Has anyone used / would use a horse sitter?

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u04elw2

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 July 2005
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383
Location
Aberdeen, Scotland
www.mobileliveryservices.weebly.com
Hi guys,

I'm looking into going into my own horse sitting business but I really haven't had a huge deal of interest from many people up here in Aberdeen.

As there's not really anyone else up here offering the same stuff I would be I haven't been able to talk to anyone who's used one to find out what they thought of the service etc.

Have any of you guys used a Horse Sitter or a travelling livery service?

What was good about it and what was negative?

WHY did you use it (ie no knowledgable family available, or late meeting in work etc)?

How did the Yard take to a "stranger" caring for one of "their" horses?

Any answers to these questions would help me get a bit of an idea of people's opinions on something like since there's no-one I know who I can ask!
 
I have done a bit of House / Horse / Dog & Sheep sitting, To be honest most of the people I used to do it for where people who new me & my horses, When I first left school I worked at our local Hunt yard as a groom. And later worked for a show jumper, So the first few people I did it for knew me through work & then the rest came through recommendation. I think most people would be reluctant to call some one they know nothing about ( there are a few strange people out there) Not suggesting you are! I also have a friend who is a free lance groom, when she started no one wanted to use her 4 years on she has so many people that want to use her she has to regularly turn work away! I think its just about getting the first one or two the rest will follow.
 
I use a horse/house sitter regularly and have two people who I trust implicitly with my house and animals. I have to use her as I have the horses at home so no other option. Also we live in a rural area and have three horses, three dogs and a cat so kenneling etc would be hugely expensive and I prefer my animals to stay in their own home. She is fully insured and we both sign a contract for the length of the stay detailing what is included in the price. We heard about her through a recommend but in desperation I have used someone to do the horses from an advert. I have one other person on the yard so she was there to keep an eye on things. Good luck with your new venture!
 
Thanks guys it's good to hear you know people who do it successfully, I was beginning to stress!

I've ridden since I was 4, worked in riding schools since I was old enough, schooled on riding school horses and dealers to sell for around 6 years and worked on several well known livery yards in our area, as well as having a horse who was very well known as a hooligan in my last riding school!
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I also have a BSc in Equine Science from Aberdeen uni and I would say I'm pretty well known, but mostly around people on yards and not so much people with horses at their own houses.

I think that will be my biggest obstacle, as the people I know from yards are well aware that I am a good rider, and my knowledge of horses would never be called to question with them, but they're on yards and have livery services on tap, it's the people with their own places I need to prove myself to and that's where it gets difficult!!

I've made a business plan, a website (which includes pictures and videos of me riding as well as a copy of my CV), ordered business cards, put up a few posters around our area and told everyone I know to tell all their friends too and I've 4 replies - some for me to look after their horses and some for dogs (which I'm going to do as well)

I called several insurance companies and so insurance is in place as and when I need it ( I will be known as a "freelance groom" also). I've downloaded veterinary forms and terms and conditions and all the paperwork I'm likely to need signed. All I need now is clients!!

I'm planning on competing as much as possible - transport dependent - in the summer and so maybe I could advertise at shows etc?

Can anyone suggest the best way to put the word out and let people know I exist? I'm feeling despondent already which is silly as its only the first 2 weeks I've told people about me but the more the merrier!
 
Local free newspapers, tack shops, speak to farriers you know. Vets surgeries, pet shops anything animal realted really then sit back and cross your fingers. My horse sitter is always fully booked so I'm sure it will happen eventually.
 
Hi, there is someone up here who does this already as you know, but she's in a different area to where you'd be covering. Probably be best to put an ad out in Scot-Ads and posters round the local competition yards etc.
 
Thanks Mattilda, I will definitely just print off thousands of posters and plaster them anywhere that I can and cross everything and hope for the best!

I'm sure there must be a market for it but its just so hard having nothing to compare it with as everyone up here is a dog walker (which I'm going to do as well) and what with the lack of horse sitters I'm worried there's none for a reason! Or maybe just nobody's come up with it up this area. I hope thats all it is lol
 
Hi Magic_Mincepie, yes there's a few pet sitters who will do horses as well around the Peterhead area (I think!) but close to my neck of the woods there's nobody. I think I'll head out this weekend (on my birthday, no less) armed with some posters and sellotape and see what I can do!
 
As I keep my horses at home, I have someone in to do mine whilst I am away on holiday. However, I would always find someone by word of mouth, wouldn't be keen on just recruiting someone by an advert.
 
In my website I've made a section for testimonials as I hope this will reassure people a little that maybe haven't met me.

The thing is, I would always have a consultation with any prospective client anyway, allowing them to interview me, watch me riding, doing whatever they wanted done so they could see for themselves whether I'm what they're after or not.

It's just really difficult to get the word around the people with horses at home because I can't find them without adverts and most of the people who know me are on yards and won't know people with their own land etc either lol!
 
You need to find the households that have horses at home. I would suggest putting up cards in the local tack shops/feed merchants and ask the local farriers to give the cards out to people that keep their horses at home. Another source of owners who keep horses at home may be the local estate agents/surveyors.
 
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