Not quite a boarding question, but couldn't find someplace more appropriate...Mods, feel free to move if you think there is a better place
With the holidays quickly approaching, I've been considering advertising myself for horse sitting specifically, as it was always a headache to find someone trustworthy + reliable when we kept our horses at home. I'm just racking my brain on how best to advertise the services I'd be willing to offer. So far, I'm thinking of just posting it in a FB horse group and on NextDoor, but I want to reach more people. I could make a free website, but I'm not sure how many people would search for a horse sitter through Google. Craigslist is also an option to advertise as well.
Where would you look for a horse sitter?
I know I'm fully capable and reliable, and I have references to back me up. I've cleaned stalls, turned out, and fed for a 20 stall barn previously, in addition to doing the same for a 4 horse barn. I've operated tractors and four-wheelers, I can drive manual, and of course I have reliable transportation to and from. I have experience in working in all sorts of weather conditions, and have never 'called-in' due to weather. I know how to handle difficult horses, and have experience being around biters/kickers/rearers. Most importantly of all, imo, I know how to identify colic and other illnesses, and I also carry a horse first-aid certificate.
And then there is the question of how much I should charge. Looking at local pet-sitters (that don't do horses), it is $20/30 minutes. Does that sound astronomical?
I would guess that 'average' horse sitting would be at least 1 hour per day if it was anything more than just feeding. In my previous job, it was 2 hours to care for 4 horses, but that included feeding, cleaning stalls, filling haybags for the week, distributing hay bags through the pasture, dumping manure, and doing miscellaneous tasks that needed to be done.
Would you be more likely to hire a house-sitter than does more than just care for your horses while away? Taking in the mail, watering plants, etc?
This is still just an idea, it's just tough trying to figure out exactly what I would want to do...hmm.
With the holidays quickly approaching, I've been considering advertising myself for horse sitting specifically, as it was always a headache to find someone trustworthy + reliable when we kept our horses at home. I'm just racking my brain on how best to advertise the services I'd be willing to offer. So far, I'm thinking of just posting it in a FB horse group and on NextDoor, but I want to reach more people. I could make a free website, but I'm not sure how many people would search for a horse sitter through Google. Craigslist is also an option to advertise as well.
Where would you look for a horse sitter?
I know I'm fully capable and reliable, and I have references to back me up. I've cleaned stalls, turned out, and fed for a 20 stall barn previously, in addition to doing the same for a 4 horse barn. I've operated tractors and four-wheelers, I can drive manual, and of course I have reliable transportation to and from. I have experience in working in all sorts of weather conditions, and have never 'called-in' due to weather. I know how to handle difficult horses, and have experience being around biters/kickers/rearers. Most importantly of all, imo, I know how to identify colic and other illnesses, and I also carry a horse first-aid certificate.
And then there is the question of how much I should charge. Looking at local pet-sitters (that don't do horses), it is $20/30 minutes. Does that sound astronomical?
I would guess that 'average' horse sitting would be at least 1 hour per day if it was anything more than just feeding. In my previous job, it was 2 hours to care for 4 horses, but that included feeding, cleaning stalls, filling haybags for the week, distributing hay bags through the pasture, dumping manure, and doing miscellaneous tasks that needed to be done.
Would you be more likely to hire a house-sitter than does more than just care for your horses while away? Taking in the mail, watering plants, etc?
This is still just an idea, it's just tough trying to figure out exactly what I would want to do...hmm.