Daughters Horse whilst at University

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Wsf74

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My daughter is off to university in September LEAVING, her competition horse and companion at home. I'm quite happy to look after them and ride, but do wonder how I'm going to fit it in with a full-time demanding job when we used to share the mucking out. I'm quite particular and always muck out daily rather than deep litter, but may have to compromise somewhere ! i'm quite organised and get things ready at the weekend to make the week a bit easier but fully aware I'm also wanting to ride four times a week and trying to fit the gym in as well! I have started looking for someone to muck out but it is about an hours work a day doesn't seem too appealing to anyone. Has anyone any suggestions as to what they did if they're in a similar situation? I don't want the horse ridden by somebody else and enjoy looking after them and riding just bit mindful of my time!
 
Weekly deep litter would be my plan.

Re getting someone to muck out depends a bit on location and pay, we’ve always had someone for <1 hour but they charge per visit per horse in those circumstances. They’d come and do both once or twice a week in winter once I’d moved to give mum a couple of days break
 
I did it. It was a lot of work but managed to keep both mine and her horse in work by riding one a day during the week as much as possible and both at weekends. I also took them both out competing. Mucking out was fine every day but I have a few people who are freelance who helped me out when I travelled abroad for work and my husband gave a hand when needed. Horse are at home. I didn't go to the gym much as didn't have either the time or the inclination but when I was able to take a lunch break I popped across as it was opposite the office. I also commuted around 3 hours a day. Luckily uni holidays are rather long so it was never too bad.
 
What bedding do you currently use? Would it be worth changing to something like aubiose which you can skip out daily then take the wet out once a week or so.
 
I would find a loaner 2 or 3 days a week or offer rides for free for someone to ride with you in term time in return for them mucking out the one they ride.
I would have jumped at that when the kids were small
 
I use bedmax - so will give the deep litter a go during the week. My daughter is 3 1/2 hrs away. I will try and find some freelancers even for a few days. Think i am just panicking !
 
Depending on whereabouts she is in the country: take the horse with her!! There will no doubt be yards in the area where she is, and she could ride when she isn't studying.

If there is an equestrian college in the vicinity then the horse could be on working livery during term-time, which would mean that the horse would be used by students. This would be a much cheaper option.

Just a suggestion.
 
I find Bedmax really pants in terms of absorbancy and so does everyone on my yard who's tried it (10+ liveries), it may even be worth trying another shavings brand perhaps and then it may feel less horrid deep littering during the week.
I'd also make all feeds up and put in tupperware at the weekend so you can dump and go, or just the supps if you have a few. Making haynets up a week in advance is also helpful. Can you buy a tack trolley so you only have to do one trip to/from the tackroom when you do ride, or put a tie ring outside the tack room? These are all things that help me get motivation when I am super tired.
 
I'm another who doesn't find bedmax that absorbent. Mine live out 24/7 now but in the past I have used straw pellets and those are really good for deep littering/ taking wet out at the weekends. It makes a huge difference time wise.
 
If you are going to semi deep litter then get in some wood pellets and use them as a base in the wet areas under your normal bedding.

You should find a freelancer but 1 hour a day will be relatively expensive.

Do you have room for an additional horse - for the right person, free livery in return for help with yours might be attractive
 
could you offer a ride on the ridden horse a couple of times a week to sweeten the deal maybe?

If not could you compromise somewhere - maybe only poo pick at the weekend to save a bit of time in the evenings.
 
I used to do an hour a day for a retired lady just mucking out stables for her daughters retired ponies and then maybe a bit extra time some days to poo pick the paddock. It's worth trying to find someone who can fit it in between other jobs as I guess the time they go isn't that important if the horses are already turned out, it's just not worth it if someone has to travel a fair bit to get to you x
 
Could they live out for a few months or out at night at least until about November then I'm assuming daughter will be back in December for the holiday break.

I don't lift the wet in my stables everyday as mine mainly live out but come in for part of the day or night, I use a deep bed of shavings and put wood pellets where they wee on the floor under shavings, in summer I can leave it for 2 weeks in winter a bit less but it really saves time and bedding.
 
Our yard is all straw pelleted and they are all on a deep litter system, takes a few mins each day to muck out. It’s a lovely bed for them, nice and cosy and very easy to skip out. Big convert to pellets since we’ve been there!
 
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