What's the going rate for getting a horse broken?

Ms. Pingui

A friend of mine has an older horse who has never been ridden and wants to send him away for a few weeks to get him going. I haven't the time to help her out at the moment. Does anyone have an idea of how much this would cost?

Ave Sodalis

I think there's a massive between one breaker and another, depending on several things: their skills, what the horse has done already, whether the people breaking rent or own the facilities and so on. The last person I worked for charged 80 euro a week for a five week programme including livery. It's best just asking around to see who's most reliable for the cheapest.

Ms. Pingui

sup_dude wrote: »

I think there's a massive between one breaker and another, depending on several things: their skills, what the horse has done already, whether the people breaking rent or own the facilities and so on. The last person I worked for charged 80 euro a week for a five week programme including livery. It's best just asking around to see who's most reliable for the cheapest.

Well she'd be looking for someone experienced an reliable.Obviously someone who's not going to be rough with the horse. He has done some work, has no problem being handled in any way. He can be tacked up easily (including tightening girth), be lunged (right rein only though!) and you can movements make movements around his sides and back without him being spooked.
The real problem is he hasn't done much in terms of being mouthed (that she knows of) and sitting on him at all is a no go.

80 per week seems very reasonable. Do you mind me asking what part of the country that was? I've a few names to give her, just no idea what anyone is charging these days. I broke my last few horses myself.

Ave Sodalis

I'm afraid she's in Donegal and I think she sold her yard since so I'm not sure if she is still breaking. What area is she in? Well handled/lungeing etc makes it a lot easier so it could be cheaper or I know a few people who, if they offer something like 5 weeks, they'd continue the horse's schooling.

Ms. Pingui

sup_dude wrote: »

I'm afraid she's in Donegal and I think she sold her yard since so I'm not sure if she is still breaking. What area is she in? Well handled/lungeing etc makes it a lot easier so it could be cheaper or I know a few people who, if they offer something like 5 weeks, they'd continue the horse's schooling.

She's in south Tipp. A bit of extra schooling would be great if she could get it. She wouldn't be the most confident rider.

monflat

I'd say there should be lots of fairly reliable places in tipp.
Not sure do boolagh stud take breakers.

I have in d past paid 150 a week. Very experienced yard and horse was properly produced. I have never had a horse like it before she turned out to be the best one I ever had as she got top schooling.

nearzero

sup_dude wrote: »

I think there's a massive between one breaker and another, depending on several things: their skills, what the horse has done already, whether the people breaking rent or own the facilities and so on. The last person I worked for charged 80 euro a week for a five week programme including livery. It's best just asking around to see who's most reliable for the cheapest.

Wow 80 euro a week seems incredibly cheap for livery never mind breaking included!

I do wonder how people are making money with such low costs... but each to their own I guess

Ah_Yeah

I would expect to pay at least €130+ a week for proper, professional schooling livery. If in Dublin, I'd be expecting to pay a lot more.

Some places charge €120-€150 per week for full livery alone, so to include an hour or more per day, 4-6 days per week to ride a horse, and include insurance etc in that, you would need to pay at least that if not more.

At €80 per week I'd be wondering how they're making any money, and what corners they're cutting to even break even at that cost. I couldn't even see full livery being profitable at that price.

Ave Sodalis

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

I would expect to pay at least €130+ a week for proper, professional schooling livery. If in Dublin, I'd be expecting to pay a lot more.

Some places charge €120-€150 per week for full livery alone, so to include an hour or more per day, 4-6 days per week to ride a horse, and include insurance etc in that, you would need to pay at least that if not more.

At €80 per week I'd be wondering how they're making any money, and what corners they're cutting to even break even at that cost. I couldn't even see full livery being profitable at that price.

It was a deal rate

Valentina

My yard charges I think €130 for breaking (natural horsemanship methods) including full livery. Timewise depends on the horse. Some are there a few weeks, others a bit longer.

My own horse had a bit of re schooling with them and I found the work to be very good and to a very high standard. They are very patient with both horse and rider

They will also take horses showing/trialling etc to give them some confidence. Not sure, but they probably charge extra for this.

Rips

Ah_Yeah wrote: »

I would expect to pay at least €130+ a week for proper, professional schooling livery. If in Dublin, I'd be expecting to pay a lot more.

Some places charge €120-€150 per week for full livery alone, so to include an hour or more per day, 4-6 days per week to ride a horse, and include insurance etc in that, you would need to pay at least that if not more.

At €80 per week I'd be wondering how they're making any money, and what corners they're cutting to even break even at that cost. I couldn't even see full livery being profitable at that price.

There would definitely be cowboys around the country charging low prices and breaking horses cheap and fast. However, I have used three breaking yards in the past 3 years that charged about €80/week and had no issues. As in, no corners cut, brought on slowly, professionally and properly.

I had a young horse who was completely unhandled broken in at a yard that I researched well. Nothing fancy but it suited my purposes and they certainly were not cutting corners. Since she had no work done at all, they said they would charge me livery for 4 weeks (€80/week) and €100/week for 8 weeks thereafter, or however long it took.

As it happens, I had some personal circumstances which meant I couldn't collect the horse and she was there for 16 weeks, and my final bill amounted to €75/week on average.
She had one set of shoes on with that and was wormed, she also had the vet out for a kick injury to the shoulder, for which I saw no evidence of and never did her a bit of harm either. I gave them money on top as I was so happy with the job they did and felt that it was daylight robbery with all they did and what they asked for.

Then I've used two different schooling yards since that have charged €80 a week, very good riders, very good work. One skimps a bit on quality of forage and I think a breaker would have been more expensive, the other doesn't have turnout, but you couldn't find a better rider in either place for the job I wanted done.

I was never searching based on price. You have to remember the market is still quite bad in respect of prices and there are still a lot of people breaking to sell. I suppose as a rule of thumb you would expect to pay 'full livery' price for the appropriate area with additions extra, and in Dublin €130/€150 wouldn't be shy of that. But in Tipperary? Well, I dunno, unless breakers are thin on the ground :P

wicklow rider

Where are you?.
I could take a look at her for you. PM me for more info

Wobbly_Legs

I have a 4yr old at the moment, he has been broken by well known eventers and now stays in full livery with them.
I pay €140 a week in Cork and this includes schooling daily, now he is broken.
However, it all depends of what your friend wishes to make of the horse, as to which yard / breakers she chooses to go with.
What hopes has she for the horse in the future? Does she want to ride to a high level or a riding club standard?
I am sure if your friends wishes for a riding club level many breakers would be available for reasonable prices.
And in my opinion You'd certainly be paying more than €100 a week for professional breaking inc. livery.