Advice/opinions desperately needed.

[maya2008]

Grass livery - at a larger yard where the fields are huge and they get harrowed so you are not expected to poo pick. I did this at your age, and took my horse’s feed to her in the dark with a head torch in the winter on her days off, bringing her up to the main yard to ride and feed in the dark on other days. Worked fine.
If you ask around, you might find someone local with their horses in a field who wouldn’t mind a livery - even with no school you can still hack while you sort your driving test.

I only briefly went onto stabled livery as a young adult, then back to grass - you spend so much time mucking out that could be spent riding!!

 

[rabatsa]

I am going to buck the trend here and say sell.

The lump sum cash that will bring in will go a way to fund driving lessons, the time not having a horse will free up time for the driving lessons and another plus point not even on your radar is that it also frees you up to leave the immediate home area if a suitable job came up elsewhere.

I had to make a similar decission at a similar age. I felt that I would never be able to have another horse ever again, the horse I sold was one that I had bred and broken myself. It was hard but with hindsight it really was the best thing that I did.

 

[Poingsettia]

Life is too short to be stuck in a horrible job. As others have said, look at other jobs you can do for the short term that will be more “enjoyable”.

How much time are you spending each day with your horse? Is the full livery purely because of the mucking out rule? Could you downgrade livery to assisted, so they turn out and bring in, then get a sharer that mucks out for you instead of payment? Possibly you could get someone to muck out daily for cheaper than the cost difference between assisted and full livery. Worth investigating anyway.

 

[ihatework]

Honestly I would sell. It will be tough, but most people have to sacrifice having a horse at some point in their life.
Invest in you at this stage, and put your full attention into becoming a paramedic. Good Luck

 

[teddypops]

Why are you doing an apprenticeship in something you hate and is not relevant to what you want to do in the future? That makes no sense. Look for a job as others have suggested that you enjoy more and earn better money. Have your horse on DIY livery and use the money saved on full livery to learn to drive.

 

[RainCloud101]

Why don’t you look into a job at your local hospital as a health care assistant? It’s a great way to learn the way of the nhs before your training and really will stand you in good stead. Generally ward based you’ll work 3x12 hour shifts per week including nights so with careful planning, lots more time for horses and driving lessons plus its a good wage with out of hours extra pay. Or join the nurse bank and pick and choose your shifts. Or phlebotomist?
Get a good sharer on board, and take the strain off on your work days. Your career is so important if you want to afford to carry on with horses. Good luck!

 

[ihatework]

Why don’t you look into a job at your local hospital as a health care assistant? It’s a great way to learn the way of the nhs before your training and really will stand you in good stead. Generally ward based you’ll work 3x12 hour shifts per week including nights so with careful planning, lots more time for horses and driving lessons plus its a good wage with out of hours extra pay.

Best advice on the thread

 

[sweets123545]

Why are you doing an apprenticeship in something you hate and is not relevant to what you want to do in the future? That makes no sense. Look for a job as others have suggested that you enjoy more and earn better money. Have your horse on DIY livery and use the money saved on full livery to learn to drive.

Because at the time it really seemed and felt like a great idea and something I would enjoy. I’ve had a complete change of heart and mindset

 

[sweets123545]

Why don’t you look into a job at your local hospital as a health care assistant? It’s a great way to learn the way of the nhs before your training and really will stand you in good stead. Generally ward based you’ll work 3x12 hour shifts per week including nights so with careful planning, lots more time for horses and driving lessons plus its a good wage with out of hours extra pay. Or join the nurse bank and pick and choose your shifts. Or phlebotomist?
Get a good sharer on board, and take the strain off on your work days. Your career is so important if you want to afford to carry on with horses. Good luck!

Thank you so much

 

[I'm Dun]

Honestly I would sell. It will be tough, but most people have to sacrifice having a horse at some point in their life.
Invest in you at this stage, and put your full attention into becoming a paramedic. Good Luck

Its something that most people have to do. Its hard but does open up lots of doors. Driving lessons are the current issue but they are a drop in the ocean compared to buying and running a car.

If you really cant then you need to look at much cheaper livery and find a way to make it work. Id ditch the apprenticeship and go into care work or similar. Better for your CV and pays more than an apprentice wage.

 

[meleeka]

Because at the time it really seemed and felt like a great idea and something I would enjoy. I’ve had a complete change of heart and mindset

You are allowed to change your mind . Don’t get stuck in a job you don’t enjoy and watch the years tick by. That’s without even thinking about the horse/driving lessons.

 

[Winters100]

You have my sympathy, it is hard starting out and picking the best path, but it sounds like you have a lot of common sense and this goes a long way.

Since you have a bond with the horse I would start with a part loan. This is the least drastic step, and you could always move to a full loan or sale later if it becomes evident that you need to. Also look for a cheaper yard, maybe one with some facilities but not quite to the level of where you are. It sounds as if some sort of assisted DIY could be made to work. With the cheaper livery, and the income from a part loan, you should be able to start saving.

I would then address the issue of doing what is presumably a relatively poorly paid job, which you do not enjoy, and which is not related to the field that you would eventually like to work in. I'm Dun made a good suggestion with care work. It is in the health field, and also could be flexible. For example you could do home help via an agency, and it would probably be perfectly possible to tell them that you need to finish by a certain time or start later, or even to have time in the middle of the day. I know from using agencies to book carers for my Mother that their busiest times are early morning and late night, helping people to get up and go to bed. Perhaps if you had some hours in the middle of the day free you could see to the horse then? Or you could do some hours at the weekends to earn extra money, these jobs don't have to be a full day, it could just be going in once or twice a day to help prepare meals etc. If your loaner was doing your horse on those days it might work, and would give you the extra money for driving lessons.

Keep an eye out in local fb groups and on notice boards for people who need ad hoc jobs doing. All extra money helps, so even if it is things like babysitting, or even house sitting, then you can put this extra aside for your driving lessons.

Really good luck and do let us know how you get on. I can imaging that right now it seems like you have a mountain to climb, but if you take things one step at a time you will get there.

 

[BronsonNutter]

If you do decide that keeping your horse is just too difficult, funds and time wise, then loaning is a good option. Many of the agricultural colleges have horses on loan and some are crying out for safe to handle, sensible horses who can do some basic schooling and jumping, and he would be safe and well looked after, and you could have him back when you are in a position to. I know some send them back during summer and christmas holidays but other places can keep them for you.

I'd also look other jobs within the NHS or healthcare sector (nursing homes are always looking for staff) that are more relevant to getting you where you want to be - it'll look so much better for when you apply for your paramedic training, and hopefully you will enjoy it more! Wages will be better too as they won't be exploiting you on an 'apprentice wage'. Best of luck!

 

[Lois Lame]

If you are not enjoying your current job, look for something better paid, I saw that Lidl and Aldi are the best paid of the supermarkets at the moment. I hear that they are good to work for too. Hope you work something out.

Aldi seems to take care of its employees. They seem a lot happier too.

 

[[153312]]

In all honesty I may get hate for this, but I'm not surprised you're struggling financially on an 'apprentice wage'. It's a bit of a scam, IMHO.
Apprentice wages are a joke and definitely not enough to live off, let alone keep a horse on. I would second those saying look for alternative employment - a supermarket, cleaning, caring, pet- or babysitting, etc are all good options with more realistic wages. A sharer or part loan for your horse may help as well, with them providing a small financial contribution for more exercise/care, which might let you move to DIY livery.

Best of luck xx