Full time work and owning on a horse

I work full time with 2 horses on DIY livery. It's hard but do-able. I live 7 miles and work 9 miles from the stables and I do most of my commute on a bike.
I'm on flexi-time at work which is a GOD SEND so as long as I do 37 hours a week I can choose when those hours are, I can work from home 2 days a week or nip in and out of work for a few hours if I wish which is great when I have the farrier, dentist or w.e. and also means I can ride in the light during winter - about the only bonus of working in the Civil Service!

I prefer to have my afternoons/evenings to myself so I work 7am-3pm 5 days a week. On winter livery when horses are in I turn out/muck out at 4:30am and I can be back up the yard by 3:20pm if I want to ride, otherwise I leave the horses out until after I've cooked dinner and eaten at 7:70/8ish and then come home shower, prep for the next day and then bed.
Some days I will choose to work 11 - 7 to get my hours in and ride in the morning instead when the clocks go back and it gets too dark to ride even at 3:30 - completely up to me :D
 
Ridiculously early mornings, late evenings and not as much opportunity (or energy) to ride as I'd like. Very few holidays. This is with me working full time from home AND having the horses at home (with a lovely hubby who helps). When I worked in an office 1.5 hours away the horses were rarely exercised - there just wasn't the time.

The bond I have with my horses is priceless though.
 
I'd say working full time and having a horse on DIY is the norm. The best thing my friend and I have done is join forces so we only have to go once a day. She does mornings and I do evenings (her choice as she has kids who have lots on after school) I start work at 7.30 so am at the yard by 4 if I want to ride, otherwise I do jobs at home and go up at about 6 - I used to work until 5.30 so boys are used to coming in later. I also like being there on my own!

Rubber matting, wood pellets and hay bars are the biggest timesavers ever....and a horse who doesn't poo in his bed!
 
My horse is on DIY work 8-4 Monday to Friday, I wake up at 6am every morning to muck out before work and then ride after work. Summer is a lot easier when out 24/7 but now its winter it can be time consuming and earlier starts! It's very tiring but seeing my boys face everyday makes it so worth it x
 
When I was breeding appaloosas I had up to, I think, 11 at one time. Mostly at home on farm, some 2 miles away on rented field. I was working full time 6 miles away in an office, travelled in by motorbike (b****y cold in winter). Used to get up at 5.15 to do horses and had to be in work by 8.30. Only had one riding animal and didn't do very much with her, can't think why:)
I must have been mad!! Permanently broke and knackered. My husband and I were living in a caravan on the farm during this time. Rented farm and OH's dad was the tenant. Looking back I can't believe I did it but amazingly I don't regret it.
 
Sammiplus2 said:
Hi

Do any of you here work full time and have a horse on DIY
How do you find it

Thanks
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I'm up at 5.15/5.30 out the house for 6.30 at work for 7.15 then finish at 3.30pm and at the yard for 4.10pm - that's if I don't work over for more money (hourly paid). It's a long day, especially as I often go to the gym and then don't get home until 9.30pm sometimes if I swim and spin.

But I'm very lucky as I'm on assisted livery so the staff bring in or turnout for me. This time of year when she's out at night its much easier to muck out, but in the winter when she's out during the day the amount of mucking out increases so much more and its a flipping nightmare in terms of cost and time.

I have the energy to hack out on non gym days although having the dark nights and not being able to school anymore (due to injury) means all I will be able to do is walk around the yard ten times a night. Dreading it. But with my hours I am lucky that I will only have a few weeks of not being able to hack due to the light whereas most people that finish at 5pm/6pm would have months and months if all they could do is hack.

I certainly couldn't do two horses and I couldn't cope if I had to go to the yard first and then go to work (obviously due to time contraints with my start time at work).
 
I have always worked full time since 16....and now i am 49, work in HR doing multi sites, lots of travelling. 5 horses at home, you just get on with it really, it's no biggy, mine mostly live out, but have stables and they come in during dire weather, I poo pick everynight, using headlight in the dark months, two dogs, one teenager, now 20, so that part is easier, been a single working mum for as long as I can remember - since child was 6, it's hard and to be fair its a way of life, not a hobby, you have to really love it to carry on doing it!!!
 
I used to. Up at 6, out at 6.30 stables at 6.45. Muck out, hay up, hack 1hour, turn out travel on to work 20 minutes, change, work 9-5.30, change, travel to stables, bring in, home 7 ish.

It only worked because the yard was on the way to work and I rode a scooter so I could jump the traffic queues. When I got a more demanding job I went to part livery and only went four days.

I feel exhausted just thinking about it these days 🤣

.
 
I do but mostly work from home so if short of time, don't need to worry about getting changed etc. My biggest godsend is having a friend whose horse is my horse's fieldmate. We share chores and swap times of day around as required. So I usually do weekday mornings as she works in the other direction from the yard and she does evenings, apart from today, when I had an early meeting over an hour away so she did morning and I'm doing tonight, and Friday, when she is out for the evening. This weekend I am working all weekend so she is doing the lot, but I have just done nine days holiday cover for her so it balances out.

I don't know what I would do without her and would thoroughly recommend having someone you can buddy up with to share the load when necessary.
 
We share the load between three, me, Mum and Mum's friend. Just the two ponies on the yard so easy enough to do, and with three of us there is usually someone around. It is easier now Mum is retired (as is Mum's friend) as they can be there for vet/farrier etc if I can't get the time off work, which makes a massive difference. It is also going to help massively this winter, it is easier for me to do evenings as I can go on my way home (it's not on the way but not so far out of the way!)
 
