To think this house sitter was bloody cheeky?

[Littlefluffyclouds81]

My DM recently got a house sitter for 10 days whilst we all went on holiday. She had used her once before and all seemed fine. She seemed very professional - took detailed information about all the animals, signed contracts, she is fully insured etc.

She was supposed to sleep at my DM's house each night, although my DM was aware that she would need to pop back here and there to exercise her own dogs (she lives with her parents).

She was paid over £600, and for that she had to look after 2 dogs and feed a cat. There are also 2 horses at my mum's, my mum's horse who is a big cob, and my daughter's pony. She wasn't expected to do anything with the horses.

While we were away the house sitter emailed to ask if it would be ok if her partner's kids came to meet the horses. My DM said that was fine. When we got back, my mum had a good chat with her and the house sitter said that the kids had come over and groomed my mum's horse, but not my daughter's pony because she was grumpy (she is grumpy).

I was the first to go into the tack room, and noticed that the bridles weren't in the right place. I didn't really think anything of it. But today my DM said that there is grease on the bottom of her saddle, from where the saddle pad hasn't been put on properly and it has rubbed the horse, which she wouldn't do. Also her bridle had been done up all wrong. The stirrups on both saddles were at different lengths to how they'd been left by Us. She suspected that the house sitter had taken the kids riding on our horses. This was confirmed when she went for a ride around the village today and a neighbour (who has booked the same house sitter) said that the house sitter had emailed a picture with the kid sat on her horse!

Not only is riding someone's horses without their permission incredibly rude, it is also a really stupid thing to do. She knew nothing about our horses, they could have had any kind of quirks, and putting 2 kids on them (when she doesn't appear to know much about horses herself) was just bloody dangerous.

Not only that, but my DM said there's no way that the bed was slept in for 10 nights, so she suspects that the house sitter had left the dogs overnight which she wasn't supposed to do.

WWYD? I absolutely think that something should be said to the house sitter, but my DM is veering towards leaving it, and just locking the tack room if she uses her again! She was paid a lot of money, and in my opinion, took the piss.

Yanbu. I'd be livid.

YANBU! I would be absolutely fuming. I would probably make a comment on her Facebook page about her not having permission to ride the horses and use your mum's equipment. How dare she!

Outrageous!! Give her a bollocking and just don't use her again.

If it was booked through an agency I would take it up with them rather than approach the woman directly - the client has paid for a service which she hasn't received.

OP this was a gross breach of trust and contract and action should be taken. This woman is stupid at best and at worse, negligent and dishonest.

OP, I would be a furious, ranting, incandescent banshee if someone did this with my horses.

It's not about the safety angle of the people for me (though clearly idiots for not thinking about it) but the safety of my animals - horses are expensive - if something goes wrong vets bills don't come cheap. They are also emotional creatures, and people doing something this ridiculous can potentially undo years of hard work.

I'd be hunting her down with a pitchfork (oh no, not OTT about my horses at all, nope).

But seriously, you don't just take someone's property without permission!

It's not indicative to let other people know, it's called feedback on a service. All the posters saying it is, have they never used Trip Adviser?

Someone once rode my horse without asking and didn't put the saddle on properly. My horse ended up with a sore back and I had a large bill from the Physio who had to come and sort it afterwards. I was furious as he was obviously in pain.

This person has taken the complete piss and needs to be pulled up on it. There could have been a serious accident, and she had no right to ride the horses without permission.

An aside - you say these horses are on loan? How would the owners feel knowing you went away for 10 days without leaving someone instructed to check on them properly. Troughs can be tipped over or become dry in hot weather, horses can break legs in fields through silliness or fright, they can become trapped in fencing. Fencing can become damaged or broken and needs to be checked daily. You cannot leave horses for 10 days without asking someone to check on them. Horses can get colic or other illness, which can become very serious very quickly. They should be checked a minimum of once daily when living out at grass, preferably twice. Basic meeting of the animal's needs.

Fucking hell that's disastrous.im glad that you've screenshotted everything! Make sure that you check the comments as well to see what else she's saying about it! I am not a horse person at all but it doesn't take a genius to work out that it's bloody stupid to ride a horse you don't know! She's beyond irresponsible and downright dangerous and shouldn't be doing what she's doing.

Op has already said the house-sitter is supposed to be horsey, was supposed to stay in the house overnight and was supposed to check the horses which presumably means water levels, signs of colic, not trapped in fencing, etc

YANBU.

I had a horse that would have done anything for anyone, if I was there. If I wasn't she either refused to move at all, or she threw them off. They are very large, very intelligent animals who have their own preferences.

I would definitely have the saddle checked, because they can't have had too much knowledge or they'd have know how to tack up, and store the tack appropriately if they did - that was one of the first things I was taught.

OP said the house sitter was not expected to do anything with the horses, just 'check they are upright'

That's not checking water troughs and fencing.

I'm totally on the side of the OP on this one and id be raging if it were me. But just as an aside I'm making the point that next time the house sitter (hopefully not the previous one) should be asked to do proper checks on the horses as well.

And yes, good point about the saddle - I'd definitely get it checked.

I really can't believe the cheek of some people! Who rides horses without permission!?

I can well understand you being so angry op, this really is not on.

I'm not horsey but her behaviour is outrageous. I would take this up with her without question and leave a very factual review of her services (only concerns that have been proven so she can't sue for defamation). Good luck!

you said in your OP that she wasn't expected to do anything with the horse and pony - I'm suprised you didn't arrange for anyone to check to horses water at the very least, or to keep an eye on them.

Yes I'd leave an honest review saying what she did because although I don't know a lot about horses I know enough that you shouldn't sit on someone else's horse because of their temperament. I think your mum should speak to her first and tell her exactly how pissed off she is. But I wouldn't advise you contacting people on her FB that have booked her services. You could be done for harassment.

OK - my poor mum was still oblivious when I woke up this morning, she hadn't seen my text or my emails. When she found out, she was beyond livid, and phoned the house sitter straight away and gave her a right bollocking. The house sitter was in tears by the end of it. She didn't have any defence/excuse. She eventually apologised. My mum is now in the process of leaving reviews for her wherever she can. There's probably not much else we can do.

Btw she LOVED the line of 'at no point did I give your boyfriend permission to wear my clothes'.

She was supposed to be checking the horses! They were turned out and did not need any feeding/stabling. Horse care is one of the services she advertises on her website. She was being paid to keep an eye on them. I don't think paying someone to be at your house full time while you away to look after your animals is negligent. Mary King wasn't available that week.

Well done ops mum. Id be worried what else shes done whilst house sitting... Is your friend who sent original picture using her still?

Has your DM contacted her yet OP?

I would expect some of my money back!!!

I don't know londonrach, I daresay my mum will be giving her the full picture today and if she does still want to use her then she's crazy (although she doesn't have horses so at least she can't do the same again). Yes you do wonder what else she was up to, she is obviously a devious person.

I would expect some money back too!

Thanks bakeoff

Agree re some money back too as she not done her duties and broken your trust, although that might be hard without small claims. Depends how cross your dm is on whether its worth doing.