What are Freelance Grooms and how do I become one?
by Kelly Wallace Horne
The appeal of a working life flitting from yard to yard, meeting many, many new horses (and people of course!) is understandable but is this perception realistic? Here I will attempt to give you an overview of freelance grooming – the ins and outs and pros and cons in a nutshell…
What’s the difference between Freelance Grooms and other Grooms?
As discussed in our article The difference between employed, self-employed and Freelance Grooms, the legal difference between Freelance Grooms and other Grooms is their employment status – Freelance Grooms are self-employed, and self-employed grooms are referred to as being “freelance” – other Grooms are employed (on the payroll). Freelance Grooms work as independent service providers, in the same respect as a Farrier, and Equine Dentist or an Equine Massage Therapist. This means that Freelance Grooms don’t have employers and don’t have a job per se – they are their own boss. Instead, the person who would ordinarily be a Groom’s employer is a Freelance Groom’s customer/client.
How do Freelance Grooms Work?
Freelance Grooms can work in a variety of scenarios and quite often will have regular clients, however it is important to note that if they regularly work for the same person the relationship must be one of “client” and “freelancer” – not employer and employee. For example the freelancer should have more than one client, and therefore would tell a client that they were not available to attend on a certain day rather than ask for a day off.
Freelance Grooms advertise their services and their availability locally, and they also register with an agency like The Grooms List by Caroline Carter Recruitment to advertise their services and find work opportunities. Register as a Freelance Groom now.
Freelance Grooms can offer a range of equine services to all sorts of equestrian establishments, from private horse owners to commercial yards. To give you an idea of what this might include:
Holiday cover for a private horse owner or yard owner.- Replacing a groom on holiday leave or sick leave from a professional or commercial yard.
- “Extra pair of hands” cover for random busy periods that don’t require an additional member of staff full time permanently.
- Competition grooming at big shows which require an extra pair of hands or a specialist show groom.
- Emergency cover when a permanent groom injures themselves and needs down-time to recover.
- Emergency cover to assist with taking a horse to the veterinary hospital
- To cover a permanent groom’s days off.
- To clip horses or prepare horses for shows
- To train up a novice member of staff.
- Lunging, long reining, schooling, hacking/general exercising horses.
If a Freelance Groom is good and a client appreciates their demeanor, work ethic, and abilities they will, more often than not, hire that Freelance Groom again in future and recommend them to their friends and associates.
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What are Freelance Groom Jobs?
Technically there is no such thing as Freelance Groom jobs because Freelance Grooms aren’t employed and don’t have employers. However, sometimes horse owners and yard owners will advertise that they need emergency, holiday or sickness cover so it’s a good idea to set up a Job Alert so you receive an email each time such an opportunity opens your area and is added to The Grooms List.
How much do Freelance Grooms earn?
As a self-employed Freelance Groom the National Minimum Wage laws that apply to employed staff do not apply to you, so the law does not dictate that you must be paid any minimum amount per hour. Your hourly rate is your responsibility alone. However, you need to be very realistic when working out an hourly rate, and the National Minimum Wage for your age is a good place to calculate from. You need to factor in Income Tax, National Insurance contributions, insurance, fuel for travelling to various yards, any expenses associated with additional services you offer (plaiting bands, shampoos and lotions, clipper servicing etc), and not least of all the fact that you are not earning a guaranteed regular income. It is not uncommon for Freelance Grooms to charge between £15 and £25 an hour, depending on their age, experience and the type of equine services they offer.
Who can become a Freelance Groom?
Anyone who is over 18 years old and is competent and capable of caring for horses can be a Freelance Groom. And by competent and capable we mean you must have had plenty of experience caring for horses. Freelance grooming is often a favoured route for established grooms who wish to settle in one area, have their own home and work on a live out basis. These Freelance Grooms are often the most successful and sought after, as their previous experience working as a groom means they are well prepared for working in unfamiliar yards and dealing with unfamiliar horses with no introduction to their characters and foibles.
It is not a viable work option for someone who has simply been for riding lessons as a child, or had loan-a-pony days when they were young, and anyone fitting this description will be better to look for a trainee role in an equestrian establishment and start a career with horses via that route.
When you start accepting contracts from horse/yard owners you must register for income tax with HMRC. You can find yourself in very hot water if you neglect to do this!
If you would like assistance and/or advice regarding finding freelance grooms or freelance grooms work opportunities in the equine industry please don’t hesitate to contact us.
 