doing it all

[debsflo]

any tips on getting through the winter. i know it sounds pathetic but first winter with two, my warmblood and daughters 14.3 how does everyone else cope with work horses children dogs husband and house in winter, mud, and dark and stay sane?,

 

[Rambo]

Full / Part Livery

 

[UKa]

I know it is not the best season ... personally I have discovered going up the yard before work (which I can now that yard is close enough to home) and through this I at least get to see the horse in daylight even though there is not enough time to ride then - and on at least some of the days I can be at home punctually at night so husband gets attention; cannot change work and do not have children or dog (yet) at the moment but the mornings at the yard really make my day

 

[shadowboy]

Full livery for one horse and part for the other- i wouldnt be able to do it other wise. not with working long days!

 

[Marquire]

I also have two this winter, both on DIY adn I work full time.
I'm up at 6 every weekday to turn out, muck out etc before work, then back to the yard to ride, feed after work. I'm out of the house from 6.40am until 7pm Monday to Friday.

Weekends I can lie in to 8am!!!!!!!!

The worst thing is needing to go to bed by 9pm cause I'm so knackered.

Socail life? What social life?

 

[filly190]

Have three this winter, full time work, hubby that does'nt help around the house, only does man jobs.

I am getting up earlier so my stables are all ready for evening and at night I can then groom and feed for an hour.

At weekends I do the house work and catch up.

I have saved a lot of time by doing my food shopping online. I am also bulk buying feed and bedding and getting that delivered.

I am going to bed a lot earlier and by the end of January each year feel a bit fed up with it all.

 

[Tempi]

I have a lovely mother who comes down the yard with me every evening and helps muck out/do water buckets and fill haynets and she also walks the dogs too. whilst i ride, groom and muck out aswel. however i do mornings on my own and weekends on my own. i cook during the week for her so she gets a rest too - if she didnt come down andhelp me i wouldnt be home til around 9pm every evening!!

 

[jacks_mum]

i don't stay sane, just give in to the madness it is inevitable

 

[pottamus]

I only have one! I get up at 5.30am, do lunches and have quick breakfast with OH then go out to my horse at 6am to turn him out. I do all hay, water, feed and mucking out in the dark using a camping lantern for light (no elec). But I like to have it done to it is ready for the evening...too tired after work! I then get ready and go to work.
The weekends is the same routine really but I try to box somewhere for a ride on Sundays because we go walking together on Saturdays. Have to do all chores etc in the evenings after cooking the tea etc.
I am usually in bed by 9pm because I am pooped! I have to say my house is suffering from a lack of time at the moment....
I do all shopping online now as it saves an evening at the shops! I have all veg delivered by an organic box scheme too!
It is hard work at times, but I could not be without my horse and the riding time makes up for it!

 

[zulu705]

I get to yard at about 7.50am ish, walk in hand for 10 mins, feed mine and some others.
At work for about 8.50 ish, work till 5.30 ish. Home, have tea, back at yard for 7 ish, muck out, feed, fill nets, in hand walk again for 10 mins, home by about 9pm. Don't know how had time to ride before my horse got injured ! In hand walking is to increase till reassesment in Feb so looks like I'll have to get up earlier. Get a lie in a weekends as someone feeds mine for me then.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Most of the people on the yard pay me £1 to give feed, change jarmies and turn out. It costs more than that to start their cars in the morning, so worth a thought.

 

[Salcey]

Blimey I think you're due a wage increase to £2 at least

 

[Llwyncwn]

Ahem, this is south wales hunni x (but im worth it at £1 a time).

 

[RachelB]

Blimey I think some of you lot who get up before the crack of dawn just for your horses deserve a medal! I am in awe! I thought it was hard work getting up at 6.30am evrey morning, doing the horse, doing a full day of uni work, then doing two horses and coming home at 7pm to do another 3/4 hours uni work after dinner! I hope I have the resiliance that you lot do when I end up with work/OH/pets/children/horse!

 

[claire1976]

I find it really hard too but somehow seem to manage!!! I have 1 horse of my own plus a shared pony and my sisters to manage mon-fri, I work 25 hours a week, have a 4 year old son and an OH who works rubbish shifts, has no interest in horses and does bugger all round house!!
At the mo all ours are still out because stables haven't been completed properly so I've not got the mucking out to do. Its still hard work though and I only just manage without going insane. Somehow I keep convincing myself its worth it!

 

[wilder]

i do d.i.y
i have two businesses,three kids and loads of other animals i i do get up around 5.30 and horses are done before school and brought in around 4-5pm the only thing i miss is the riding in winter as i can,t get out much and sometimes it feels like all work no play and it won,t be long before we are all moaning about the flies and heat

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

Its tiring
I just took on a second job to keep my beloved horse as i am so broke!
I get up at 6am, go to yard to muck out,do hay,water and feed and turnout, then off to work from 8-4pm, then up yard quickly put horse to bed home quickly to get dinner before going to work 6-10 every monday,tuesday & thursday, i was doing sunday 2-10pm, but that was totally killing me off! so i dropped that shift this week!, i dont get to sleep until 12.30 most nights sadly, so never get much sleep, like bahumbug says, give into the madness its inevitable! lol

you could fill all haynets at weekend so they are all made up, erm and get someone to put them to bed some nights if you have mucked out fully of a morning,good luck

 

[WelshRareBit]

Well this is my routine..
7.25: argue with self about how I dont need to get up...
7.30:Get up
7.40: Cycle to yard (takes about 5 mins)
7.45: Get ignored by horse when calling him from field
8.00: He finally deigns to come in , food, rug change if wet quick check of legs etc
8.15: Soak more SugBeet if req'd then turn out
8.30: Back at home, tea, breakfast...

But then Im lucky (or not so) as Im on ly PT at the mo-which suits me FINE through winter as I have the time to do him before work. Am looking forward to March time though when I can get myself FT and ride after work

Happy Days!

 

[GatefieldHorses]

i have a yard plus work freelance so:
7.30am wake up
8am: first yarfd (muck out 4)
9.30am: get to my yard (horses are fed by someone else. Muck out 9.
1pm: ride all horses
5.30pm finish off - hay feed and check waters
5.45pm get home, do dogs and cats at home
6pm: finally in house, have shower
7pm: have dinner
9pm: if its a weekend, im then off out to pub or club

hehe
x

 

[Lucy_Ally]

Get as much as possible done in the morning before work so the stable is ready for me in the evening, that way all my time after work is spent riding and playing with the pony. Usually don't get home till 8pm though!

Luckily I have a very understanding OH who helps out with the cooking etc.
Getting out of bed at 7am with the wind and rain battering the house is never easy though!

 

[Malibu]

Well....... i am up at 6am to feed the two boys, Rupert then gets turnout rug on and boots, pick out hoofs then turned out. I muck his stable out then i put Malibu's Micro current machine on and give him hay and fresh water.

By that time its about 7. I have a shower, wash hair, get changed into school clothes, breakfast and usally some hw.
When i get home its on average 5.30 so DARK!!! I prepare night feeds and get fresh water and hay for the stables. Mum takes machine off maly and takes him for walk and hand grazing during day! Thanks mum!
I muck Malibu's stable out and bring Rupert in, pick his hoofs out and wash them down, take boots off and put any cream, lotions and potions on. Change rug and put him and maly in stable, give them feeds, then once finished i make morning feed and then thast it really! Some extra help at night woudl be great mother1 if you looking!