Please help me!?

Question

I am trying to get my mom to get me a horse. She said I can if this farm will let me work off board. What is a good switch for board? Like how many days/hours per week? $6.15 is the minimum wage around here and board is $375 a month, but I don't think they will go by minimum wage. What are good chores to do? Does anyone work off board now? What do you do and how often do you do it? All help is deeply appreciated! Thank you!

It would just make it easier for my mom if I could work off board. We can afford other costs- vet, farrier, dentist, etc. And we have money put away for injury or surgery or sickness. I personally don't want my parents having all of the expenses, so if I can work off board, I would feel like I was pitching in. I don't want to be one of the spoiled little girls who have parents that get them everything and they don't try and help.

I already know that they would really like help. I went up today and met the owners. I just want to know what people are doing now to work off board- so they don't take advantage of me working and I don't take advantage of being able to work off board.

Answer 1

well when i did it i hated it just to let you know.. the man i did that for would NEVER let me work with my horse.. i had to get there by 5 30 am to even think about working with my horse.. worked over 8 hours a day and he never let me do any thing.. i had to use his horses for a trail ride when i lead them i had to ride drag on his horses.. i had to clean stalls and water. saddle and unsaddle more than once a day. i had to train the horses he was suppose to train and he would have me do it..even though i loved it i still hadn't worked with my horses. i fainlly started to skip school so i could just work with my horse when he was not there. he acted like he owned me and one full months of work was one month board. and that was 7 day a week on the week days i worked 5 hours after school and on the week ends i worked 8 hour to 12 hours. and at this time i was in the same spot of being able to pay a board well he kicked me out because i wouldn't work on sunday because i have church and a family day.. i missed my sisters childed brith i missed every thing because he worked to death i mean i lost about 50 lbs because he worked me all the time and i only had time to work and do home work.. not including waking up at 5 30 to try to work with my horse and i stayed a 1 hour after work to work with mine.. but you normally do stalls feed water saddling and unsaddling, just stuff like that..

and just to think now i'm a great horse owner and a great trainer and i even breed..
goes to show what happens when you put sweat and blood in to something you love..

Answer 2

Go to the place where you will be boarding/working. Only they can make a deal with you. Negotiate. There is no hard and fast rules, you have to work something out, or not, depending on how the owner of the place feels about it.
You might get there and find they don't need or want any more help. Then what are you gonna do?

Answer 3

Generally you will muck stalls, feed, water, sweep, and possibly groom other horses.

You are correct is assuming that farm work has nothing to do with minimum wage requirements. Stable help is often paid far below the minimum.

I have known people who have gotten reduced board for simply taking care of their own horse, buying their own feed & hay, doing their own turnout, etc. This is going to require you to be at the barn in the morning and in the afternoon.

Answer 4

I was going to get a standardbred and do the same thing- work at a barn to pay board. Then I relized $4,000 a year in boarding alone. You also need vet, ferrier, tack, and a lot more. It would be one thing if you had a ton of money saved up, but it will go fast. And if it gets hurt badly, how will you pay for a $2000 vet bill out of the blue.

Answer 5

why don't you just go up to the barn owners and ask about it? I'm sure you'll find some way to get a horse. good luck!