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How Much to Pay a Horse Sitter? |
One of the most frequently asked questions of the Horse Nannies International team, is “how much should I pay my Sitter?”. Whilst I am unable to give you a definitive answer to this question as each situation has so many variables including country, facilities, duties and distance, I do have to make the point. We are dealing with horses, not poodles.
Prices Vary
My research has indicated Horse Sitters are charging anywhere between $10 a horse to $100 per day for one or two horses. As you can see that is quite a large range of prices and may also reflect the level of care offered.
Unfortunately, one feedback I’ve had from Nannies is that some (thankfully not the majority) horse owners are not putting a realistic value on the Sitter’s time or expertise. This may be because the practice of hiring a horse carer is not yet well established and benchmarks have yet to be set. However, I would ask horse owners to bear in mind, caring for a horse is a lot more difficult than caring for a cat. Having just checked what catteries charge, you would think otherwise!
How Complex is Your Horse’s Care?
When trying to establish what to pay, think about the following:
- Does the Sitter have to travel some distance? This is especially a consideration if your property is not conveniently located within easy distance of a major centre.
- How many horses are being cared for and are they all well trained with impeccable manners?
- Is your feeding routine complicated? Or do you have a dozen supplements that need adding? What about medications?
- Do you have a stallion or mares in season? What about foals. Don’t forget hormonal horses are more difficult!!
- Are your horses rugged, double or triple rugged???
- Are your horses stabled? If yes, the stables will need cleaning daily.
- Do you expect the Sitter to poop the paddocks?? Horses can drop up to 18 piles a day. That’s a lot of back breaking work.
- What about weather conditions?? Will someone have to travel through blizzards or blazing heat to tend to your horses??
Also, don’t forget the routine you whiz through in 30 minutes will take someone else longer! All those shortcuts you’ve established over time are not automatic to someone new.
When it comes to paying someone to look after your precious horse, I would always err on the side of generous. If the person you employ is capable and caring towards your horse, you are going to want them to come back. And if they are not available, you would like them to recommend you to other Nannies – don’t forget horse people talk.
When negotiating with potential Horse Nannies, remember to be as honest and comprehensive about your horse’s needs as possible.
To make sharing a duties list with your Horse Sitter easy, a Duties List can be found in your message area on the Horse Nannies website. This Duties List helps remind your carer of what needs to be done and can be completed by your Horse Sitter daily and forwarded to your email. Think of this as your daily dose of peace of mind!
Comments
Ally
- 9th Aug 2018
As a potential Nanny, this article is fantastic! I have been paid on both ends of the spectrum when caring for horses privately, and your comment about info moving freely around the horse world is totally true.
steven l carpenter
- 19th Mar 2019
I was taking car of a family farm, 3 horses, 5 cows 7 donkeys, 5 pigs and 4 goats, twice a day for a week, 40 mile round trip, one evening while on my way to feed , it was raining, then started to hail, then big hail, I hit a ice patch and lost control of my truck causing over 500$ damage to my truck, there coment was o sorry about ur truck, I live az, it cost me 80$ in fuel for the week, and will only make 100 profit, should they pay for the damage to my truck, or at least offer to pay half, sorely disappointed.
Heather
- 18th Jan 2021
We're very new to this horse nanny stuff. We just finished five days of twice daily feeding and watering of 11 horses. It would take about 25 minutes per feeding with a relative simple feeding routine. The farm was also close by. What would you recommend as a fair price to charge for our services?
Cindi Buckel
- 24th Sep 2021
I have recently hired a girl who works at my feed store which is only 7 miles away. I have a paint mare & a mini donkey who are extremely people friendly. We have automatic feeders and waters. I simply want someone to check on them while we are away. They have full run of pasture and plenty of hay. What would be a fair price for checking on them once or twice a week. We also have video cameras where we can actually talk to our animals when we are away.
John Portmann
- 30th Aug 2022
I wanna get connected here in vista California with being a horse nanny.
I've been talking care of 2 horses next our ranch and absolutely love the horses I'm taking care of..
Michelle
- 10th Nov 2022
I am taking care of 1 horse 2 dogs and 1 cat. The owners had 2 horses, but one passed away, (emergency horse event my last day of sitting) and I stayed overnight for three days and checked on animals for 3 additional days. Every day included cleaning stalls, taking out & bringing in, feeding all animals and cleaning. I charged $80/day. I regret, because I think I undercharged.
Jan Passante
- 18th Nov 2022
I am going away for the month of December. My 3 horses are pasture kept but brought into their stalls twice a day to eat. My friends will have to give hay and check water daily and muck out lean too's. I am paying $25 a visit and an extra $200. for gas. They live about 5 miles from here. So overall $1700 for the month. Since they are experienced horse people shouldn't take any longer than 1.5 hr a day. Just hope the weather cooperates for them.!
James
- 23rd Nov 2022
Looking for someone to care for our 3 horses in the future months. We understand that someone with the necessary skills, and love of animals is a rarity. Because of this we are prepared to pay someone that meets our needs and is dependable, trustworthy, gentle and loving with our horses and has a personality that we could become friends with, very well for their time and experience. Average pay is said to be $100 a day for up to 2 horses. The lucky person that meets all of our requirements can look forward to well above average pay.
Elizabeth Sylvestri
- 26th Jan 2023
Great article , have been a groom and manager . Petsit also.. always Difficult to come up with the price.
