Horse care: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering horse care

Horse owners hire caretakers for steady daily care while they are away. Your visit log, your check routine and your update plan are what win trust and repeat bookings.

What customers ask

  • Will you feed my horse exactly as I write it down?
  • What do you check during each visit?
  • Can you turn my horse out and bring it in?
  • What if my horse looks unwell?
  • Can you give medication?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the horse's age, health needs, feed, water, turnout and medication routine.
  • Meet the horse and the owner before the first visit, and walk through the written plan together.
  • Keep a visit log with feed, water, turnout and any change you notice, and send it to the owner.
  • Explain your check routine in plain words, including the legs, hooves, eyes and behavior.
  • Put the visit times, the number of horses, the turnout and any medication steps in the quote.
  • Confirm the veterinarian the owner wants you to call, and the emergency steps, in writing.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of your visit routine and the way you log visits, shown with consent
  • A list of the horse care services you offer, such as daily visits, turnout and stall care
  • Your experience with horses and the types of horses you care for
  • Your insurance status and your emergency steps
  • Your service area and your visit hours

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a pre-trip visit to set up the plan and show the barn
  • Suggest a regular daily care schedule for a client who is away often
  • Offer a grooming or blanketing visit when the client needs one

Licenses and permits

A license is often not required for horse care, but rules differ by state and city. Keep your business registration, any local business license your city or county requires, and a current insurance policy, and list your experience and insurance on your profile.

Questions

Do I need a license to care for horses for pay?

A license is often not required for horse care, but rules differ by state and city. Check your local city or county rules for business licensing and keep your insurance current.

What do I do if a horse is injured during a visit?

Keep the horse calm, call the owner right away, and call the veterinarian the owner listed. Do not move the horse if it may be injured, unless the vet or the plan says it is safe.

Should I give medication to a horse?

Only when it is written on the plan and labeled clearly, and only after the owner has confirmed the times. If you have a question about a dose or a change, call the owner and the vet first.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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