| BUSINESS |
THE TRAINERS’ D A I LY R A T E S S U R V E Y
Anna Alcock
T
urvey was he su circullated by the Europ pean Traiiners'' Federration repreesentatives in memb ber countries. Responses were received d from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Francce, Germany, Austria, Norway and Bellgium. Results varied per country but indicated to be representative of th hose countries, wiit w ith an even representtattion by Flatt (41%), Jumps (15%) and dual-purpose (44%) trainers and feedback from small-scale (1-110 horses in training) to large scale (50+) yards. Trainers were asked to complete 28 questions relating to their current daily training rate charged to owners, the factors they feel contribute most to their daily rate, whether they make a profit, loss or break even, what factors would affect a potential increase in their rate, and what rate they feel they would ideally like to charge amongst other location-related questions. The results indicated that average training daily rates are similar across the
70
TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 59
participating cou untries. The UK had the highest average at £45 (Euro equivalent at €51)) w wiith i h Irelland d second d at €45. France was concluded at €42 and neighbouring Germany at a lo ower average of €35. The lowest representtation in Continental Europe was Ausstria at €26. Overall, the number of horses in training varieed w wiith i the highest representation (37%) training between 1-10 horses and 8.7% of respondents traiiniing 50< horses. Thereffore, resullts represent the majority of trainers in Europe training between 1-50 horses. Trainers were asked to rate various factors out of 10 that contribute most to the rate they charge. In the UK, Germany and Belgium, staff, feed and insurance were rated most highly, whilst in France and Austria, staff, rent/mortgage and business rates were considered the most influential factors. Norway considered staff, feed and rent/mortgage most highly. However, Ireland indicated a significant difference with yard maintenance, utilities, insurance most affecting their rate which
may be in ndicative of the high proportion of owned d versus rented yards: 60% own, 30% % rentt and d th he cost off maiintaiiniing their yard ds independently. Overall, 46% of all respon ndents own their yard and 54% rent theirr yard, therefore rent/mortgage factors eq qually rated highly. The su urvey has concluded that it is primarilyy staff ff costs that directly aff ffect f trainers’ decisions to charge their rate as well ass the potential increase of their ratte. Across Euro counttriies, the range of pay was €10-15/hour aparrt from Germany, where the range was €8-13/ hour and an average of €9/hour. The UK, meanwhile highlighted an average wage of £8.46/hour with a range of £7.50-12. In most countries, there was uniform representation across all countries with one member of staff looking after three horses on average whilst in Germany, one staff member looked after four horses on average. In the UK, the yard staff to work rider ratio was 1:3 with an average of three part-time work riders and 48% of trainers employing a part-time member