How much would you charge to back a horse?

[nickynoo]

Just wondering coz some people are defiantly overpriced!!

[Willem vd Mescht]

Thats a difficult question. Personally I would charge per session, with no guarantees. That way it would be fair to both me and the client. Since if the horse is quick to respond the client don't pay that much and if not, I won't loose out.

Some time ago I was asked to help start a horse, called Sky, an experience I'll never forget. Only once I got their I was told that they are to break in this horse for a client and that after 8 months they were getting nowhere. Took about 5 weeks, three sessions per week to get him started under saddle.

I don't like getting on a horse for the first time myself, for two reasons: By nature I'm a very nervous person and the horse pick up on that and secondly I believe that the person doing the ground work (usually me) should stay on the ground to give the horse confidence while someone else get on.

Anyway, the day that I said Sky is now ready to be mounted there were some kids around saying they want to see Mr X (Don't want to give names here in public) fall off today and he said no he won't fall. He got on, rode a bit in the arena and then rode out with some other horses. When he got back he said: "See, I told you I won't fall" and the little girl said: "But Sky didn't do anything" That made me feel so proud cause I knew it was my work that made him not do anything.

[nickynoo]

I got quite allot of quotes for R3500, R2500 and then found someone who is willing to work it in sessions for R70.  But I will start the ground work, getting him lunged and make him used to the tack etc.  Basically she is just going to get on.

I have had a bad experience with backing a horse before and would not attempt it again unless I know the horse very well and trust it.

[Alison]

Hi Nickynoo

Had someone in JHB start a pony for me and she charged R120 per session. Could be anything from 1/2 and hour to 11/2 hours depending on the horse. She only came once a week, but she said ideally should be 3 - 4 times a week. She took around 4 months to get the pony backed and going nicely at the walk and trot. Didn't canter though as our arena was a bit small. She was a Natural Horse Starter and a Parelli Level 1 Practitioner so I trusted her implicitly. I would not trust just anyone as one wrong move at that stage can undo everything. Good Luck.