HOW TO HIRE · PETS · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire an equine specialist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
An equine services in Ireland costs €20–€80 per visit, typically around €40. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring an equine specialist in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers equine specialist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — transport Services — transporting horses safely to events, veterinary appointments, or new homes is a critical service.
- How does type of service change the price?Quality costs more at the start and less over time. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does horse's needs change the price?It decides how much of the day the job takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does professional's experience change the price?Training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Veterinary Care — equine veterinary services cover routine check-ups, vaccinations, and emergency care — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a equine specialist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
CARE, CUSTODY AND CONTROL cover, not just public liability — public liability pays if your dog bites a stranger; care, custody and control is what pays if your dog is injured, lost or killed while in their charge, and plenty of walkers carry only the first; How many dogs are walked at once, and whether yours is walked with strangers' dogs; Whether they are insured to drive your dog in their vehicle, and how it is secured; What happens if your dog is hurt or runs — the plan, and which vet; Keys: who holds one, how it is returned, what happens if it is lost, in writing; Two references from current clients, called not read.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers equine specialist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — transport Services — transporting horses safely to events, veterinary appointments, or new homes is a critical service.
A good answer: Quality costs more at the start and less over time. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It decides how much of the day the job takes. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Veterinary Care — equine veterinary services cover routine check-ups, vaccinations, and emergency care — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a equine specialist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect care, custody and control cover as well as public liability — training and Riding Lessons — training services involve teaching horses new skills or improving their performance in various disciplines, such as dressage or jumping.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the equine specialist starts, and an itemised invoice after — horse Grooming — equine services often include grooming, which encompasses brushing, hoof care, and bathing.
Getting the quote right
- Type of service — quality costs more at the start and less over time.
- Horse's needs — it decides how much of the day the job takes.
- Professional's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it.
- Specific services required — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: type of service — quality costs more at the start and less over time
- They will not talk about it: horse's needs — it decides how much of the day the job takes
- They will not talk about it: professional's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it
- A price for the equine specialist before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the equine specialist has begun
What an equine specialist costs: €20–€80 per visit
The figures are for the job, per visit, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Horse grooming and Equine training each carry their own band. Equine Services price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Equine specialists near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstType of service — quality costs more at the start and less over time — that is what the equine specialist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneHorse's needs — it decides how much of the day the job takes — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfProfessional's experience — training has to be paid for, and the rate reflects it — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSpecific services required — an upgraded package costs more because it includes more — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the equine specialist is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, complexity of the tasks involved — a fiddly job needs more care and more skill than a straightforward one.
- Horse Grooming
- Equine services often include grooming, which encompasses brushing, hoof care, and bathing.
- Training and Riding Lessons
- Training services involve teaching horses new skills or improving their performance in various disciplines, such as dressage or jumping.
- Veterinary Care
- Equine veterinary services cover routine check-ups, vaccinations, and emergency care.
- Transport Services
- Transporting horses safely to events, veterinary appointments, or new homes is a critical service.
- Equine Training
- Focuses on teaching horses specific skills or behaviours, enhancing their performance and obedience.
- Call-out
- A fixed charge for turning up, separate from the work itself. On a short equine specialist job it is often most of the bill, so ask whether the first hour is inside it.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring an equine specialist: questions people ask
The cost of equine services can vary based on the type of service, the horse's needs, and the professional's experience. Additional factors include location, travel distance, and any special requirements for the horse.
The duration of equine services can vary widely, from a quick grooming session of about 30 minutes to several hours for training or veterinary care. Always consult with the service provider for a more accurate estimate based on your specific needs.
Emergency or same-day availability can vary by provider and service type. It's advisable to check in advance with your service provider to understand their policies and any associated fees for urgent requests.
Many providers offer package deals for booking multiple equine services, which can save you time and money. Discuss your needs with the service provider to see if they can accommodate your requests.
Out of scope services may include extensive medical procedures, equine insurance, or services unrelated to horse care. Always clarify with your service provider what is included in their offerings to avoid misunderstandings.
NO LICENCE OR REGISTER APPLIES TO DOG WALKERS, PET SITTERS OR GROOMERS IN IRELAND. Anyone may trade as one. The protection is insurance and what is written down — and the insurance that matters is not the obvious one.
MORE GUIDES