Hi I'm Lorna - welcome to my homepage
I know how difficult it can be to find a good house and pet sitter who is trustworthy and reliable. As an insured professional sitter I have only one thing on my mind and that is making sure your property and animals are well cared for.
I provide a professional, experienced house and livestock sitting service which is a real alternative to livery, kennels and catteries. I have over 20 years professional experience with horses, pets and small farm animals. I have also competed nationally at Trec for Scotland and the UK. Amongst other qualifications I am a fully qualified BET Ride Leader and able to manage a licensed riding establishment for up to one month in the owners absence.
Peace of Mind
With my depth of knowledge and experience you can rest assured that your yard, farm, barn, small holding, house and animals will be in very safe hands. Please read on and if you like what you see, give me a call, drop me an email or text and I will be happy to discuss your individual requirements. I work the length and breadth of the country and further afield when required; so please don't let location cause hesitation. I won't charge you for enquiring and if you don't ask, you will never know.
No Agency Fees
I am not a national company with contract sitters on my books. It is I, Lorna that you will be engaging to look after your property and loved ones. I do however travel nationally and internationally when required. As a croft and horse owner I appreciate how important routine and familiar surrounding are to animals. This is why I will come to you and provide a full yard, farm, barn, small holding, house and animal sitting service. I will carry on the normal routines for your animals providing the respect, love and care I would give my own. As you are dealing direct with me there is no commission or agency fees and as such you will find my services reasonably priced and very good value for money.
Services provided
Engagements from two days to several months can be arranged. The services and animals listed below are by way of example and not exhaustive. Call me and I will tailor a package to your exact needs.
I care for domestic species such as cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea-pigs, ferrets, hamsters, rats and fish; and larger farm animals including horses, sheep, goats, poultry and cattle but not on an industrial scale.
Services can include pet and live stock feeding, watering, grooming, exercising, lunging, medication, mucking out, skipping out, bedding down, rug changes, turning out, field checks, tack cleaning, attendance for farrier and vet. House cleaning, light maintenance, plant watering, burglar, squatters and vandal deterrent, guard against frost and weather damage.
About me
I am 46 years old, non smoker, degree level educated and happily married to David. I'm a crofter from the Isle of Mull where we farm sheep and cattle. I have led six day horse back trails for Argyll Trail Riding for the last ten years. I was also until recently an area manager with the Bank of Scotland and as such trust and reliability are a given. I am qualified first aider and a British Horse Society BET Ride Leader. I have also ridden nationally and internationally for Scotland and the UK.
Client Testimonials
We have just enjoyed a wonderful week away while Lorna looked after our small farm. She coped brilliantly with our many ponies, sheep, dogs, chickens, cats and pigs, and they were all very chilled and happy when we returned. Can thoroughly recommend Lorna's services to anyone looking to get away and needing someone utterly dependable, capable and trustworthy to look after their house and animals of any type. Great job, Lorna - thanks! We will definitely be calling you again! Innie House Farm xx
Going away is always so stressful when you've got animals to consider. Having Lorna to house sit has been such a welcome reassurance over the last 5 years. I can go away confident that all my pets will receive just the right amount of attention and care - not too many treats (quite a skill considering my food-obsessed Lab X!) and plenty of exercise so that I actually come back to fitter animals than I left! Even my nervous cats are relaxed and happy with Lorna. Finally - and most amazingly - she is even happy to exercise my highy strung thoroughbred - and I am happy to let her. Lorna's skill and empathy with animals make her the ideal Auntie to take care of my family whilst I get some me time and recharge my batteries. Christine Fletcher. Inverness.
Lorna has helped me during the past ten seasons and has experience and skills commensurate with the requirements of the BET Centre Manager exam. Lorna has assisted me personally on 6 day trail rides, beach gallops, swimming and trail blazing. She is an experienced horse owner and is a pleasure to work with: She rides all of our horses and ponies competently and sympathetically. Lorna is diligent, trustworthy, good with clients and horses, and has been a credit to Argyll Trail Riding I have had many excellent comments from clients about how Lorna has made their riding holiday experience special. Lorna has also been fundamental in introducing BHS TREC to the north of Scotland since 2006. As a BHS Technical Deligate she has run Trec Training, Judges Training Courses and been Organisor or TD at 12 competitions. Being a FITE Judge she has stewarded and judged at National and local level for 10 years. Lorna is also a member of BHS Competitions Committee, BHS Trec Team Selection Committee and has represented Team GB at TREC. Tove Grey-Stephens Argyll Trail Riding
Lorna Holden house sat for us at Great Glen B and B on a number of occasions. This included taking care of Highland cows, Shetland sheep, stabled Arab Horses and 3 Siamese cats. We found Lorna to be very capable having many years of experience and she was also 100% honest and reliable. Lorna is also very practical so can deal with problems as they arise, and being conscientious will always put the animals and your home first. Anyone thinking of using Lorna will find her a likeable and relaxed person and will not be disappointed. Sonia & Graham Anderson,Loch Ness
Lorna was a godsend when we wanted someone to look after our house, and our rather nervous cats, when we had to go on a trip last year at rather short notice. She was punctual and reliable, and we have since used her services on several occasions. She was extremely good with the cats, including administering medication as required, and she also happily undertook a number of household tasks on our behalf. We were also delighted that she was able to exercise our competition horse, when Rhoda was hospitalised on a later occasion. The horse is a valuable UK champion and there are few people who we allow to ride her, however Lorna's skills and manner inspired us with confidence and we were not disappointed. David and Rhoda McVey, East Dunbartonshire
Great job at short notice. Smart, very likable, hard working and trustworthy. Stepped in at very short notice and saved the day. Worth every penny, many thanks. Alvilde Patrick Argyll Adventure