Finding a Farm Sitter for Your Horse in Greenville, SC

Ashley Woodruff

April 4, 2022

For anyone who has ever had to go away and leave their horse behind, the separation can be gut-wrenching and become a significant source of stress, even during a vacation. Anyone who boards their horses may have no issues traveling for extended periods. Those who own a Greenville, SC, horse farm or keep horses in their own backyard, on the other hand, will need to find a horse sitter whenever they go away.

Our horses depend on us and require daily attention. However, finding an experienced and reliable farm sitter to care for your horses when you are away can be a real challenge. Farm sitters are in such high demand that finding the right one can be a truly daunting task, but with research and a little know-how, you'll be able to find a trusted horse sitter.

This article will guide you on your journey to find the right farm sitter so that you can enjoy your next vacation without being stressed out about the care of your horse.

Where to Find a Reputable Horse Sitter in Greenville

One of the best ways to find reputable horse sitters is through referrals from a horse trainer, farrier, or veterinarian. You can rely on these knowledgeable professionals to recommend only those horse sitters whom they or others have had good positive experiences with. You could also contact an area veterinary school. Students going through veterinary training are often looking for a few extra bucks as farm sitters.

There are also pet sitters offering their services to folks with horses.

At Happy Paws, for example, we offer "non-traditional pet services," including farm sitting and caring for horses, goats, cows, chickens, and other non-traditional pets.

What to Look for in a Farm Sitter

Your farm sitter will either be working on the side, part-time, or have an already-established full-time animal sitting business. Of course, each type will have its pros and cons. When choosing a pet sitter for your horse, you'll want to look for positive reviews and recommendations and how much experience the sitter has in working with horses.

No matter who you choose as a farm sitter, meeting the individual before hiring them is essential. Look for someone knowledgeable, professional, friendly, polite, and up to the challenge of meeting the individual needs of you and your horse. Meeting them in person will help you better determine whether or not they are capable of caring for your horse in your absence. In the end, be sure to trust your gut and listen to your heart.

Some of the other things to look for in a horse sitter include:

Strong references: You'll want to ask the farm sitter for references. A professional horse sitter will be able to point you in the direction of former clients who are willing to offer opinions about the sitter and explain what services the sitter provided them.
Previous experience: When hiring a farm sitter in Greenville, SC, to take care of your horse, you will want to ensure that they have experience working with horses. The fact is that caring for horses is far different than caring for a cat or a dog. Your farm sitter will need to have experience working with large animals. If your horse is young and unpredictable, you'll want an experienced, confident handler who is up for the job.
Insurance: No matter what type of pet sitter you are hiring, you will want to hire someone with their own insurance policy. Although it may cost more money upfront to hire an insured horse sitter, it will eliminate paperwork and headaches.

Preparing Your Horse Sitter

Once you have found the right horse sitter, it is up to you to prepare them and your horse before you go away. Before leaving, label stalls, provide contact numbers, label feed bins, and leave a checklist behind. Your farm sitter will want to come over in advance and become familiar with your horse, your horse's environment, and your horse's routine. It is also good to let your farrier or veterinarian know that you are going away and connect them with your horse sitter.

What to Pay a Farm Sitter

Depending on the services you need, a farm sitter's price will vary widely. The range in price will likely be influenced by levels of care, your location, and other issues. Complicated feed routines, blanketing, and paddock cleaning can often cost more.

At Happy Paws, we care for your livestock and maintain the animal barns and fields with our farm sitting service, starting at $32 an hour. We can also check on your livestock for injuries that may require medical attention.

The Importance of Hiring an Experienced Local Horse Sitter

When you find an experienced farm sitter for your horse, you can go away and let go of the stress. At Happy Paws, our Greenville, SC, horse sitters are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your horse, and all of your animals, are in good hands. Contact us today to find out how we can be of service to you and your pet.