Discover How My Horse Sitting Adventure Went Wild: When Ponies Outsmarted Me

Discover My Horse Sitting Adventures: When the Ponies Tested My Patience

When I agreed to pet sit for a few days, I thought I had a good idea of what was in store. Feed the animals, check the water, make sure everyone is safe, and maybe even enjoy the peace of the countryside. After all, I had watched these animals before without incident. But as I quickly discovered, horses sometimes have their own ideas about how things should go—and mine were determined to test every boundary, quite literally.

Figgy

Day One: Discover My Horse Sitting Adventure, A Smooth Beginning

That first morning was exactly what I expected. Four horses, divided into two barns, were waiting quietly for their breakfast. The three dogs wagged their tails, the cat demanded attention, the ducks splashed happily, and the chickens scratched busily in their yard. All was well, and I thought to myself, This is going to be a nice, easy gig.

When I returned that evening, though, things took a dramatic turn. Two of the horses were missing. Not in their stalls. Not in their yard. Gone.

No Ponies Here

I quickly texted the owners, who gave me some sound advice: grab a pail of pellets, shake it, and the horses would likely come running. Good plan—except there wasn’t a single whinny or set of hooves to be heard.

Neighbors were notified, and soon four men appeared with flashlights, ready to help. It was pitch black as we fanned out, calling and listening. Finally, the two runaways were discovered up the road, standing in a neighbor’s field as if this late-night escapade was perfectly ordinary.

We led them back home, repaired a few weak spots in the fence, and tucked them safely into their stalls. I breathed a sigh of relief, certain the worst was behind me.

Safe in their barn.

Horse Sitter Tip #1:

Always keep a flashlight, halter, and bucket of feed handy. Horses are often food-motivated, and in a pinch, that rattling bucket can be your best tool to lure them home.

Day Two: Intruders in the Wrong Barn

Oh Boy!

The following morning started calmly. Everyone was where they should be. But by that evening, the same two troublemakers had escaped again—this time into the other horses’ yard and barn.

The larger of the resident horses was not pleased by these uninvited guests. He neighed loudly, stomped his hooves, and began kicking at the intruders, clearly declaring, This is MY space.

I spotted where the escapees had flattened the fence and, after some coaxing with pellets, managed to lure them back where they belonged. Getting them to cross back over, however, was no easy task. They had no problem leaping out, but suddenly the idea of going back seemed terrifying. After much coaxing and persistence, they finally returned, and I secured the weak spots in the fence.

Fix That Fence

Horse Sitter Tip #2:

If horses escape, don’t panic. Stay calm and use feed to encourage them back. But also be cautious of herd dynamics—horses can get territorial. Always keep a safe distance if there’s kicking or aggressive behavior.

Day Three: Caught in the Act

Naomi Found Them

The next day, I decided to be proactive. I walked the fence line, scanning for new escape routes. Sure enough, I found the section they had used to sneak into the yard. The two offenders weren’t far away—one was grazing happily in the far corner, the other lying down in the grass as if he owned the place.

Armed with a rope and a bucket of pellets, I managed to get the grazing pony haltered, and the lounging one followed like a faithful shadow. Crisis resolved. Another repair was made to the fence, and I went home hoping this time it would hold.

Home Again

Horse Sitter Tip #3:

Do daily fence checks. Horses are escape artists and can find weak spots quickly. A little time walking the fence can save a lot of stress later.

Day Four: A New Escape Artist

His Turn Now

The following day, I returned with my fingers crossed. And at first glance, things looked good—the two usual suspects were exactly where they should be.

But then I noticed something else: the smallest pony from the other set of two was outside of his fenced area, running free.

This little rascal had no interest in being caught. Each time I approached, he darted away, fast and light on his hooves, with the dogs joining in like it was a game. Around and around the yard he went, tail streaming, ears flicking, enjoying every moment of his freedom.

I had an appointment to keep, so I resigned myself to leaving him loose for a while. The owners assured me he’d be fine.

Escapee

When I returned that evening, the pony was still free, still running, and still thoroughly enjoying himself. I couldn’t help but laugh at his antics.

I decided to let him run, hoping he would tire himself out. Sure enough, after a while, his gallop slowed to a trot. That’s when inspiration struck. I tossed a few pellets to his barn buddy to distract him, then opened the gate and shook the bucket. The runaway pony trotted straight over and into the barn. I shut the gate behind him, and just like that, he was back where he belonged—happily munching on hay as if nothing had happened.

Safe Again

Horse Sitter Tip #4:

Patience is key. Chasing a loose horse rarely works—they’re faster and will treat it like a game. Instead, use their herd instincts and food motivation to your advantage.

Lessons from the Escape Artists

After that, the ponies seemed to settle down, as if they’d gotten the rebellion out of their system. The final days of my stay were blissfully uneventful.

Looking back, I can’t help but laugh at the chaos. I’ve watched these horses before, and they’ve never given me a moment’s trouble. But this time, they seemed determined to test the fences, the rules, and my patience.

What I learned is this: horse sitting is never just about feeding and watering. It’s about problem-solving, fence-mending, and sometimes running laps after a pony who thinks freedom is the greatest game in the world.

Final Horse Sitting Tips:

• Always double-check gates and latches after feeding.

• Keep extra halters, ropes, and buckets nearby for emergencies.

• Build trust with the horses—a calm, familiar voice can work wonders when they’re nervous or excited.

• Expect the unexpected. Even the best-behaved horses can surprise you.

And yet, for all the stress, there’s joy too. The trust in a horse’s eyes when they finally walk back to you, the humor in their antics, the satisfaction of restoring order—it’s all part of the adventure.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. Because for every escape, every chase, and every fence repair, there’s also the simple happiness of being around animals who keep life interesting.

Kitty

LeLu