diesel as long as I have a hole in the trailer. If I have to bring a second trailer I'd charge for fuel. |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24954
Location: WYOMING | - Contract, contract, contract.
- When they say trigger is broke and READY to start plan on 30 days of basics.
- When they drop Trigger of skinny, take a picture and let them know that he may loose a bit of wt. during training... do they want to take him home and put that much needed 200 lbs on him that he is lacking.
Heck for that matter take a drop off and send home picture of each horse.
- When they say oh yea his teeth were just done, find out what JUST means. sometimes it means in the past 5 yrs,
- When they drop Trigger of over wt and completely out of shape let them know it may be 30 days of getting him in shape enough to actually accomplish something during training.
- COMMUNICATION is key. Keep the owner in the loop. They are already nervous about sending their horse off so ease their minds, answer the calls, txts, FB msgs. It may be just another horse to train for you but it is their future NFR champion.
Good luck and have fun!
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| Thanks! Please keep the tips coming! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 915
Location: SE KS | These are a few things I cover or concerns I have when I drop my horse off for training. I haven't signed a contract with a trainer. I have reputable references already. I am open to doing either way with trainer supplying feed & hay or me doing that. I plan to drop by unannounced to check on my horses well being, however it will be during normal hours. I do like weekly updates, but not necessary, but will call for a 2 week update. If horse is hurt, I expect horse tended to first & a call asap, normal scrapes or scratches, can be mentioned when we talk. I know my horse will lose weight when being ridden, but shouldn't look like a bag of bones.
I have dropped the same horse off at two different trainers. From one trainer he came back scratched up (nothing bad, little nicks & scrapes) & had lost a little weight, also looked like he'd never been brushed or curried. The other trainer had his tail braided, his coat glistened & it didn't look like he'd lost a pound, plus not a mark on him.
Both trainers did the job asked & the colt works like he's supposed to! I will use both again.
(I'm not making a point, just showing the different ends of the spectrum) |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Definately have a contract. That's how court cases start.
Also check into your state laws. What happens if the horse gets hurt while in your care? Who will be responsible for the bills?
What if the horse is sick and you cannot get a hold of the owner?
What if you get hurt and cannot continue to work with the horses? How many days will the owner have to come and get their horse? If they've prepaid, how will you refund?
How much will you charge? Do they have to pay part or all upfront?
Just try to think about every possible scenario that can happen. Then put it in writing. Yes, 99% of the time you will not have to use it. But that one time that something bad happens, you are going to be glad you've got everything in writing.
I would not send a horse to a trainer without a contract. JMO
You can kind of set it up however you like, but most of the time, I expect the training fee to also include board and hay for the horse. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Here's some examples:
http://4mhorsetraining.com/includes/TrainingContract.pdf
http://nehorsetraining.com/Training-Contract.pdf |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I would make a list of your rules when you take someone else's horses such as
Whether owners can come unannounced, or do they need to call make an appointment at least 2 days in advance.
Will you be providing a video of the progress weekly
What you are willing to feed the horse, hay, grain, or is grain extra.
What shape do the horses have to be in before arrival, teeth, chiro, feet.
Do the horses need to be current on vaccinations, coggins, and health cert.
Will the horse be kept with others or in a separate pen.
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| Thanks keep 'em coming! My biggest red flags are:
-Payment options (i.e. all up front, half now half later, all when they pick up..???),
-what happens if the horse gets hurt accidentaly (obviuosly not on purpose)? I was thinking something along the lines of what my vet does when i board my dogs. There is a statement that you have to sign stating how much you are willing to pay in an emergency and they are not able to get a hold of you.
-What about some kind of liability insurance?
And, is it "OK" to set guidelines on horses you will and will not take? Since i'm just looking to pattern the young broke horse/tune the finished horse on the barrels, i don't want any rank 2yr old with 3 days on it. Is it wrong if someone tell you one thing and then they bring it and you know it's just all wrong, to tell them thanks but no thanks b/c you lied to me or becuase our definitions of Broke are completely different.
Contracts are a given and i just want to make sure i'm covered.
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