A horse and a full time job?

[helly86]

My lad just fits in with me, I get to yard (2 miles away) at 6.30 during the week and then home for hubby to have car by 7.15, get showered and off to work for 8am (walking distance), work til half 4, when hubby drops car off and I head back down to yard, do the jobs I didn't do in the morning and ride.

Weekends are a bit different, it depends on what i've got on and whether i'm doing bar work for extra cash. I know horses like routine but not having one that is insanely strict is they way I make it work, Dragon knows i'm gonna be there at some point and just stuffs his face (if he's out) or tries to blag local dog walkers into letting him out (if he's in)

I generally think if you want to find the time, then you will
xx

 

[_Rach_]

Yep. I work 8.30-5. Horse is 10mins from home and work is 30 mins from the yard. I just chuck out in the morning and do the rest later. Muck out and ride etc. twizzy is at BE novice level(when it's not raining) so kept fit. I get in about 9 at night. Luckily for me. I still live at home an just put my dinner in the micro wave so don't have to worry about cooking and wonder mum has already done it

 

[ClassicG&T]

I don't work, i have school instead. But thats 8:30 to 3:30, so not really 9-5. But by the time i get to the yard etc...its around 5 ( i have to use the bus) i muck out, hay, water, bring in and ride all before 6.30-7 as thats when parents may be passing yard so i get a lift home and go to the gym.
Or i get bus home

I'll be driving in september so it will make life so much easier

 

[anuvb]

*update*
I'm trying the full loan out for a while. Today was the first day with work and the horse. Shes turned out for me in the morning and brought in in the afternoon and given a hay net if I leave one, so I plan down after work to do what I do. She only has a thin bed in summer, so mucking out doesn't take long, I fill three nets - one for the Night, one for the morning and one spare. Give her a quick flick over with a brush, mostly to check her over and pick her feet out and get the crud off the outside so I can check for cracks and sore legs.

It took me 1hr45 from finishing work to get to the farm, and that's including finishing a last minute job, shutting my ridiculously overloaded work mac down, getting changed, and the time it took me to stop and eat a bag of crisps, but I DID take a shortcut, which I can't take if it's dark or raining.

Chores took me 35 minutes, but that's without riding. All in all fairly painless, I can cope with that. Winter will be harder but I'll be able to move her by then, closer to home and work.

It's only been a day but so far, so good.

It does get easier the longer you do it. There is a rhythm and a routine to it which takes a qhile to establish. The work commute won't get quicker, but if you are considering yards between work and home, then also look at those close to home. For me the latter works better because then it means I'm not commuting too far to the yard at the weekends. You might also find winter easier (ironically) as other people on the yard will be in the same boat and more happy to chore swop, thereby cutting down your time at the yard.

All the best

 

[soulfull]

OP, you're spending up to four hours a day commuting - is that right? No wonder you're thinking about it carefully and feeling a bit daunted! Is there any way you can cut travel time? That would make the thought of DIY much more doable for you!

This ^^^