Commuter with new Horse

Amaranth99

Amaranth99

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13 November 2012
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Am I mad?
I was made redundant at the end of April this year and have finally made myself into a Ltd. company so I can work until Christmas on a contract basis (Better for companies after new pension laws mean they have to offer pension to every temp employee - can you tell I'm an accountant?). Anyway I'm working in London which means catching a 6.55am train from a station 8 miles away and arriving back at the station at 7pm if there are no delays.
So at 5 am this morning I was driving to a local yard to see to my Horse who arrived on Saturday. I went to the field, fed the 38 year old, drove halfway between field and yard, walked to yard, fed Shona, quietly put on Headcollar and bit with headpiece (she's headshy), put on a head torch and walked her to the field, unlocked the padlock with difficulty (eyesight not good for the combination) turned her out and then jogged! (me jogging??) back to the car.
The whole thing took 45 mins and I need to shave off 10 mins somewhere but I did it and Im ready to do the reverse with added mucking out and maybe a ride at 8pm this evening.
I am the happiest commuter in London this morning - she's so lovely.
 
Sets you up for the day doesn't it?!
I don't mind one bit. I work from home so no commute for me but I have to have turned and mucked out my two and home again for 6:45am so that my husband can leave for work on time. We are all up and awake by 5:30am and I'm at the yard by 6am at the latest to get all that done whilst husband gets ready for work and looks after the daughter!
 
These things just have to be done and i'm looking forward to it when i get my horse although we have assisted livery on the yard I plan to keep my horse at but at an extra cost so wont be using it much!

My evening routine at this time of the year is to bring my yard trousers into the office and keep my boots in the car and then just before 1630 I go and change into the trouser which generally stink to high heaven :o. At 1630 I leave and before I get in the car I put my boots on so when I get to the yard at 1730 I just have to put my yard jacket on (work shirt gets washed so dont mind keeping that on) and im all set to go without getting work stuff dirty or finding an empty stable to get changed in :o

Its all about the planning ... When I get home i put my yard trousers and boots back in the car ready for the next day :D

Will have to put my thinking cap on for the morning run though when the time comes :confused:
 
It's great to begin with but does wear thin after a few years!! LOL I left my job in July and am working part time from home but if I go back to full time work and commuting I'm definately going to pay to have my horse done a couple of times a week because you don't realise how exhausted you get. But you've got a while to go before you get to that stage so enjoy while you can :-)
 
Horses are so worth the time - so therapeutic. My mother keeps saying to me - you take on too much (4 equines! :) ) you need some time for you - I remind her that the mucking out and feeding as well as the riding is my 'me' time :D
 
I always used to do it years ago but do plan on paying yard to do horse on a Wednesday plus she'll be in at weekends so only 4 silly mornings per week :)
 
So nice to hear others' stories and realise that I am not alone lol! I too work in London and have to get a 7.00 train. I really had to think long and hard about getting another horse after mine died a couple of months ago what with my working life being the way it is these days. But it didn't take me long to realise that where there is a will strong enough, there really is a way, and I totally agree with the person that said about planning ahead and trying to organise oneself (not one of my strong points) as it really does help.

I do get a bit jealous of the ppl at the yard that don't work such long hours and get to spend more time with their horses, but then again, we must be nearly half way through the winter now, the worst is yet to come, but it will be over in a flash!
 
I'm a commuter and so currently have a weekend share because I've always assumed I wouldnt be able to have my own now i'm working such long hours (when I had my previous boy I was working locally). I'm starting to think its totally do-able. I've been having a mooch on horsemart and I might start looking seriously in the New Year. Next step is to inform the husband - hmmm.
 
Presumably you feed the oldie and then get Shona so that the oldie has finished by the time you get to the field with Shona? But you then have to feed Shona and wait for her to finish. So to save time, I think!, feed Shona first, then feed oldie by which time
Shona will be finished. By the time you've got Shona and got back to the field oldie will have finished.

That might shave 10 mins!

Failing that, get there 10 mins earlier!
 
Boxers said:
Presumably you feed the oldie and then get Shona so that the oldie has finished by the time you get to the field with Shona? But you then have to feed Shona and wait for her to finish. So to save time, I think!, feed Shona first, then feed oldie by which time
Shona will be finished. By the time you've got Shona and got back to the field oldie will have finished.

That might shave 10 mins!

Failing that, get there 10 mins earlier!
Click to expand...
They do not share a field so 10 mins early or an evening feed instead for Winston will probably be the answer. I can throw either carrots or those feed/forage blocks I have heard about over the adjoining fence in the morning just to see him move.
All academic as of this lunchtime when daughter noticed mud fever and a reluctance to walk in Winston so he is going to be borrowing someone else's stable for a couple of nights and have the vet visit him tomorrow.
Hoping to ride Shona for the first time tonight.
 
I'm another London commuter with a horse :) If I'm honest I couldn't manage on DIY, but that's partly because I have to do the whole thing on public transport and it takes me 45 minutes each way, so going up twice a day would involve three hours travelling :o

For me it's been all about finding the right yard - have finally got it sorted with a yard which is accessible by tube, good quality of care when I can't be there and has decent turn out (easier said than done round here - most places give you an hour or two a day if you're lucky)
 
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