Rates for Body Clippings ect. for mini horses

[xcPayge]

Hi guys! I'm a broke event working student who is going to start doing side grooming/clipping work on my days off for some quick cash. I'm experienced in clip work and usually charge about $145 per horse and $130 per pony plus group discounts. My question for you guys is what should i charge for miniature horses? It's hard to say since the cost of blades are about $30.. I was thinking $65 per horse is that way too cheap. Let me know what you guys think or what you would charge/have paid. Thanks everyone!!



*Also what do you think about my current rates for this year? (145,130).

[Lazy Palomino Hunter]

Well, I don't know about rates, but I can warn you...

I clipped a mini (leadline pony) a few years ago. First, a few pictures, because it was freaking adorable. The fact that the mini was a silver dapple and changed colors really dramatically added something especially cute.

Right side, before (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/farreach04/HairyNosey.jpg)
Right side, after (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/farreach04/NoseyClip.jpg)

Left side, before (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/farreach04/HairyNosey2.jpg)
Left side, after (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/farreach04/SleepyNoseyClip.jpg)

Front, before (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/farreach04/HairyFace.jpg)
Front, after (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/farreach04/ClipFace.jpg)

And last picture, just cute (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/farreach04/NoseyClipFace.jpg).

Okay, but my thoughts on clipping minis:
1) It can be a little hard because they have all kinds of little spots that can be hard to get to, e.g. between their back legs, the back part of their stomach/inside of their back legs, the underside of their jaw. I admit that I am a pretty slow clipper, but it took me nearly as long to clip that mini as it did to clip a normal sized animal.

2) I did something horrible to my lower back clipping the mini. Most of the time when you clip, you can bend a little bit and reach the appropriate places just fine. You need to be a lot closer to the ground than that to successfully clip something so small, though (and kneeling obviously isn't very safe). I'm tall (5'10"), and spending an hour and a half or so completely bent over was excruciatingly painful.

It actually didn't hurt while I was clipping, but later that night and for a pretty long time afterward my lower back was messed up... when I stood up, I'd have to walk a little ways before I was even able to stand up straight because it would spasm so badly.

Just some things to keep in mind! Again, sorry for not having any help with the rates question.

[xcPayge]

Thank you very much for all of your advice, and that mini... is absolutely ADORABLE! I have a large set of body clippers and a very good small speed for those hard to reach areas. And i will definitely be bringing a small stool along with me to sit on! I have lower back pain so i may even bring along my back support.


Thanks again for the imput!:)

[littleum]

Miniature trainers typically charge $100-$150 for a pre-show clip, and $50 if you just need the face "mask" and balding done. Normally when you have a hairy winter beast the horse is clipped before the first show just to get all the fuzz off (full price) and again right before the show for the actual show clip (full price)

Miniatures, in my (considerable) experience, are MUCH worse then big horses about ears and lower legs. And the hair is very thick (even when they're not fuzz balls and you're just cleaning them up) so it eats blades, and getting a nice smooth trackless clip is an art. Getting off winter fuzz WILL destroy your blades, no matter how clean the horse is.

Honestly, if someone presented me with a fuzz ball Miniature, I'd say $150. Trust me... it's not worth the headache for less.

[FindersKeepers]

Same price as for ponies... no doubt. Minis are really tough. They has thick hair, and they wiggle. A lot. And your back will hurt, a lot. I just did one a month ago.

I went through 3 sets of blades to clip the little monster. He was well behaved, considering. He was also super clean, I bathed him myself before I got started. Still went through 3 blades.

They are so stinking cute though...

[Go Fish]

Well, I used to body clip my friends minis for her about 2-3 times a month. I could get them done lickety split. The bad part is having to literally lay down to do parts of them. I could get one done (show clip) in about an hour. I think $75 or less is fair. BTW - you won't go through the blades as fast because you are clipping about 1/4 of a full size horse.

[GleeRider]

Well, I used to body clip my friends minis for her about 2-3 times a month. I could get them done lickety split. The bad part is having to literally lay down to do parts of them. I could get one done (show clip) in about an hour. I think $75 or less is fair. BTW - you won't go through the blades as fast because you are clipping about 1/4 of a full size horse.

Thank you very much for your reply! I thought that what the others were saying was a bit high. Especially since ill be doing a whole barn.

Anyone else have any experiences with minis?:)

[tBHj]

I just had my horse (16.1hh) clipped last night. It was $100 and I gave a $40 tip. The girl did a great job. She's clipped horses for RAWF & WEF.

I would expect to pay way less for a mini.