This is driving me mad. Holiday horse care, Somerset

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LankyDoodle

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So now we can't take the horses to cornwall and we are gutted. We really needed a holiday - we've had no end going on with building work that's been going on for over 2 years etc, and now I am pregnant. All I want to do is make the most of my horses while I am not too round to do so, and I am so worried about the horse.

But anyway, we need a holiday and I need to find someone quite urgently, to look after them for a week either w/b Sat 29th August or w/b Sat 5th Sept. Probably the latter week as Lanky is more likely to be recovering by then.

Where can I look? I have done a google search. The other thing is maybe notice in tack shop, feed shop, vets. We have horsey friends, but it's a bit much to ask for a week's care, particularly when none of them are exactly close-by. I want someone who knows what they are doing, won't harm the horses and whom can be trusted. Obviously, Lanky has particularly high needs at the moment, due to the lameness. If he's still very lame, we probably wouldn't go away, but...

Anyone know of a website or something where I can look for this?
 
Have you looked on the Freelance Grooms site? There is one in Somerset.

Where are you? People may be able to recommend someone.

I have moved from a yard where you wrote it in a diary when you were away and the YO/staff did the horse, to fully DIY where the YM will do it, but she is on holiday at the same time as me, so I, having been there all of a week or so, had to ask one of the other liveries today. Thankfully I was able to loan her a bridle so she can keep riding, which made me feel marginally better! However I feel your pain, I am really uncomfortable asking people to help me out and would much rather just pay someone to do it so I don't feel like I am putting on people.
 
where abouts in somerset are you, my best friends runs a horse care business when people are on holiday called S and S horse care.
 
Ooooh thanks guys.

I am in Wellington, Somerset, so nearly in Devon.

SpottedCat, I just thought of a freelance groom, so thanks for the tip - I will go an look now. We used to be on a yard where we had friends who'd help us out when we were away; but now we are on our own and it is the one downfall really.

I will have a look at S and S horsecare as well, buffy.

Haniki, thanks for your link.
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I will have a look now.
 
i dont think she has a website yet as its a new business. we are in north somerset, quite far away from you.
hope you find someone
 
You could try phoning livery yards. Our livery yard does do holiday livery, but dont think its advertised, so I guess other ones do as well. I know I have emailed livery yards in Devon regarding taking my horse on holiday and found out that they do holiday livery, even though it wasnt advertised. (think it was about £15 a day and was dependant on time of year and what horses needed stables etc). Local tack shops may know of horse sitters, I'm sure I have seen adverts in the past.
 
If you don't find anything, pm me in a few days as I use a friend's daughter to house sit.

She's a student (she's 19 going on 29) and I recommended her to someone else on here and she house, dog and horse sat for them for two weeks and is going back in September to do another three weeks for them so they must have been happy! She has had horses herself and worked at a local yard at weekends and holidays ever since she was old enough. Not sure if the dates would clash but I can ask her if you don't find anyone locally.
 
I have a lady who looks after my horses ocassionally and I have happily recommended her to my clients who are also v happy with her. She lives about 30 mins away from wellington though so may be a bit far. I can ask her if you want?
I have to be the fussiest person in the world to work for and I trust her completely!
 
Thanks sugarpuff. I have received a PM from another member here who lives locally to me, who would take them in if they can travel. Both travel very happily but I want to check with the vet before going down the route of travelling them to a yard. We were due to travel them to Cornwall but obviously can't now.

Llewelyn, that's kind of you. Not sure she'd want to stay in our house given the ongoing nature of our building work, but I will get back to you if I am still stuck.

VictoriaEDT, thanks for that. Could you PM the details? As you said, a 1 hour round trip twice a day might be a bit much for her, but maybe she can stand it for just a week.

Thanks all.
 
I would echo the idea of looking at local yards. A lot near us will take holiady liveries. That way you also know that somebody will be around a bit more, if not all the time and also no worries regarding insurance with somebody else on your property. I think it can get complicated as you are employing them, OK if they do it for a living and have their own insurance but if not be careful.
 
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I do a 1 hour round trip twice a day to see to my own horse. You soon get used to it!

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It's different if you are doing 5 different people's horses a day, though, isn't it? And if it's your business.
 
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I would echo the idea of looking at local yards. A lot near us will take holiady liveries. That way you also know that somebody will be around a bit more, if not all the time and also no worries regarding insurance with somebody else on your property. I think it can get complicated as you are employing them, OK if they do it for a living and have their own insurance but if not be careful.

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Hi,
Thanks. Another member has PMd and offered to take them on holiday livery (and I haven't responded yet as I wanted to see the vet first), so it might be an option, but I'd rather they went to someone I can trust, so if they are going to go on holiday livery, I'd rather they went to JM07 than some random livery yard I've found in the yellow pages.
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