Who looks after your horses when you can’t?

[VictoriaSponge]

I had a bit of a scary weekend with OH being admitted to hospital. Fortunately he’s doing much better, but there was talk of him needing to be transferred to a hospital a good drive away.

My horses are at home, at our old house we rented several of our stables out to a professional who then ran the yard so there was always someone there to step in if I was desperate at short notice. After downsizing about two years ago, I just have my two and up until now have never needed emergency cover. Aside from being worried about OH, my main concern was who I’d call on to sort out the boys. Whilst I have local friends that would be happy to help in a pinch, I’d rather have something more solid in place.

Possibly the stress of the past few days, but I’m even considering getting a livery or two on diy so that there is a guarantee of someone being there at least once a day, though that has certainly brought its own troubles in the past.

Any ideas?

 

[blodwyn1]

I employ a freelance groom as I can't manage on my own anymore and it is worth the money to know she can step in if I am incapacitated.

 

[Lauraback]

It’s worrying isn’t it. I had spine surgery in May at a weeks notice my lovely yard owner looked after my 2 with the help of a great local freelance who poo picked the fields did waters and made up the feeds. My brother walked my dog until her cruciate ligament went and she also had surgery 3 weeks after me so me and my doggo had to move into my mums bungalow mum is an active 80 year old as I couldn’t bend to remove my dogs lovely lampshade around her neck and bend to feed her or give her medication it was pretty stressful. We are all on the mend now and I’m back to looking after my horse and pony with the assistance of the freelance. I think we all need a back up plan for the unexpected!
I hope your OH is ok x

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I've previously had friends step in but 3 years ago I managed to blag a freelancer who is brilliant.
Another friend uses her and retains her 1.5 to 2 days a week all year round. If I book well in advance she does holiday cover for me and since the 1st time, she's been able to do some emergency cover too. (I'm very relaxed about timings as long as they are seen to).

Make sure you label stuff, keep an up to date yard list of what definitely needs doing AM and PM. I keep this in my feed store.
Everyone that helped out 18 months to 2 years ago when I had 3 x ops in 7 months found it easy to follow.

I'd found it easier to use a freelancer than have liveries.
Good luck x

 

[Peglo]

My cousins would look after mine short term but if I was unable to be there for a long time I don’t know what I’d do. Cousin might manage my smaller horse but I don’t think they would want to do the big one (being more difficult) long term. I’d hope a horsey friend might help out.
I don’t think there is such a thing as freelancers here but if there was I think I’d want to organise something with one.

Hope OH is doing ok.

 

[Equi]

I’m lucky that my dad is happy to feed and count legs, my neighbour is a professional equestrian, my bff is horsey and I also have a freelance groom available. Big lad is at livery with many helping hands. I have a booklet in the stable with each horses name/medical details/ detailed daily care written out. It was for the freelance groom but it just lives there now if anyone needs it for whatever reason and also includes all numbers of people who can help.

 

[ponynutz]

My Dad but also a shoutout to a lovely friend of a friend and her daughter who have looked after our horses superbly since my Dad had major surgery earlier this year and I've been away!

 

[fidleyspromise]

My partner or my best friend.
People on livery yard are ace at looking after each other's.
I've seen posts on FB asking for people that can look after etc and there's always a few.
When I broke my wrist last year I had numerous friends message saying gthey'd be happy to help if needed (some are 10 miles plus away and not on my yard).

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

My parents are horsey so I have them but I have friends who would look after Faran if I moved him to their farm. I would just pay my yard owner for my livery space for the duration

 

[Michen]

I have 5 different freelancers, all very good but two that I use most regularly.

If I really had to I'd ask friends, I have about 4 within 10 minutes of the horses but have only ever asked for help in a real emergency.

I travel A LOT and it's a lot of juggling with three horses but it works just about.

 

[Ahrena]

I have mine at home. Usually my partner but I have several horsey friends, all very local (One next door, 1 keeps her horse about 500m from mine and 1 lives 5 min away and her kids go to a school 2 min from mine).

We do holiday care for each other and whilst I’ve only had to ask once, when we were both down with norovirus and genuinely couldn’t get out of bed, all would help in a heartbeat, as would I for them.

 

[rabatsa]

I have a queue for looking after the donkeys, the sheep on the other hand...

