Horse Board Question.....

Question

I might be getting a horse soon, and I want to get a job at the stable I would board him at to pay off his board. The board is $350 CND (includes hay) how much would I have to work to pay off the board. I am guessing that pay would be about minimum wage ($8 an hour) I will have to work more than that to pay off the other expenses, like vet and farrier bills, and any other things. Anyone know how much I would have to work?

Answer 1

If you do work for $8/hour, then you'd figure it would take approximately 44 hours a month, or 11 hours a week.  Chances are though, you might not get $8 an hour, or you might not be able to work off the entire board.  Most barns, if they do allow people to work off board, will probably only allow a certain amount to be discounted.  When I was working off board a few years back, I was able to get about $100 discounted.  The reason why barns are really likely to allow people to really work off board is generally, if they are large enough barns, they would need to order plenty of food and supplies for all the horses.  Allowing someone to work off the board means it's one less space for a fully paying customer.

Also, it would really depend if you're just working off the board and therefore are credited the hours worked in return for not having to pay X amount of money, or if they've hired you and you are on salary, and therefore getting the extra money to pay for the vet and farrier.  In which case, you might have to work more hours a day.  Which may or may not mean you would have any time to spend with your horse.

Another thing is, you're only 13 right?  I'm not exactly sure what the child labor laws are in Canada and/or your province, but it might be possible that the barn can't legally hire you depending on your age, and the kind of work you'd be required to do.  And because you have to go to school for most of the day, you'd only be able to work in the afternoons, and that would mean little or no time spent actually taking care of your own horse.

I don't mean to discourage you, and I do think that if people want something badly enough, they'll work to make it happen.  But things may be out of your hands.  Do talk to your barn, and see what they have to say, though.  Maybe they have a working student position you can try for.  It won't be a horse of your own, but you might get more riding time in.

Answer 2

About 20 - 25 hours a week at the pay that includes tax you would have about 480 to 560 a month on that pay.  

Answer 3

haha min wage at a barn?? wow where every do you live? i want to work there.most places wont pay min wage, why pay when the horse loving kids will do it for next to nothing?

you'll have to work a good bit to get to half way. i knew adults that worked at the barn who worked their behinds off 5 days a week for full board.

Answer 4

$350 a month to board

/ 8 which is about what minimum wage is

= 43.75

so you'd have to work a total of 44 hours a month.

lets say you want enough money to pay for new tack, vet bills, etc...

you'd need an extra $300 a month.

$350+$300=$650

$650/8=81.25 so you'd have to work about 82 hours in a month.

82/4=20.5

4 being weeks in a month.

so you'd have to work 20.5 hours a week.

Thats about 3 hours a day!!!

unless you wanted some days off.. then you'll have to work it out with the manager! lol

Hope this clarifies for you!

Answer 5

You would have to work quite a bit to pay off that much.

Do you know if they will let you work to pay it all off. At the barn I take lessons at you can pay $30 for the first lesson a week and then you can come another day and muck out stalls and then get another lesson for free but you cant just work to pay the board you have to pay for that.

I suggust checking with your trainer or whoever you are going to be paying the board to and see how much you would have to work