What is horse sitting and how does it work?

Are you a pony parent who needs to be away from their stables? Ever heard of horse sitting? All pet parents will, at some point, need to leave home for a period and not take their favorite fur family with them. So, what’s the best solution to keep both your horse and you happy?

Today, we’ll have a look at horse sitting, why it’s a great alternative to boarding, and all the pros that come with that extra bit of horse TLC. 

What is horse sitting?

Do you have at least one horse? Yes? Great! Do you need to be away from the stables for an extended period in the future, a night or longer? Yes? Well, what a coincidence, it sounds like you need a horse sitter!

If you’re a country dweller or a farmhouse family with stables, a horse sitter can be hired or found to care for and check in on your horse if you need to be away. Depending on the service, this can include anything from daily feeding and mucking out, to providing mental and physical stimulation throughout the day. 

How does horse sitting work?

There are two ways of doing this: Pay a sitter from a professional pet sitting service, or there’s the TrustedHousesitters way. Pet professional services are mostly available by the hour - they’ll be round to the stables each day to feed and groom your precious pony and also muck out the stables. They’ll check in on your horse each day, offer an update, and make sure they’re safely stowed away. Some services offer to exercise your horse too, but this can come at an additional cost.

However, if you find a horse sitter through TrustedHousesitters, you’ll have in-home and on-site care around the clock whilst you’re away. They’ll follow your instructions, provide regular updates, and offer as much attention as your horse needs. Plus, there’s no extra cost!

The pros of a horse sitter

The main pro of all equine sitters is that they’ll keep to your clip-clop’s routine. Along with feeding and watering, a horse sitter will provide daily exercise, enrichment, grooming, and attention. What your horse needs each day can be divulged to your sitter beforehand, they can arrive before the sit to meet your equine equals, run them through their day-to-day needs and activities, and familiarize your four-legged family with their sitter.

On top of this, equine sitters provide extra security. If your horse suddenly becomes ill or disturbed, their sitter will be able to contact their vet ASAP and recall the recent event leading up to the incident. In-home sitters will be a constant presence to protect your home as well as your stables - trusted individuals who can contact you if they have any on-the-spot questions or worries. For pet parents, it’s a welcomed reassurance with one less thing to worry about.

Finding the right horse sitter

Just as every horse has individual needs, so too do our sitters have their own unique previous pet experiences. While some pet parents will seek out a sitter who is an expert in horse sitting or knows all about outdoor animal care, others may be more open to sitters with a more eclectic spread of experience.

When searching for a horse sitter, we often recommend starting with someone who has at least some knowledge of pet sitting horses. While we have lots of wonderful, trusted worthy sitters at TrustedHousesitters, some may have more experience with outdoor animals and farm care than others. If you’re a first-time member with a sitter it might be best to find someone familiar with a farm or stables.

It’s also important to make sure you’re able to build rapport and understanding with your sitter. Make sure they’re physically capable of the job and fully aware of all their duties - if they’re still happy to sit with a longer to-do list, you know you’ve found a hopeful horse sitter.

If you’re looking for a horse sitter, take a look at which of our equine-loving members are available to horse sit near you and read our guide to setting them up for success. If you’re looking for tips on finding the right pet pal for your filly family or colt companions, head to our Community Forum to connect with other pet parents who can offer their real-life experiences with equine sitters.