 

[Sprout]

My husband will look after the horses when I am recovering from surgery, and our riding instructor/friend is going to house sit to do dogs and horses when we are away for a couple of days.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

With my OH being becoming ill this year having back up has become very important. I’m not a fan on relying on other liveries for favours as they are people with their own busy lives and I’ve got 3 so there is an inequality in the favours system when they only have one. My daughter steps in up to a point but works full time so I have found an insured freelancer and hope we build a good relationship (ponies be good for her please) so that I have back up in emergencies, maybe holidays…..

 

[asmp]

My daughter is looking after my horse while I’m out of action but then again it was her horse that knocked me over and trod on my ankle! I think the other DIY up my yard would rally around otherwise.

 

[dorsetladette]

MY OH or my friend. But as we have sheep and chickens as well I have the back up of the farmers wife who delivers our hay and shears the sheep. They are only in the next village and I have already had several conversations about them see to our lot when/if needed.

 

[Squeak]

Hope your OH is continuing to improve OP. What a scary and stressful weekend. Are there any freelancers in your area? I've got two that know my horses and their routines and have looked after them for a day or two here or there and hopefully one of them would be able to help me out at short notice. It would hopefully be easier than having liveries again.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I have 1 friend that keeps her horses next door so she mainly does them, I do have a few other people that would do them if she can't though.

 

[Polos Mum]

I think local friends, neighbours for 1-2 days in an emergancy.

For longer I would prefer a paid free lancer, or staff member from one of the large local yards who wanted more hours.
I think it's easier to be specific about what you want / don't want when you are paying them a sensible rate.

 

[Goldenstar]

I have a freelance groom five days a week and one the reason for that is that I know I have cover in an emergency I also have friends who would bail me out in emergency.
This winter I have a friend whose her horse is staying with us a while so she would help .
I always need to be able to get to MIL at no notice and have had to do that a few time when my FIL was failing it’s reassuring to have a plan .

 

[Fransurrey]

In your situation, until you have cover in place, I'd set up a shelter and round bales of hay/haylage and let them stay out. Any horsey friend or neighbour could then check on them if you were away for longer than 12 hours. When I was about to shoot down to see my sick mum, my OH was going to do the feeding and poo picking (they already live out with shelter), but I'm on a yard, so the other liveries could keep an eye out for any veterinary/farrier issues.

Hope your OH is ok! x

 

[Vodkagirly]

Husband has been trained to do the basics but does ask a lot of questions, he coped when i broke my back.
Its definitely worth getting a freelancer in as well. I get someone to cover holidays but it has benefit that they are familiar with set up in case we were both unable.

 

[Birker2020]

I used to rely on my Dad.
Dad never needed an excuse to go down and see the horse and (in his own words get away from my Mum) and if I was ill, because I spent 45 years living at home he never minded.

After he died I was able to use the yard staff to do whatever I needed doing if I couldn't make it down to the yard.

 

[VictoriaSponge]

Thanks for all the ideas and kind words for OH, he should make a full recovery just wanted to give us all a scare!

Hope your OH is continuing to improve OP. What a scary and stressful weekend. Are there any freelancers in your area? I've got two that know my horses and their routines and have looked after them for a day or two here or there and hopefully one of them would be able to help me out at short notice. It would hopefully be easier than having liveries again.

I think maybe getting a freelancer in once a week who would then be open to emergency cover is the way forward, as that way they’d be familiar with the horses and would give me a day off during the week.

It’s worrying isn’t it. I had spine surgery in May at a weeks notice my lovely yard owner looked after my 2 with the help of a great local freelance who poo picked the fields did waters and made up the feeds. My brother walked my dog until her cruciate ligament went and she also had surgery 3 weeks after me so me and my doggo had to move into my mums bungalow mum is an active 80 year old as I couldn’t bend to remove my dogs lovely lampshade around her neck and bend to feed her or give her medication it was pretty stressful. We are all on the mend now and I’m back to looking after my horse and pony with the assistance of the freelance. I think we all need a back up plan for the unexpected!
I hope your OH is ok x

I’m glad you’re recovering, is taken for granted having back up until not so a plan is definitely needed.

