Can you have it all ???

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pansy

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As post says really
I know we all have busy lives
2 kids (1 who rides), 2 horses & a shetland on a small yard by ourselves
I work school hours -full time job in part time hours -used to work 4 days now 5 re increased workload
I know things are harder in the winter - but going up to 5 days has made me really struggle - horses aren't ridden during the week at the moment due to increased workload & dark nights - any ideas for making things easier appreciated
I can have time of for farrier etc as & when needed but tend to be at work before & or after -when not at work emails are being received & they can't be ignored ... how does everyone else cope - any ideas for making things easier appreciated-
I know that we are fortunate to have our own place & horses but juggling everthing is hard at times Thankyou xx
 
I used to be the same. Full time teacher so lots of 'homework'. Horses were out as much as possible October - March when I didn't ride or groom at all. October half term tack was cleaned & put away for winter. Semi deep litter beds when in (usually just at night). Automatic water drinkers & hay fed off floor, no hard feed as no work. School hols come round approx every 6 weeks so farrier came in hols. My family were / are non horsey so had to do everything myself (which I preferred as this time was 'my time'), unless ill when they helped out. Child who rides should have to help you every day. Yes it's hard but very rewarding.
 
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It is possible. I have a horse and a shetland at home and work 90+ hours a week. People told me I wouldn't be able to manage but I do :D The compromise has been that I don't have a social life. I get up, do horses, go to work, do horses, go to bed.

My compromises are that the shetland doesn't have a bed, just sprinkle of bedding and a rubber mat to lie on. I'm also not poo picking in winter where I normally would. TBH in this weather its probably floated away. I also find that I have to be very efficient, I have a routine for the best order to do the jobs in and I stick to it. Neither wears shoes so no waiting around for the farrier.
 
Unfortunately I don't think it is possible to have it all, unless you want to be warn out and run down. I'm 31 and just don't think it is possible to have children with all the other stuff as well. I'd rather the other stuff though.
 
I turn one of mine away over winter. My mare is retired anyway so just one of the geldings in work. Two of mine live out. I haven't poo picked the live outs as far too wet and the wheelbarrow just gets stuck in the mud - the poo will biodegrade anyway!!
 
Thanks for your thoughts - it's nice to have input from others - winter is hard for everyone especially with the weather we are having now - which has prpbably made me feel worse
Mari my daughter who rides does help out on a daily basis - but I seem to spend most of my time running around like a headless chicken

- I am thinking it's time to start re assessimg - at the moment I have far to much going on, this year has bot been good & working the extra day is too much - looks like it's time for a few changes x
 
I work full time as a teacher, have 4 children ages between 1 and 11 and just the one horse on diy. It is doable though during winter my opportunities to ride are few and far between. The actual care is easy, I go up before/after work once kids are at breakfast club/child minders etc or the kids join in and 'help'. The lack of riding bothers me but finding a baby sitter/ok weather and someone to hack out with is a challenge when the school is flooded.
 
Very difficult I think, you can have it all but not all at the level you might like - that is the compromise. I have had to give up riding in winter completely and most competing (because I can't ride consistently enough to get him fit).
I also give up precious time with my son which I do feel very guilty about but my OH spends a lot of time which him which is good compensation.
I think my work also suffers a little and I'm certainly not progressing as much as I could if I put all my effort into just work (but that would be a little dull I think)

I yo yo between thinking I'm having a good stab at having it all and then thinking I'm not doing anything properly (usually when it's pouring and grey and I'm in my third set of wet clothes!)
 
Agggh this is a scary post as I am just about to return to work full time after being part time since my son was born (now five)! I am however putting my horse on part livery for the winter which I am sad about but I know I won't be able to do it all and I know he will be well looked after by the yard. I am hopeful that I will be able to ride at least 2 evenings a week when my hubby gets home at a reasonable time and then weekends but maybe I am being too optimistic!
 
fredthoroughbred said:
Unfortunately I don't think it is possible to have it all, unless you want to be warn out and run down. I'm 31 and just don't think it is possible to have children with all the other stuff as well. I'd rather the other stuff though.
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pah!! think again, i have 2 kids, 5 equines, 3 dogs, a husband and i work school hours and i do just fine! oh and i'm 42 if that makes a difference:confused: it's about prioritising and being realistic about what can be done. we rarely ride in the depths of winter but i don't see it as a problem and TBH the horses/ponies don't care;) I don't have a fancy social life but that is a choice rather than not being able to.
 
You can only 'have it all' if you have the cash to pay for it all. well thats my philosophy on life. If you want it all, something has to be compromised, or you pay someone to do something for you. Like yourself I work hard - 60 plus hours a week, own my own quite sizeable business, work away a lot, have a husband, home and a daughther that does BE, does PC and BD. My own horse gets ridden about twice a week if I am lucky through the winter, mainly weekends.

My daughter is a bit of a godsend, she is in her final year at sixth form and she does most of the donkey work for me, although I usually end up doing mine and her horse at the weekend in return, plus I like the physical work for a change. Both of mine are on DIY as thats what our yard is. Yes I could afford to pay for full livery at another yard, but we are happy where we are, have good facilities, hacking etc and its close to home, so no point in leaving, plus horses are very happy there. YO will of course help us for holidays as will of course other liveries, but its a case of getting on with it sometimes.

My horse spends more time in the field sometimes than I would like, and sometimes I dont see him from Monday-Saturday, but I know he is well cared for and checked on when he is out, so dont worry. His little face on Saturday morning says it all.

I would say dont fret, just get on with it and work it to your own advantage. I am also lucky in that neither of my horses get stressed with a change in routine, plus we have 24/7 turnout with no restrictions on it, they have to work around us to a certain extent. In the winter we just muddle on through. However, one thing I would say is that horse ownership is very much a lifestyle choice in my opinion. I would not change my horsey life for the world, but sometimes, god its hard, cold, wet, muddy and expensive, but I love it.
 
Try and be optimistic ! The shortest day has passed and spring is around the corner. That's what I keep telling myself. I have 3 kids from 3 1/2 to 13, 5 horses, 4 hens and a bearded collie (the reason I state his breed is that it took over 3 hrs yesterday to bath & groom him) and my work has suffered this year due to the awful weather as I work outside.
However, I have amazing support from my non-horsey OH and my mum.
I know as soon as the sun shines again I will tell myself I wouldn't change a thing.
 
Thanks for replies - as Cambrian has Said days are starting ... To get longer & spring will be here soon - yes it's hard but thinking about things I would rather where we are now than on a livery yard - it's just hard sometimes to get the balance right - dont know if you ever can - as for the farrier - will try to book him 1st job - he is a star though he's never been late x !! Looking forward to the summer already :)
 
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