Horse care: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What horse care is

A caretaker handles daily horse needs such as feeding, watering, turnout, stall cleaning, grooming and checking the horse for changes. Horse care is used when you are away, when you are busy or when your horse needs a steady daily routine.

Signs you need it

  • You are away for a day or several days and your horse needs its routine kept up
  • Your horse needs daily turnout, feed and water at set times
  • You have a horse that needs grooming, stall cleaning or a quick daily check
  • You are unable to care for your horse during a recovery or a long workday
  • You want a caretaker who will notice changes in your horse and tell you promptly

What the pro does

  • Asks about the horse's feed, water, turnout, health and daily routine
  • Visits on schedule to feed, water and check the horse's health and comfort
  • Cleans the stall and refreshes the bedding as the plan says
  • Turns the horse out or brings it in, and grooms it if the plan calls for it
  • Checks the horse's legs, hooves, eyes and behavior and notes any change
  • Sends you an update after each visit and tells you right away about any concern

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The number of visits per day and how long each visit takes
  • The number of horses and how much care each one needs
  • Whether stall cleaning, grooming and turnout are included
  • Whether medication or special feeding is part of the visit
  • Whether the caretaker must travel to a barn or a pasture
  • Whether the caretaker is needed on holidays or in bad weather

What a written quote should spell out

  • The visit times, the number of horses and the care steps included
  • Whether stall cleaning, grooming and turnout are included
  • Whether medication and special feeding are part of the plan
  • Whether updates and a written report are included
  • The cancellation terms and any travel fee

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you follow my feed and turnout plan exactly?
  • What do you check for each time you visit?
  • How do you handle a horse that is hard to catch or handle?
  • What is your plan if my horse seems unwell or injured?
  • Are you insured, and do you have experience with horses like mine?
  • How will you send updates, and how soon after each visit?
  • Do you give medication, and how do you record each dose?

Red flags

  • Skips visits or does not record the water and feed each time
  • Does not ask about the horse's health, feed or routine before starting
  • Will not tell you about a change in the horse's behavior, movement or eating
  • Leaves the gate or the stall door open after a visit
  • Has no plan for an emergency and no vet they will call

What you can do yourself

Write a clear daily routine with feed amounts, water checks, turnout times and your vet's number, and leave supplies labeled. Hire a caretaker for daily visits or any period when you cannot check your horse yourself. Call your veterinarian right away for any sign of illness or injury.

Licenses and permits

A license is often not required for horse care, but rules differ by state and city. Ask for proof of experience with horses and a written emergency plan, and ask whether the caretaker is insured for work at your barn.

Horse care questions

What should I write in the care plan?

Include the feed amounts, the feeding times, the water checks, the turnout and stall routine, medication times and your vet's number. Note any habits or triggers the caretaker should know.

What if the caretaker finds my horse hurt?

The caretaker should stop the work, keep the horse calm, call you, and call your veterinarian. Do not move a horse that may be injured unless the vet or the plan says it is safe.

How do I give the caretaker access to the barn?

Decide the access plan before you leave, such as a gate code, a lockbox or a key kept by the barn owner. Agree on how the access is ended at the end of the care period.

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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