Braiding at events??

[CarolinaGirl]

How many people pay to have other people braid for them at events? I've always braided my own horses and sometimes helped and done some other horses in my barn. I suppose I was the "resident braider"... everyone wanted me to braid for them. I've never noticed fliers or anything advertising for it, unless it was leftover from a previous hunter show. So I'm assuming most people braid their own?

I ask this because I recently got let go from my job and I'm planning to start school again in January so I'm not sure its really worth it to even find a part time job as it would only be for 8 weeks or so. I'm also going to be helping my mother with my brother's fixer upper house he is buying starting in November. So really would be doing it just for some spending money, and who doesn't love going to events!?! I do "hunter" style braids with the yarn (although I do not do 50+ like they do lol). Anyway I do a pretty nice job, LessonLearned and Eventer-n-SC can vouch for them. I'm pretty sure I have a picture or two, but they are on another computer. Obviously I would need to do enough to compensate for gas, but I drive a Ford Focus so thats no a major issue lol, and such so I'm guessing I'd probably charge $30 a horse?

Opinions? Would it be worth trying to do? Do you think there is enough interest?

[KSevnter]

I used to do this all the time as a kid, started when I was 12 and made pretty good money. I averaged 3-5 per event, plus my own. Just look for the ammies with a full-time jobs...they will be all for it. Back then I only knew how to do the braids you are refering too and it was fine. But you can teach yourself to braid with thread and needle in about 2 seconds and it is actually easier.

I had a little flyer I would post on the side of the stabling and for my PC's horse trial I ran an ad in the program.

Oh and look for opening hunt meets, those were my bank roll! I did 9 horses in a night and made some serious cash!

[Aussie08]

I would recommend you doing it. There are lots of us out there that have no talent or patience for it and would love to know that we didn't have to face it.

Why don't you do up a little flyer (just with the type braids you do, name and contact #) and post them at the show you'll be going to. You could email the secy or organizer ahead of time and double check it's ok. But post it at or near the office, at the scoreboard area and around stabling. Also, you might start a thread letting COTH people know ahead of time which shows you'll be going to. Several people have posted that they were looking for braiders.

You price is right on line with what others are charging.

I have started to see flyers at the shows I've recently been to.

What area are you planning on serving? If I'm going to a show that you'll be braiding, I'll plan on setting it up ahead of time. PM me with your info, so I'll know who to look for.

Good luck!

[CANTEREOIN]

I don't do it for a living and not interested in doing it for anyone but friends but I charge:

Friends - nothing

All others - $50.

I get requests from dressage riders who know I braid, know I'm good at it and get this, like to do it. I have to charge them... because of the time it takes and my availability. $50 doesn't seem to be a problem.

However, if you want to do it to make money... I'm sure you'll get a bigger following at $30 or $40. And, don't forget the dressage market since they seem to have more money to spend for showing.

Note: Friends are free... I have lots of friends... hmmmmmmm

[joharavhf]

I'm a very good braider myself, so I typically don't hire it out.....If I could
find someone who could do just as good a job (or BETTER) for $30 or $40 I would DEFINITELY pay it!

I'm in Area I.....not doing any recognized events, but I braid for EVERY show I go to.....It's a "thing" I have about putting my best foot forward and what not!

[luise]

$30 is about right. I would put of a sample picture on your flyer so people know what your braids look like. I do button braids, which I prefer over hunter braids.
go for it!

[Mudroom]

I am always paying someone to do it at events around area VIII. I usually pay $25 or $30.

[deltawave]

I always braid my own (not for unrecognized unless I have lots of time) and will do my friends' horses for free, but have never paid a braider, nor been paid to braid. At least not in recent memory. :lol:

However, that doesn't mean I would be averse to doing this for a good cause--a young up-and-comer who is making ends meet by braiding, for instance. :) I think I would pay extra to have yarn braids taken OUT, though--what a PITA job! I might even insist on non-sewn braids because the sewn-in ones are hell on the mane. Picky, picky, picky . . . ;)

$25-30 is reasonable. Heck, I pay $10 to the 4H kids who are shining boots for a fund-raiser. Braids are a LOT more work!!

[Little Valkyrie]

Not to steal the thread, but would you pay for nice button braids that are not sewn in, but just banded in? thanks!

[bludini]

I do button braids, which I prefer over hunter braids.


i love the look of button braids but cannot seem to get the hang of it, so my horse gets 30 some odd hunter braids.

[cevent]

Opinions? Would it be worth trying to do? Do you think there is enough interest?

Yes, I think there is enough interest. Where in SC are you? I second calling up the organizers and double checking that you can post an AD at the events that you are planning on going to. Go to your local tack and feed stores and see if you can put an AD up there listing what events you'll be going to, your price, and a photo of your braids. Also, if your willing to do a bit of traveling locally, mention that you'll go to people's barns to braid. If your open to this, then you can get into the dressage and/or hunter/jumper crowd, especially the H/J's if you can do tails! I also second keeping an ear out for opening meets. If your willing to do a few late nights or early mornings, thats the best way to get some serious cash!

Not to steal the thread, but would you pay for nice button braids that are not sewn in, but just banded in? thanks!

