Tips For Hiring A Horse Sitter

Traveling when you have horses at home can be very stressful. In order to enjoy your trip, it’s essential that you find a reliable horse sitter whom you can trust. The last thing you want to do on your vacation is worry that your horse isn’t being cared for.

Start by asking friends and professionals in the industry for recommendations. That could be your trainer, farrier, feed store, or even veterinary. If they can vouch for the person, they might be worth considering. If you have no luck by doing that, cautiously try classified ads.

Once you’ve narrowed down a candidate or two, consider the following:

• Do they have horse experience? Will they be able to spot an injury or illness? Can they properly perform general barn duties?
• Do they have references? They should be called and checked.
• Are they insured?
• Are they reliable and able to work the time of day you need them?

Trust you instincts about a person. You should feel comfortable around them. They should be able to easily answer all of your questions.

After you’ve found the perfect horse sitter, you’ll need a detailed contract. Make sure each party knows what is expected and the amount of pay to be received. Don’t forget to get their contact information.

Provide the sitter with an easy-to-understand list of instructions. You’ll need to label stalls, grain, and supplements. Emergency contact information should be provided along with vet and farrier numbers.

Prepare for success by thinking ahead! It might be wise to have a trial run. If you take the time to get prepared hiring a horse sitter doesn’t have to be so difficult. Happy travels!