F/T job and horses on DIY...does this work properly??

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Natassia

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I've recently taken on a full time temp job - Mon - Fri for just over a month while on summer holidays from university. Its a 45 minute commute but fairly well paid and a good place to work, I need the money for my horse above anything else so I couldn't really turn it down.
Before I got the job I worked 2 days a week in a day-job and about 3 nights a week, so there was enough time to ride 5/6 days a week and my horse was coming on really well. But now I only have time to ride about 4 times a week max (I finish a bit earlier on Thursdays and Fridays) and I can't spend as much time with my horse or ride him as much and I'm worried that this will be detrimental to him. At the moment I get to the yard for 7.15am and pick his feet out, fly repellant, quick check over and turn him out. Then I rush off to get the train to work. After work I get to the yard at about 7.15pm and muck out and do the other stable duties, bring in, groom, and do anything else that needs to be done. I leave the yard at about 9pm.
I love going to the yard after work and it really relaxes me, but I'm feeling so guilty about not riding him as much, however I need to do this to pay for him. I always spend time grooming him and making a fuss of him when he comes in, I've only had him 6 months so we're still at the bonding stage. I'd like to start doing some groundwork with him in the evenings, does anyone have any suggestions for quick exercises I could do with him? How does everyone else manage to spend enough time with their horses and work full time??
 
I've got 2 on DIY livery and 3 part time jobs and one 9-5. I get up 5.30/6 get to the yard between 6.15/6.30 muck out and put out etc - home by 7.30 to shower etc work for as early as I can get there so 8.30 -9. Then back to Yard any tome between 4/45 and 5.30 and do evenings and ride then onto whatever jpob I'm doing that night

It is do able but expect to be tired!!! But then the money is worth it
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So when do you start your night job then??! You sound like you work very hard, but like you said it is so worth it. I wish I lived nearer the yard its a 20 min drive from my house and to save time I use the station near the yard so I can get there straight after work. I'm just going to have to muck out quicker I think, I'm terrible for faffing about as well and I'm a neat freak!
 
I work four ten hour days (9am - 7pm) and i manage! And my horse is on box rest with laminitis at the moment. Expect to be tired and have a understanding partner!!
 
I'm lucky that 2 of my part time jobs are horse related so i pre plan them to fit in round me - the third is a pub so I normally do 7 till one or two but I only try and do that one night a week.
 
I work full time. My Horse is DIY on grass 24/7 and I'm 30 mins each way from work and yard. I would never manage if he was stabled. We have working huskies too which takes up time. I ride 4 days a week in summer, and a bit less in Winter. Plenty if they live out.
 
Yes, work full time and horses are on DIY

Thye are fine with riding weekends and one ot two evenngs, even when competing.
But I do have them living out in summer, and in at night Oct till end of April.
 
i work 9-5 and have a horse on DIY on top of that I teach 2 x per week after work, ride a freinds horse over fences once a week and have the ride on Mollie (Ultimate Excess) so I work her when her owner does not ride.

up until i had an accident (not horse related) in january i worked 4 nights a week in a pub

its possible trust me
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I have two on DIY and work 9 - 6 Monday to Friday. I muck out in the morning and exercise the pony then in the evening I do the remaining chores and exercise the horse. I'm lucky enough to work 5 mins away from the yard so I go there in my lunch break too
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I honestly didn't mean to come across as lazy, sorry if I did!
I know its possible; I manage when I'm at uni in Brighton and commuting from London, as well as working part time. Its just that I'm worried that I'm not spending enough time with my horse and that he will somehow feel neglected, even though he gets a good groom and fussed over every day. I suppose riding 4x a week isn't too bad either.
We're all so busy abd exhausted looking after our horses, but even if I had the money I wouldn't even have part livery, I love looking after him, however I see why some people choose that option.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've got 2 on DIY livery and 3 part time jobs and one 9-5. I get up 5.30/6 get to the yard between 6.15/6.30 muck out and put out etc - home by 7.30 to shower etc work for as early as I can get there so 8.30 -9. Then back to Yard any tome between 4/45 and 5.30 and do evenings and ride then onto whatever jpob I'm doing that night

It is do able but expect to be tired!!! But then the money is worth it
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Oh good God, poor you, what on earth time do you go to bed at? and how could you manage a night out on the town and have a drink.
I guess you must be v. young, fit and optomistic and I have the greatest admiration for you!
I couldn't have done that even in my 20s!!!
 
my job is a little harder to fit the gorses around.

im cabin crew - work 6 days on, 3 earlies, 3 lates and then have 3 days off.
my days off are filled with shows!

i have to squeeze mine in before or after work depending on my shift that day.
means i do a lot of 14 - 15 hour days!

oh and i have 5 horses! - just cos i clearly like the fatigued look!
 
