Full time job, Competition Horses & Social Life?

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OliveOyl

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Full time job, competition horses and a Social Life
Does anyone manage to succeed at all 3 of these?!
I can fit in the first two, but the Social side of things, seems to be very much the poor relation. By the time I've sorted the horses out (all on DIY) I'm done in!
How about you?
 
I have no social life. But I hate people so I don't mind. I would rather be poo picking a field with my lovely horse following me around the field than sat in a pub boring people to death talking about horses.
 
Its very hard, I work full time, (mon to fri 9 - 5 ish), have a now retired horse, a ridden horse and a 2 year old (terrible 2s have started lol), so trying to ride one, poo pick the fields and see to the others im normally knackered. Thankfully now, my other half has his own horses so fitting in spending time together is easier lol.
 
I try to do all three, plus do a part time degree with the OU! It is a juggling act and most of the time I really struggle to fit it all in. I find that my social life is always the one that takes a back seat (along with the degree at times!), but to be honest, I would rather spend my time with my 5 horses anyway!
Me and my friends try to meet up every Sunday evening in the local pub for a quick drink and catch up but even then, if I have been away competing at the weekend, all I want to do is sleep so I never manage to stay out for long. So in essence, no I find I can't have a proper social life and horses, but who cares! Horses always have and always will come first in my life :)
 
Entirely possible, but one has to sacrifice housework, of any kind.

Actually I only have 1 horse on DIY, any more than that would defo kill me.
 
Llee94 said:
I try to do all three, plus do a part time degree with the OU! It is a juggling act and most of the time I really struggle to fit it all in. I find that my social life is always the one that takes a back seat (along with the degree at times!), but to be honest, I would rather spend my time with my 5 horses anyway!
Me and my friends try to meet up every Sunday evening in the local pub for a quick drink and catch up but even then, if I have been away competing at the weekend, all I want to do is sleep so I never manage to stay out for long. So in essence, no I find I can't have a proper social life and horses, but who cares! Horses always have and always will come first in my life :)
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I am as above, but with 2 ponies.

What degree are you doing? I am doing Business with accountancy.
 
Full time job (frequently involving long hours and travel, and commuting) a very active social life, and a horse who should be competing. He's on part livery, so I have no stable jobs, but he's still a 45 min drive away and I end up getting up to ride at 4.30am, or not getting home until 10pm.
Couldn't do it without a horsewalker, an understanding boss who is fine with me leaving 'early' at 5.30pm twice a week, and being a morning person who can function on not much sleep. And the fact the horse doesn't need riding every day (although actually getting him fit is a struggle).
 
Full time job and 3 horses on DIY. I do manage a social life, although my best friend and i have been known to go out for dinner (Wagamamas or local pub usually) in breeches/gym gear on the way home at 9.30pm. Normal social life has to be planned, so if i know i am out one evening i make sure i have ridden in the morning. It's harder in Winter when they are stabled overnight, and when my get up and go disappears with the light! But it is do-able.
 
Social life is bottom of the pile! I do have one occasionally but it has to be carefully planned so as not to get in the way of riding or weekend competitions!
 
Generally social life limited to Friday night in the pub...that is ponies day off so I get to do something non-horsey! But then again he is on full livery so no chores. Yearling also lives out and I only have to stick head around gate to check he's alive occasionally, lives out with YO's yearling so she checks them daily - so I get off easy with that one!

I do work 6 or 7 days a week, (normal office job Mon-Fri then horsey job at weekends which can be both days or just the one day), I also run a little business on the side making bits and bobs for weddings so generally that gets done after I get back from horse in the evenings. I try and go to spin class once a week on a Tuesday as well so pony gets ridden 5 times a week (ideally!), dont think that's too shabby. Pony is slightly nuts so no competing for us but we train (well try to) like we'd one day compete, and do ground work etc to try and overcome the mental issues he has (bless).

So social life is very much limited, but sometimes I do just ditch riding occasionally if I feel I really need a break and to catch up with friends - they'll live if they dont get ridden every day! But I cant imagine how hard it is on DIY , maybe a quick skip out on a Friday night could suffice to free up a few hours in the pub, then muck out extra good the next day?! Husband also very understanding which helps, doesnt mind the tip that is our house (housework comes below social life!) or that I hardly ever see him! Ha!
 
Ocasionally! I work 8.30-4.30 (yard turns them out) then most nights I'm down the yard til 7.30-8 mucking out and riding but if i don't ride then I can just about make it home for 6.45 ad can do a random meal or cinema night. Manage the odd night out at weekends too :) It's doable just not all the time
 
Full time job, newborn & 3 yr old, very non horsey OH, a rising 4 year old & mini shetland & I still find time for weekly nite out/in with friends, me time (either massage or reflexology) & a Saturday morning shopping albeit groceries lol. I do have a cleaner though which helps a lot!!!
 
Well 2 out of 3 aint bad (thank you Meatloaf) for most of you. Dont have a competition horse so will talk about my daughter, Mini TX. She is 19 years old, has a full time job with long working hours (letting agent like mum), has a very active social life and still competes. How does she do this? Well her boyfriend loves horses and helps out, along with some friends. She also does nothing to help at home, and when asked will be as stroppy as hell about it, and accuses me of being lazy (not true). She also goes most nights of the week and by Sunday night, she is knackered beyond belief.

Shes been lucky that I have taken a few months sabbatical after leaving my business and can help her out by doing her horse for her in the mornings, plus making sure is all fine during the day, buying shavings and feed and generally helping out, so she has been a bit spoiled where the horse is concerned. I am going back to work in a weeks time and its a full time, full on job again so she will have to pull her weight with the house, as both my OH and I work dam hard!!!!!

Urghhhh, teenagers, and yes its probably all my fault as well before anyone else says it.
 
Claire-R said:
I have no social life. But I hate people so I don't mind. I would rather be poo picking a field with my lovely horse following me around the field than sat in a pub boring people to death talking about horses.
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Are you me..? Haha..

To be fair, I did the full time job/competing most weekends/social life every weekend thing in my 20s, now mid 30s and in a long term relationship. Don't have the energy anymore for what I used to do 10yrs ago! Still work (sadly), to fund horse, who I still compete aged 17, but social life is confined to BBQs/house parties every month or so..
 
I work 4 days in an office, go to college 1 morning, teach about 12 hours a week, compete a train my horse and do some paperwork from home for the other half and still manage some social life although I have to plan my week / month in great detail!
I must admit as I get older I don't care about going out out just keeping up with friends that I don't want to lose touch with for not making enough effort is important to me x
 
No social life just too tired. Really need to sort out the commuting though as if I did not have the long commute to work and the yard was nearer to home I would be so less tired.

In the summer after riding don't get back home till 10pm most nights, in winter get home earlier but find winter is just more tiring in general with the dark nights and so my energy levels go down.
 
I have a social life.... up the yard !! :p

I haven't seen 2 of my best friends since july ! & 1 of them I seen last weekend who I hadn't seen since my birthday (5th june !) but they love me so they understand luckily :)
 
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