No wonder horse owners are neurotic...

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Fransurrey

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I went away last weekend to a friend's wedding. I have two easy to do ponies, but both are on strict diets and restricted grazing (one is lami prone, the other has severe sweet itch, but is managed really well using a combination of rugs, potions and diet).

Before we went, we discussed who would horse-sit, as in 7 years, we've never been away together. I thought of a friend's sister (head groom at a respectable yard). Other half said guy at work would do it for a cake. He's a retired farm hand, so hasn't had horses, but knows one end from t'other and seems sensible. Or so I thought.

I made up two feeds for each pony (one per day) containing each supplement (magnesium, yeast, linseed) and put together two haynets (again, one per day). I showed him where each was and arranged them in piles of 2 buckets plus haynet per pile i.e. one pile per day. Simples, yes?!?

We got back on Sunday and I went up to check on equines. Alarm bells rang when I saw the same net that I'd tied up on Friday still hanging outside the shelter. Looked inside feed room to find...

Haynets moved to one side. Out of the 4 total feeds, there was one completely full (and now full of rat *****), two half full and one empty. I wasn't best impressed.

OH has now spoken to the old git, who apparently is claiming that he made up his own haynets (hard to believe, as I only have 3 bales in there, so two full nets worth gone would be noticeable and all the empty nets were where I'd left them, in a bucket) and also his own feeds.

Now, I'm grateful that he at least went up there and they won't starve for 2 days, but I made it so bloody easy for the stupid git. I'm tempted to lace his cake with dulcolax and claim that I thought I'd make up my own recipe!!! Men!

For the record, friend's sister will definitely be utilised in future, even if I have to pay her in blood! I only went with this guy because OH said he'd love to do it and he was sensible (hmmm).

No wonder horse owner's stress when they go away, eh?!?
 
Fransurrey said:
No wonder horse owner's stress when they go away, eh?!?
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Thats why a have a rather lovely 17.1hh ID coming to stay with me for 2 weeks in july. Owner is paying for his livery at yard I ride at so I can look after him and she can go on holiday and relax, not worry about her horse.
Finding people you trust is very difficult.:(
 
We are going away for a few days shortly and we are paying professional horse -sitters to do ours. At least we'll have peace of mind and will be able to enjoy our holiday.
 
Where do you fine professional horse sitters from?

I have just had this problem where I was paying someone to look after mine while I was away, left clear, written, easy instructions and nope my horse was left out (comes in at night) in torrential rain and thunderstorms with no rug on...., mad mad mad just doesn't even cover it!

It's super hard to find trust worthy people:(
 
I'm lucky in that I rent my own yard but have a small army of likeminded people in the same situation who know me and my horses who can come in and look after them and in turn I do the same although they often bring their horses to mine as I find it easier to care for them all in the same place.

I once left my gelding in the hands of the farmer I rented a stable from over Christmas a few years ago to return to find he had been given 3 feeds a day (I had left 3 feeds for 3 days farmer thought these were for one day!) and a bale of hay each day!
 
BlairandAzria said:
Where do you fine professional horse sitters from?

I have just had this problem where I was paying someone to look after mine while I was away, left clear, written, easy instructions and nope my horse was left out (comes in at night) in torrential rain and thunderstorms with no rug on...., mad mad mad just doesn't even cover it!

It's super hard to find trust worthy people:(
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Gosh when I look after other peoples horses (for free) they get treated better than mine! If the owner wants rugs on, soaked hay etc etc I do it no question and in return expect and receive the same
 
That's dreadful, whatever was the old fool thinking of? You weren't to know though, and at least your ponies are okay.
 
Last time i went away for a few days i asked a pair of livery friends to look after my 2 ponies. The easiest ponies in the world to care for in November...live out 24/7, check they have 4 legs all in tact, throw their rugs on if it gets wet AND cold and strictly a couple of slices of hay each at night even if it snows along with a basic warm feed.

It had snowed when i had been away and i returned to a pair of very round ponies who had been given A BALE of hay everyday along with large unnecessary dinners, rugged in heavy rugs and to top it off their iced up water trough hadn't been broken so both were incredibly thirsty:rolleyes: Yes, good intentions as my ponies gave them 'puppy dog starvation eyes' but not what I asked!

Luckily a new livery arrived and we care for each other horse's everyday so know each other's routine inside out!
 
Eek I do everything owner wants to the letter and make sure I have asked enough questions (i.e. make sure I understand instructions), starting to consider maybe I could do this alongside uni for a bit of extra horsey funding!
 
