Commissions?

[concretengrace]

How common is it for your trainer who has helped you to find a horse, to charge a commission? My trainer, who has willingly driven with me hours each way and all the way to Canada to check out multiple horses, charges a 10% commission. My friend says she's super weirded out by that and my trainer seems really money hungry. As this is my first horse

Comments

[miladyelizabeth]

Sounds absolutely reasonable and normal. In my experience, trainers either charge a 10% fee for their time helping with purchases or a flat hourly rate. For that fee, I get an expert willing to travel with me, critique horses, and ride them before I do to make sure the horse isn't going to kill me. Money well spent, in my opinion.

[miladyelizabeth]

Oh, and I'm in CT, but this was also the case where I'm originally from, in SC, and true of trainers I've known in many other states too.

[jacketeer]

That's totally acceptable/normal.

[irishsaints]

I believe my old trainer (I say old because I don't really train with her anymore, but still take her advice and suggestions when it comes to horse-buying and selling) charges somewhere between a 10-15% commission, whether it's buying or selling. She's "money-hungry" if only because where we are, the barns are either top of the line, fancy schmancy, or else more like the feel of a backyard barn- where things are relaxed, you know? So money can get tight, but she's certainly not consistently nagging you for money. If it helps, I'm in CT.

[jacketeer]

Hey fellow CT resident! Where in CT are you?

[irishsaints]

hello there! i'm in litchfield county, in woodbury! (although when i leave for college in the fall, i'll be in holyoke, MA @ Mount Holyoke..) how abouts you?

[jacketeer]

Aww Holyoke is so wonderful! I almost went there but decided on Sarah Lawrence instead :p The riding program at MHC is awesome though, I'm so jealous! If you ever go to Amherst or Northampton you have to stop by Silverscape Designs, they're my dad's stores c:

Anyway! I'm in Fairfield County, near Danbury!

[thumpystowaway]

10% is a totally typical fee

[re_vised]

In my 18 years in the horse world, this has always been common practice. The percentage might vary from trainer to trainer, though. I think your view on this is correct, it's a business relationship.