Bringing a horse back into work in winter when you work F/T

[tabithakat64]

How have those of you bringing a horse back into work during the winter months when you work full-time managed?

I'm hoping my horse will be able to be ridden again following a light sprain (the vet is coming tomorrow).

I work full-time and also have ME and I cannot for the life of me see how I'm going to manage to bring my horse back into work over the winter months.

I have access to a floodlit school (it's not all weather) and also a busy bridleway.

I think hacking on my own in the dark is asking for trouble.

 

[Cazza525]

Would it really hurt to leave it until the nights draw out a bit??

I can't see that a few weeks will do any harm and it'll stop you worrying.........

Give yourself a break, its supposed to be fun!!

 

[Rana]

I'm just about managing, but I'm only aiming to bring her back into light work (as she's ancient

).

I do all my chores in the morning (get up at silly o'clock), then when I finish work, I just have to bring her in, ride, and put to bed. I work through lunch to finish work early, so I'm home by 5pm if not riding, 6pm if I ride.

My OH does the same on the days he rides a friends horse - he finishes work at 5pm, and home by 7.

I try to hack at the weekend, to give her some variety, and I ride in the school 2-3 evenings a week. I ride for 20-30 mins at the moment, as I'm still building up her fitness.

Would you normally keep your horse in work over the winter? Or would you just drop back to hacking at the weekends? If just hacking at the weekends, I'd prob leave it til the light (and weather!) is nicer - an extra couple of weeks in the field won't make too much difference

 

[Kenzo]

Join the club, I'm bringing Mr M back into work after being turned away this summer, I have 2 to muck and bed down after work and then exercise the both, we only have an out door school and there is only usually me down there on evenings, its cold dark and lonely, you finish late, by the time you get home you can't be bothered to cook anything so you end up living on soup lol then going straight to bed, basically you have no life! lol

 

[DiamondSR]

I've been bringing my boy back into work over the last month, I wouldn't have wanted to leave him until the spring as he's only 7 and has already lost 4 months this year, plus I wanted him fit in time for competing again in the spring.

I ride twice a week in the evenings in the school and hack both days at the weekend, which works well for us both. Sometimes I really don't have the inclination to head up to the yard when I get home in the cold/dark, but am always happy once I'm there!

 

[tabithakat64]

Have spoken with the vet today and have agreed he'll have the winter off and be turned out and providing he manages not to re-injure himself, he'll come back into ridden work in February. Yay!!!!

 

[Resupgirl]

I have given up now until the Spring with my brood mare as I have a 4 year old mare who I am working to keep sane with all these weather changes and my weaned foal is back after getting injured. I also have 2 kids who do after school activities most afternoons and a job. Needless to say I spend a lot of my life emotional!

Try to be realistic and not put yourself in danger as from my experience if I am in a hurry and trying to get things done you can guarantee you will end up with a situation you don't have the time or patience to see through.

I agree with Cazza take it easy mrs hare

!

 

[SpruceRI]

Rosie had 2 1/2 months off with a strained leg.

I've been riding her for about a month now and only hacking at weekends, apart from the odd lunge in the field when the weathers' been good and there's been a full moon!

Amazingly, she has kept her fitness well. She lives out, and up until recently lived on the side of a hill !

I'm going to do a bit of show jumping in the New Year, but no other grand scale plans.

 

[Hoppa]

Oh its good to hear its not just me! Have a warmblood whos been out of work for nearly a year and a little show pony whos been box rested for 6 weeks for a sprain.. plus limited turn out due to the rubbish weather and a full time job!

Was seriously considering packing it in this morning, whilst I was mucking out with blue fingers and trying to work out how i can use the "all weather" school.. which is currently under 3 inches of snow!

Cold, frustrated, exhausted.. why do we do it? xxx