1]My horse and his brother live on same premises, one has two white feet, and lives in a different field, came up to yard to find "brother" having been in all night, eaten all my grub, and my boy standing at the gate, he also had a white star, and is not a native pony, he is a fine example of a PRE cross!!!! grrrrrrrrrrr.
2] always put my boys feed up and leave it all ready for him to come in overnight, so was a bit kerfluxed to find his net the next day, "oh yes he has just gone out.. err, so he stood in all night and did not eat his haynet!!!
 
What a silly old fool :mad: Pitchfork in the neck time for him :)

I am so lucky I have a friend who has looked after my horses for me, come hell or high water for the past 18 years. Absolutely trustworthy. My OH looked after them for one evening feed and managed to lose one in the dark :mad: Apparently he took a phone call and she slipped out of the field while he was busy. I didn't stop yelling for a week.
 
I have never been away longer than three nights.

I put out more round bales than I think they will need, and go.

Joys of having automatic waterers, horses living out and on no feed.

It is the other animals that are the pain in the neck.

Don't go in with that dog, don't let those two out alone otherwise they'll sod off.

Feed the cats.

There are 4 rabbit cages, don't forget #3 and #4 which are in another barn.

Shut the ducks in, let the ducks out.

Big Goat, grab his halter before he comes out otherwise he'll be on top of the round bales and it will take you an hour to get him down, or he'll be half a mile across the field, or in the feedroom, or the house - in fact, just leave him in.

Baby goats - oh don't go there.
 
lol, Enfys! I'd love to just put out round bales and go - I may as well have done that (and probably will if we do another weekend away). We had the MIL come in to do the cats. I made up portions of raw food for the evening and just told her to give them a sachet of wet commercial shite in the morning. A portion each of raw food was gone from the fridge, so I guess she did as was asked!

I can't shout at the old duffer really (although he's in his 60s, so not exactly old!), but I need to find a way of gently telling him that instructions were given for a reason. The last time Chloe went without the yeast in itchy season, she rubbed baldy spots within 5 days and had a horrific allergy to something or other - all her fur fell off and her skin went wrinkly! (at least I know she can go for 2 days and be ok!!).
 
I am so lucky, have a horsey friend living just down the lane who checks and feeds my horses, cats and gold fish and a fantastic mother in law who comes to brush the horses and spend time with them so they don't feel lonely! and parents who love my cats so call in every day just to make sure they are ok (wont go near the horses though terrified of them, don't know where my love of horses came from) We take our dogs on holidyas with us as they would really not be happy being left behind!:)
 
Yes, I know that we are all neurotic, and think that no-one will look after our horses as well as we do (probably true). These are worrying anecdotes, BUT...

..............they all survived didn't they?;)

Just goes to show, it probably is just us being neurotic then:rolleyes:
 
maybe we should start a hore sitters thread - put your name and area if yiud be wiling to help people out
?

would it be allowed?
 
My place, taking bookings ;) :-

Pros: Free accomodation, freezer full of food, stonking great truck to drive, horses to ride if you want (sorry only western tack available), company (livery yard - so owners here) lots of animals to pet, usually about a dozen very young goats to keep alive, and don't step on the tame ducks. Efficient air conditioning and heating, highly inefficient hydro and telephone systems, oh and keeping the water pump system functioning is an art in itself.

Cons: 8 hour flight to get here, pay your own fare :)


My Mother does house/animal swaps with a specialist holiday company, easy for her she lives in a very ancient french city that tourists like. Who on earth would want to come to me out in the boonies with no town for miles, and nothing but thousands of acres of corn and tobacco to look at.?
 
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BlairandAzria said:
Actually i quite fancy that Enfys....even better if there is zero mobile reception;)
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:D Cell reception is fine, it is the landline that is temperamental...a gust of wind and down it goes, a drop of rain and down it goes, a full on howling blizzard, trees falling left, right and centre and .... it works! Stupid.

Cell phones are easy though ;) they have those convenient little red buttons that say "OFF" :D
 
Your place sounds like my idea of heaven Enfys :)

We have a friend who house and pet sits for us. She looks after our 4 horses, 2 dogs, 1 guinea pig and an aquarium and in return she gets free run of the house and a full fridge and paid for the time she has invested and we know that they are looked after as we want. We can finally take a break without worrying that in itself is worth its wait in gold.
 
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