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Finding a horse sitter

2K views 15 replies 12 participants last post by  Country Woman 
#1 ·
Hi! I'm searching for a horse sitter to use occasionally when I leave town for training. I'm in the Raeford/Fayetteville NC area. I've Googled and find nada! Where do you begin? Any tips would be appreciated.
 
#4 ·
I looked around my neighborhood for other horse people.
I just drove around looking for people that kept their animals similar to me, in style and number of animals. When I found one, the closer to me the better, I knocked on the door and said lets trade taking care of each others horses. The first place I knocked was thrilled, we have become good friends that rely on each other.
 
#5 ·
I live in an area that is all small horse farms but most owners are very independent and not very friendly. We are all gated and it is difficult to walk up to any door! I share a 1 mile private road with 4 people, and one of my neighbors has offered to help but won't allow me to pay her or give her a thank you gift and this bothers me. I never want to take advantage. There is nothing in my are on Craigslist or online. Saturday when I go to our local feed store, I will talk with them to see if they have suggestions. I did help out a neighbor that lives a mile and a half away. She has 10 show appaloosas that are stunning and very well kept. Worked my tail off that weekend and learned quite a bit. Her horses are rarely outside, it is either too hot, too cold, too wet, etc. Her stalls were spotless, horses squeaky clean, extremely well behaved and very impressive. My two trail horses, an App and a silly Arabian, are out daily and expect time outdoors. My search continues!
 
#6 ·
I can understand your not wanting to receive horse sitting services without giving some compensation but you may have to, if you can't find anyone.

You may also have to accept it, keeping in the back of your mind that YOU may have to return the favor some time.:)

You might check with your vet, as has been mentioned. Often times they have part time stable help that would be willing to pitch in, for a nominal fee, if you aren't too far out of the way of the clinic:)
 
#9 ·
Well I have a 3/4 mile drive with a gated entrance and I would never trade services with a ten horse show barn when I have two outside horses. Like I said you need to look for people that keep their horses like you do.
I have called the FFA program at the local high school and called the university extension center looking for a 4-H-er.

Look at local clubs or horse groups in the area. Put an ad at the tack shop, the vet or even on FB
 
#10 ·
Teenagers will do anything for a stocked fridge, a TV, and a cozy place to hang out if you are willing to let them stay at your house while you are gone.

That's how I made all my money as a teen. They paid me barely anything but I would go from barn to house to barn every week, stay there, take care of the animals morning and night and school during the day. The owners though were always nice enough to leave me food and drinks for the time they were away, so it worked out good for them.
 
#11 ·
^^^^^Not anymore --- at least not in my area. I live in an AG county that is fast becoming a suburbia escape for city slickers.

All the kids around here want to do is work at the fast food places in the hope they can hook up with someone.

We were flat out told that, when we were trying to find hay help.

It's only been six years ago we were putting up a small hay field (280 bales) with half dozen of us. We were all over fifty with the exception of one 20 yr old grandson. Amy guesses as to who the loudest whiner was?

I have tried for several years to find occasional barn help with no success. We finally did but he is an ex-employee where DH works who would rather work on a farm than do oil changes.
**************************

The suggestion of looking for temporary board, during trips, was an excellent thought. I would rather pay that money and know my horse was someplace safe, provided the boarding barn has a good reputation.

My vet has told me he would babysit my horses if I ever had an emergency, at his facility. Checking with vet, as I mentioned above, is still a decent idea, IMO.
 
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#12 ·
Finding a good barn sitter isn't easy. I've had a bad experience when a 20something girl (word of mouth) was spending the week end here to take care of the horses. We were away competing for the week end, fortunately with the dogs. Girl slept over at her boyfriend's place (15 minutes drive) and DIDN'T COME BACK on Sunday. Which means our horses were inside without food or turn out for 24 hours. Glad for automatic waterers... I was furious.

So, meet the person, more than once if possible, write down your expectations and check references. And have a back up plan. Talking to similar private barn owners is the best way to find someone. Either they know someone or they'd be happy to exchange services.
 
#13 ·
Before I had a boarder that was willing to farm sit for me, I actually made in ad in a facebook group for horse peeps in my area. I got tons of recommdations and people offering, I was also able to check out their profiles...ask for references...and a few people would all recommend the same person. I was going to bring in one or two to invterview before deciding but then I lucked out and my new boarder moved in before I took my trip to Boston (here now!). She knows my dogs, knows the horses, they all know her...and best of all I know she wont slack on care since her horse in there too!

If you do a lot of traveling, it could be worth looking for a boarder who would farm sit in exchange for money off board. I have a friend that moved to Texas who has to do a lot of traveling for work and thats what she did. It's been working out great for her.
 
#14 ·
I'm still searching. I live in a remote area, on purpose because it is quiet and away from traffic and people but one of the challenges is finding help when needed. My neighbor has offered to assist and I will take them up on the offer if necessary. My two boys can be a hand full with silly attitudes if they think they can get away with it. My neighbors are nice, experienced, but older with repaired knee issues. I feel a bit bad that they won't allow me to pay them but will find a way around that. I did leave my number with our small town feed store. They have several great teens that work there that I would feel comfortable with. One in particular, I will talk with next week. I have a friend with a boarding facility, if I find no other feasible option, I'll just board my boys with her for a few months. I don't have a horse trailer but she is nice about loaning hers. The upside of boarding is my pastures get a break, down side is the fees. I always insist on her charging me full price which she argues against.
 
#15 ·
Neighbors tend to do things like horse/pet sit in order to just be neighborly. Offering money is usually offensive unless it's a kid. When my neighbors would feed for me I'd do something like invite them over for dinner or make them a meal and take it to their house or some baked goodies. They always appreciated that kind of gesture.

I'm in the same boat you are now though because all my neighbors are elderly and can no longer horse sit for me. Hubby and I haven't been on a vacation together for several years now. Well not all, I have one who isn't elderly but she's a space cadet so....
 
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