Make sure you label stuff, keep an up to date yard list of what definitely needs doing AM and PM. I keep this in my feed store.
Everyone that helped out 18 months to 2 years ago when I had 3 x ops in 7 months found it easy to follow.

I'd found it easier to use a freelancer than have liveries.
Good luck x

This is a fab idea and something I’ve always done previously but not got round to so is going on the to do list!

I am missing the security of our old house with liveries and the general location. Whilst still in the same area since moving, we’re that bit more remote and further away from local friends than we used to be. And previously at least one of the grown up kids was at home, who although completely unhorsey were capable of skipping out or changing a rug when needed. I’ve gone from being fairly covered to more or less on my own, which is fine until something goes awry. I’ll crack on with looking for a freelancer this week, but it’s also been in the back of my mind to move the boys to a livery yard for a while, so will keep that option open as the last few days have rattled me a bit and I do miss the company.

 

[rara007]

I have 3 freelancers who know them and the routine, plus family thankfully!

 

[JoannaC]

My lodger who lives in our annexe keeps an eye on mine if we are away and I have a friend who rides one of mine I could call upon in an emergency. My husband will do a bit but he's not very experienced but he'll do a bit of poo picking and chuck some hay out if necessary.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Thanks for all the ideas and kind words for OH, he should make a full recovery just wanted to give us all a scare!

I think maybe getting a freelancer in once a week who would then be open to emergency cover is the way forward, as that way they’d be familiar with the horses and would give me a day off during the week.

I’m glad you’re recovering, is taken for granted having back up until not so a plan is definitely needed.

This is a fab idea and something I’ve always done previously but not got round to so is going on the to do list!

I am missing the security of our old house with liveries and the general location. Whilst still in the same area since moving, we’re that bit more remote and further away from local friends than we used to be. And previously at least one of the grown up kids was at home, who although completely unhorsey were capable of skipping out or changing a rug when needed. I’ve gone from being fairly covered to more or less on my own, which is fine until something goes awry. I’ll crack on with looking for a freelancer this week, but it’s also been in the back of my mind to move the boys to a livery yard for a while, so will keep that option open as the last few days have rattled me a bit and I do miss the company.

I hope you can find the help.
On my list I had 3 sections:
Essential, (feeding, hay, water, check fences, etc)
If you have time (a brush off, sweep doorways etc)
Would be lovely if... (anything else you can think of, my extras were square up muck heap, hug the mini pony etc).
Basic colour coding helps anyone helping out, e.g: Black horse has red buckets, headcollar, haynet and red tagged rugs. Can be re rugged while eating feed etc.

 

[Jasper151]

My horse is on livery so thankfully I have the yard owner and the liveries to help out in an emergency. For other people I am the emergency cover! I used to do a lot of freelancing and I still get phone calls and msgs in an emergency. I am also happy to do it. I was lucky that all my clients were in small area so if I did get a call none are too far away. I do still do some holiday cover so I am used to the routines etc but those I haven't seen for a while just write me a list. I wouldn't expect to have a regular day to ensure future emergency cover, I would just be glad I was able to help.

 

[Crugeran Celt]

I have been unable to care for my horses for nearly two years due to ill health, my unhorsey husband has taken on the role of chief groom, mucking out, feeding even brushing. I have five horses at home, did have six but lost my elderly mare last year, he has been amazing as has also taken on house work and cooking. He has never had to do anything in the house as he worked long hours and I took care of the house and horses. If we go away we are very fortunate to have a very good friend who lives just down the road who has horses of her own who checks on mine daily and feeds our cat.

 

[clairebearfur1]

I had a bit of a scary weekend with OH being admitted to hospital. Fortunately he’s doing much better, but there was talk of him needing to be transferred to a hospital a good drive away.

My horses are at home, at our old house we rented several of our stables out to a professional who then ran the yard so there was always someone there to step in if I was desperate at short notice. After downsizing about two years ago, I just have my two and up until now have never needed emergency cover. Aside from being worried about OH, my main concern was who I’d call on to sort out the boys. Whilst I have local friends that would be happy to help in a pinch, I’d rather have something more solid in place.

Possibly the stress of the past few days, but I’m even considering getting a livery or two on diy so that there is a guarantee of someone being there at least once a day, though that has certainly brought its own troubles in the past.

Any ideas?

The same person when we go on hols. most areas have a freelance groom