Toby
- 27th Feb 2023
I'm feeding and cleaning stalls of 2 horses and then feeding 9 chickens. I'm driving over 40 miles round trip one day and then twice on the 2nd day. No idea what to charge. I normally charge $40 a day to pet sit, but I'm not watching dogs this time just feeding horses and chickens
Toby
- 27th Feb 2023
I'm driving over 40 miles round trip one day and then twice on the 2nd day. No idea what to charge. I normally charge $40 a day to pet sit, but I'm not watching dogs this time just feeding horses and chickens plus cleaning stalls
Susan
- 26th Apr 2023
I've read all of these comments, and the most common sense one that I read was James about his 3 horses : he was looking for someone to take care of them. I have taken care of dogs, cats, and horses, being raised on a small farm in Vermont I know quite a bit about all animals and love them all. My favorite though are dogs , horses and yes snakes, what baffles me is how cheep people can be about paying for their beloved pets, I go above and beyond caring for any animal I tend to including vitamins, and a simple nail cut or trim. Especially on dogs that are neglected and can nearly walk when I get then. It baffles me that these people say they love their pets yet do not take care of them. Seriously a simple nail trim and your dog is up and running and playing so happy because they are no longer in pain.. you people that have pets need to pay attention to your pets and if you are going on vacation, you can spend money on a vacation you can spend money on paying someone to tend to your pets someone who cares about them and loves them get real.quite being so cheap about the care of your so called beloved pets. do you ever wonder why dog hotels charge $30 a day per dog and they don't even give them the care that I'll give them or the attention or love. Wake up!!!
So the same goes for a horse if I spend time with the horse I clean their stalls I brush them down I talk to them I massage their legs rub their faces talk to them. Make sure they know that I know they're there. And if there are horses that need to be ridden or worked out, they get that so you people need to stop and think what is that worth to you to have your animal taken care of properly then whoever you hire you make sure they can do the job and pay them properly don't just get anybody because you're in a pinch Check them out first
Hot Horse
- 29th Jun 2023
This is such a helpful article on determining the appropriate payment for a horse sitter or nanny! It's crucial to ensure that our equine companions are in capable hands when we're unable to attend to their needs. One aspect that caught my attention is the consideration of a hot horse. Handling a hot horse requires experience and confidence, and it's important to find a horse sitter who is knowledgeable and comfortable with managing their energy levels. It's great to see that the article highlights the importance of discussing a hot horse's specific needs with potential horse sitters and potentially adjusting the payment accordingly. Finding someone who can handle and care for a hot horse with expertise is invaluable for ensuring the well-being and safety of both the horse and the caretaker. Thank you for addressing this important factor when determining the payment for a horse sitter and providing guidance to horse owners in making informed decisions.
Julie
- 10th Sep 2023
I am caring for 4 horses, 16 icelandic sheep and 1 adorable pit bull. I am fhus persons cleaner of her two properties in South Dakota. She will have been gone for 5 days.
I normally charge her an hourly rare for cleaning. I feel like the same isnt too much to ask for the horses. Regardless of the tasks associated with each type of animal, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CARE 24 HOURS A DAY... while in my care. Thats all i need to say. Its that simple. I do more with them, and thats just because i work harder than most people expect. Not because the owners are bad at animals. I would want the same for my cats. They are my babies. My friends animals love me too. And i love them so much. I make more than $100 a day at my full time job aa a machine operator, so this is incomparable to me. If you're reading this and you never lived in South Dakota? Then you wont understand how we do cherish ours & anyone else's animals. Farm ranch or home. It makes no difference.
But also, there is a more dangerous element with farm and ranch animals. And on both sides. Everything weighs in on this. Pay your sitters, tip them if you 1099 them. If you cant? Then yoy should stay home.
To the guy who rolled his truck:
You dang right they should at least offer. But they would pay if they were truly decent people.
The horses chewed through the paint on my Lincoln Town Car. Is it 1996? Yes but its my vehicle to make a living. Shes buying me a car next spring. And new tires until then. Shes decent. She lives at one of
Julie
- 10th Sep 2023
I am caring for 4 horses, 16 icelandic sheep and 1 adorable pit bull. I am fhus persons cleaner of her two properties in South Dakota. She will have been gone for 5 days.
I normally charge her an hourly rare for cleaning. I feel like the same isnt too much to ask for the horses. Regardless of the tasks associated with each type of animal, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CARE 24 HOURS A DAY... while in my care. Thats all i need to say. Its that simple. I do more with them, and thats just because i work harder than most people expect. Not because the owners are bad at animals. I would want the same for my cats. They are my babies. My friends animals love me too. And i love them so much. I make more than $100 a day at my full time job aa a machine operator, so this is incomparable to me. If you're reading this and you never lived in South Dakota? Then you wont understand how we do cherish ours & anyone else's animals. Farm ranch or home. It makes no difference.
But also, there is a more dangerous element with farm and ranch animals. And on both sides. Everything weighs in on this. Pay your sitters, tip them if you 1099 them. If you cant? Then yoy should stay home.
To the guy who rolled his truck:
You dang right they should at least offer. But they would pay if they were truly decent people.
The horses chewed through the paint on my Lincoln Town Car. Is it 1996? Yes but its my vehicle to make a living. Shes buying me a car next spring. And new tires until then. Shes decent. She lives at one of the hardest places to get to in the Black Hills any time of the year. Good luck everyone. Dont sell your services or yourself short!😊
Shyra
- 23rd Mar 2024
As a pet sitter. I hope any equine owners read this and consider this. I'm all about not being pricey because I know some pet sitters are expensive. However, I've been in situations where I didn't feel like the work I did was worth the amount as some horses I've taken care of took over other things including my own. Which is why, I always analyze what's involved with the job, how far is it, how many horses am I dealing with, how are they with strangers, is their strict diets, routines, cleaning, etc. and I always have a range of price but again depends on the job and horses involved. At the end. I understand what owner want more than anything is for their babies to be in good hands and I treat all clients as my own. 🐴
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