I think people are open to nice button braids that are banded. That's primarily what I do and I've done some on foxhunters for opening meets, whose owners could care less if they are sewn in or banded, as long as they look good!

[mjrtango93]

So I am in CA and braid at all the events I go to. I do the hunter braids that are yarn tied in as well as the dressage balls that are tied in. Takes me about 30 minutes a neck and they are tight and tidy looking. I charge $30 a horse. Even with riding I can fairly easily do about 10 if they aren't all bunched around my ride time, or I can do some the night before.

If you really want some money, hook up with a H/J braider if your good enough. They generally charge $45 a neck here and that is like 8-10 a night, then tails are $25 a horse and take like 10 minutes. The horses get braided and unbraided almost daily so there is money there. Not a job for the weak of heart though. We have 2 girls at the barn that do this full time for a living, but are gone for weeks on end and live a vampire life as they are literally braided at night. They do make really good money though.

[Kimberlee]

My eventing habit was supported by my braiding as a teenager. Now I braid for dressage and sporthorse shows.

Definitly worth putting it out there that you are braiding and what your fee is. Most will have you repeat braid for them at different events. I braided 10 horses an event plus my own, and therefore could cover the entry fees for the next event:) I did it for $20, but typically I did only 10 to 15 button type braids on horses that did not have pulled manes, so they tended to be very chunky braids;).

[SilvyFilly]

My coach suggested i learn how to braid so I could do it at shows. She has many stories where people who don't braid are so desperate for someone to braid they end up paying around $100. Also sometimes it has a lot to do with how fast you are compared to how good the braids are because sometimes people leave it to the last minute, and will sometimes pay whatever it will cost with whatever time they give you to do it in. I plan on going to some big hunter/jumper shows and braiding (while using PTO at my day job!) thats double dipping right? Haha!

[CarolinaGirl]

Thanks for all the advice! I'm going to Tryon in about a week and a half for their HT. I am riding in the event, but thought maybe I might try and get a few braid jobs in.
This is really the only picture I have of the braids I do.. so would have to get more decent ones. This was a morgan/fresian mare.. I think I count about 24 braids in there. I would say it takes about 30 minutes per horse.
http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/9/24/f_Braidsm_1c7f34b.jpg&srv=img28

I actually used to sew in my braids when I first started... but I'm much better at the yarn. I also find getting waxed thread of sewn in braids MUCH hard to get out than the yarn!

[luise]

Thanks for all the advice! I'm going to Tryon in about a week and a half for their HT. I am riding in the event, but thought maybe I might try and get a few braid jobs in.
This is really the only picture I have of the braids I do.. so would have to get more decent ones. This was a morgan/fresian mare.. I think I count about 24 braids in there. I would say it takes about 30 minutes per horse.
http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/9/24/f_Braidsm_1c7f34b.jpg&srv=img28

I actually used to sew in my braids when I first started... but I'm much better at the yarn. I also find getting waxed thread of sewn in braids MUCH hard to get out than the yarn!

I think your braids look very nice. To get the waxed threads out, just use a seam ripper. Very easy.
I do button braids, probably a total of 12-15. I've never counted. Takes me about an hour, but I'm a braiding novice. Seriously, I just learned this summer and have only braided for 2 events. I find the button braids pretty easy.

[ThirdCharm]

I can braid, quite nicely IISSM, but I hate doing it. I'd be happy to pay someone else to do it. Don't suppose you're near Pine Top this weekend? :-)

There are always flyers up for braiders at the events we go to.....

Jennifer

[CarolinaGirl]

I can braid, quite nicely IISSM, but I hate doing it. I'd be happy to pay someone else to do it. Don't suppose you're near Pine Top this weekend? :-)

There are always flyers up for braiders at the events we go to.....

Jennifer

No, I haven't gotten myself that together yet lol. I will be at FENCE/Tryon the next weekend though. Planning to get there early on friday so will have plenty time if anyone wants me! lol I'll probably look at the omnibus in the next few days and see what I come up with.

[Kairoshorses]

The last time I braided, it looked really nice....but I literally couldn't unclasp my hand the next morning.

So now I pay someone. And you know what? If I like what they do and I know they're working to support their eventing habit, young rider, etc., I give them a nice tip. It's worth it to me to be able to move my hands the next day!:lol:

[tikidoc]

I have always braided myself (hunter and dressage shows, I just started eventing a year ago) but I allowed myself the luxury of paying someone at MayDaze at the KY Horse Park this year. She did buttons, maybe 15 of them, and charged $30. I think she told me she charged $45 for hunter shows. I think my hands are getting a little arthritis, so it was worth every penny.

[Shrapnel]

I can't wait until Gully's Pilot "weigh's in" on this thread!!!!!!!!!! :lol::D:lol:

[Zephyr]

At Kentucky Classique a gal had posted flyers all over the barns - $25 for braiding. She was the only one advertising.

I do exactly 18 hunter-type yarn braids on my (little) horse's neck for events. They look nice, and i used to be a groom and have to do 4 horses every weekend, so i don't mind doing it. Most people would pay $25-$40 depending on which area of the country, though.

Best of luck to you! Sounds like a great idea to make some $!