Setting all the liability/care/trust concerns aside momentarily, hear me out on this…I’d love to find an international (or heck, maybe start small and stay in the US) horse person who would be interested in a “home/farm swap” with me (think, the film “The Holiday,” but add horses )
I live in a kind-of-desirable location for cold weather folks: southeastern Florida, 20 minutes from the beach, on approximately 5 acres with 3 horses. We love to travel internationally and have found this reasonably simple to do after securing a trustworthy live-in farmsitter. We’ve discussed more and more about wanting to immerse ourselves in local culture, and often wondered aloud if another “horsey person” anywhere in the world, who could provide proper care while we’re away (and vice versa). Our horses are on 24/7 turnout and require very little in the way of “hands on” daily care, but of course they need to be monitored for changes and injuries, something you only trust a fellow equestrian with. No riding would be allowed. I’d love to spend quality time with international horses (Icelandic horses, anyone?!) and learn their methods, too.
Has anyone ever done something like this?? If not internationally, domestically? Maybe I’m a nut and you can say that too, but I tend to be very open-minded and would love to at least consider the possibility with someone after building a lengthy rapport…like a pen pal!