Natassia, your horse will be fine - they don't stand in the field fretting that they have only been ridden twice this week
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Try full time work, DIY horses AND home and children for real time management challenges
 
I too have had a transition which has been a culture shock. I was working from home three days a week as I was self employed but have taken on a full time normal job three quarters of an hour drive away...money based decision! I am currently getting up at 5am and getting out and riding for half an hour at 5.30am before leaving for work at 7.30am. I get back home at 6pm. That will soon stop though once the mornings and nights draw in.
I also have four evening jobs that works out to be a few meetings in evenings per month..so not too bad!
It will be hard when I can only ride my boy at the weekends and may have to consider paying someone to ride him for me once or twice per week or something. Other than that I may have to lunge in his field in the dark...
 
I work full time and have my horse on DIY. I also have a 45 minute commute but am lucky to work flexi-time so can fit in farrier visits etc around that. I sometimes have to stay away overnight with work which is difficult in winter, but I have a really good arrangement with the friend I share with and we help each other out for holidays and split the evenings in winter so we both get a break.
You do have to prioritise as you can't always do everything. I don't spend a lot of time grooming him and fussing over him as he needs to be worked regularly, but he's not a soppy horse anyway so prefers it like that.
 
It's not the easiest, I work 9 different shifts between 8am 8pm including weekends (in work today!) and it is hard. 25 minute commute and 20mins to the yard. I don't ride as much as I'd like or as much as I did when I wasn't working, am shattered after work and just want to eat and get to bed
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I work full time on the stud 7:30am-4:30pm mon-fri, then a few hrs every other weekend.
Friend turns out pony in the morning, sister usually mucks him out during the day, and I go up to do him and ride (if i have the energy!) 3/4 days a week
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The benefits of having a sharer
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But I used to do my old horse myself every day, riding 5 days a week on average. It was very tiring, but worth it
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It depends what sort of job you're doing - mine is a '9-5' but as I'm nearly at Director level there is a lot of extra work...hence the reason the boys are now on part livery....I'll be honest and say that I can't be doing with up at 5am....I'd burn out!

If it's for the summer you should be ok though hun x
 
i sometimes work 48 hour weeks-standard work time, plus on call.im also on a post grad diploma too which you are meant to do an hour a day for.
ive got 3 on DIY.they are out in summer.
its hard.the youngster gets ridden almost every day.
my semi retired girl gets ridden 2-4 times a week.im getting a work friend to come down to ride my older horse as its great company for the baby on hacks and keeps my older girl supply and some extra attention
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once my 2 yo is at a riding stage im gunna be REALLY busy!lol.
oh and ive got a full time OH too
im just VERY organised with my time.
 
[ QUOTE ]
i sometimes work 48 hour weeks-standard work time, plus on call.im also on a post grad diploma too which you are meant to do an hour a day for.
ive got 3 on DIY.they are out in summer.
its hard.the youngster gets ridden almost every day.
my semi retired girl gets ridden 2-4 times a week.im getting a work friend to come down to ride my older horse as its great company for the baby on hacks and keeps my older girl supply and some extra attention
smile.gif

once my 2 yo is at a riding stage im gunna be REALLY busy!lol.
oh and ive got a full time OH too
im just VERY organised with my time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hats off to you - just not a life that I want I'm afraid....happy to admit to wanting some 'me' time!
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I work full time and was DIY but my pony lives out so I would see him in the evening, my commute to work is one hour and the yard from work I was 1.15 mins away could not have done it if he was not living out as would mean going to the yard before work to turn out in the dark and bringing in the dark and his field was a good half an hour away from the yard.

However I have just moved him to a yard on full grass livery which is nearly 1.40 minutes from work and home so I only see him 3/4 times a week. Not ideal but I think of it as quality of time rather than quantity as I when I see him I do spend hours with him and he has a much better standard of living at the new year and we are both so much happier so it is worth it. If I want to see him more often I take the afternoon off work - get 30 days holiday which is handy!

I think if you live near from the yard and don't have a long commute to work then you will be fine - also it is just for a short time so not so bad.

The only reason he is not on part livery is that he does not do stabling so has to live out!!
 
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