Holiday cover for field kept horses

I'd have a contract for people to sign stating what they wish to happen in a emergency.
Contact details of vet, farrier etc . Who you should contact if you can't get in touch with owner, what happens if God forbid, a animal in your care has to be pts as a emergency.
Sounds over the top but you just never know with animals!
 
I have looked after for various horses - field kept and stable kept whilst owners are away. Have had to deal with hoof abcesses but that's about the worst. And one that just didn't seem "right" but nothing to call the vet for - did an extra trip to check horse and was relieved it looked fine. Can't actually remember what i'd thought was wrong for me to be unconcerned on extra visit - i had recently lost a horse of my own suddenly though making me slightly paranoid!
Vet and farrier contact details must be left for emergencies and an idea of what the owner is willing for the horse to be put through (some are insured, some are not insured, some owners would want to be contacted, others are leaving you responsible by choice or because they are out of the country). I was VERY lucky to finish looking after someone's horses the day before major injury. Thankfully the owner was home, had checked horses fine, the following day horse had a large gash in the hock joint. As she was there, she was able to make the decision to have all relevant vet treatment and was able to slowly walk the horse to the stable assisted. If it had been me on my own i'd have been absolutely horrified to be in that scenario (having had the description in detail of the wound and how lame the horse was) and I am aware the vet would have recommended that the horse be pts. Due to the severity of the injury and age of horse (retired too) I would have followed that advise and the owner would have understood (she actually told me that had i been in charge the horse wouldn't have still been alive but was just relieved it was the day after she returned from holiday so i didn't have to deal with it) - but then what would i be doing with the dead body? I actually don't know the answer to that question! So that's a horrible consideration. Owners often say if the horse is old "if anything is wrong that needs a lot of medical treatment: colic for example, just have the horse put down" but do they want the knackery in to remove the body or do they want to have the horse buried - ho hum!
I have someone come to look after mine when i'm away as don't wish to rely on parents. However, i leave their contact numbers as well in case the person cannot get hold of me or need an extra pair of hands.
I often find it best to have it typed up and printed exactly what each horse is fed and all emergency numbers - i add to that anything that is generally not right with the horse that i'm aware of (eg horse has a minor cut on leg, use x cream, has a scab on face, aware but doesn't need treatment currently) Anything that a horse owner could go in and worry about is noted so they know i'm aware of an issue and how it's being addressed. Then if new cuts appear they can let me know.

I have also been kicked and had to deal with horses bolting/rearing/biting/bucking, rugs breaking and horses that won't catch.
But the good clients - it's a nice peaceful visit and get paid for some horse time!
I am a qualified instructor now so have my insurance through the bhs, before that i really only did it for friends as a favour and they gave me fuel money.
 
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gerbera said:
I think maybe I should be looking at £20 a day?
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Yes, that might work. You could travel and spend enough time there to do a thorough job. How many visits could you make in a day - and then work out if that is enough for your time, travel and insurance costs.
 
I need this sort of cover. The reality is that you need a 4x4 to get to it. I would want someone fully insured. As an add on I would quite like a photo texted to me just show me they are ok. I would also need them dealt with twice a day. For that I would happily pay £20 a time. More than £40 a day for me personally would be more than I would pay.

However if I were offering this sort of service I don't think that would be enough if travel and insurance is factored in.
 
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