Sasanaskyex said:
On winter livery when horses are in I turn out/muck out at 4:30am and I can be back up the yard by 3:20pm if I want to ride, otherwise I leave the horses out until after I've cooked dinner and eaten at 7:70/8ish and then come home shower, prep for the next day and then bed.
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I am going to remember this when I have to get up just before 6am and am cursing horses and jobs. 4.30am is more bed time than getting up time so hats off to you!
 
I have done it several times in the past, with one or two horses on DIY. This involved 5.45am starts and 8-9pm finishes. Due to health issues, I had to go part-time a number of years ago. I’m now just about to step into the world of being self-employed.
Full time with horses on DIY is hard work, so hats off to anyone who is doing it or has done it. I caused myself a huge relapse with my lupus about 7 years ago due to being full time and having the horses on DIY.
 
Leo Walker said:
I am going to remember this when I have to get up just before 6am and am cursing horses and jobs. 4.30am is more bed time than getting up time so hats off to you!
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Haha thanks - what I failed to mention was how early I go to sleep, it’s 19:18 as I write this and I’m already starting to get ready for bed.
 
Sasanaskyex said:
Haha thanks - what I failed to mention was how early I go to sleep, it’s 19:18 as I write this and I’m already starting to get ready for bed.
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I do flexi time so in theory could do what you do, but I really struggle with sleeping. I can manage on 4 hours if I have to, but lifes easier if I get 6!
 
I work long hours, commute and drive a lot for work plus am a single parent and horse parent to one! I absolutely love it, wouldn't change having mine for the world, I'd own more and stay there all evening and miss dinner quite easily!!!
 
Luckily I work from home 4/5 days of the week and my yard is under 5mins away.
Y/O or other liveries feed and pop in breakfast nets in the morning, then at lunchtime I head down with the dog (so he gets to stretch his legs) as I muck out and pop in the lunchtime nets for Harry and the other boys. It's great being able to finish work at 5, close the laptop, jump in the car and get a wheelbarrow in my hands by ten past for the evening skip out. I'm very lucky to have a team/manager who understands when I can't attend a meeting because that's "when haylage is being dropped off/farrier is due."
Definitely don't take that for granted.
 
I'll let you know next spring! haha! I do 3 or 4 days a week 12 hour day or night shifts 6 til 6 so I come & go to work in the dark. I've been on full/part the last few years but have taken the reins back so to speak as certain restrictions I didn't like & gone for DIY with assistance - first winter being this one. So days off I'll always do one end with my mucking out etc so he only needs to be brought in or turned out the other end. On my working days I'll do one end on the first & last shift, then depending whether I'm on 3 or 4 shifts, YO will fully do him for me - a max of twice a week. I found when I was DIY years ago doing all 3 or 4 in a row was too much for me leaving me run down & ill so I'm hoping to get a good balance this way.
 
Honestly, I couldn’t do it without assistance. I do work longer hours than most are quoting but I don’t have the spare energy! I ‘only’ have 1 horse in work, no kids, 1 dog, work 15 min from home and horses at home but I just couldn’t do it without assistance. I’m pretty fried as it is! I leave for work at 8am, get back at about 7pm, by the time the dog and the horse are done I get in at about 9.30pm, eat, go to bed, repeat.
 
abarnes said:
This has been a really helpful thread, does anyone do all this with a child/children somewhere in there?
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A friend at the yard has a baby (a few months old now) and she keeps him in one of those baby carriers that you strap to you. He seems to take it all in his stride and I can't help but think really its got to be so good for the child to have the fresh air. And what a visual stimulation for him to see horses and so many people, watch the horse walker go round from his pram, or interact with all the other liveries who come and tickle and play with him (that's people not horses) :)

She has three horses on assisted DIY (turnout/bring in only) and does a brilliant job, she appears to be a very good Mum. Dad comes and helps after work too so its a nice little family thing going on. Really nice to see.

I also have another friend at the same yard who has a baby and had until the weather changed been walking it around in the pram. And a friend who used to work there brought her daughter with her to work everyday, from the age of about 2 months to probably three years of age. SHe found it harder as the child got older as it didn't want to be confined to its pushchair and wanted to get out, but in the early days the child would be in the pram/pushchair quite content whilst she mucked out and she would always get someone to mind it whilst she turned out the horses/got them in for a few minutes.

I don't see a problem with young babies/children in this kind of environment if they seem happy, warm and content. Obviously they have to be kept safe away from the possiblity of a loose horse charging past/dust from hay/smell from amonia whilst mucking out, but then that's just common sense.
 
hopscotch bandit said:
A friend at the yard has a baby (a few months old now) and she keeps him in one of those baby carriers that you strap to you. He seems to take it all in his stride and I can't help but think really its got to be so good for the child to have the fresh air. And what a visual stimulation for him to see horses and so many people, watch the horse walker go round from his pram, or interact with all the other liveries who come and tickle and play with him (that's people not horses) :)

She has three horses on assisted DIY (turnout/bring in only) and does a brilliant job, she appears to be a very good Mum. Dad comes and helps after work too so its a nice little family thing going on. Really nice to see.

I also have another friend at the same yard who has a baby and had until the weather changed been walking it around in the pram. And a friend who used to work there brought her daughter with her to work everyday, from the age of about 2 months to probably three years of age. SHe found it harder as the child got older as it didn't want to be confined to its pushchair and wanted to get out, but in the early days the child would be in the pram/pushchair quite content whilst she mucked out and she would always get someone to mind it whilst she turned out the horses/got them in for a few minutes.

I don't see a problem with young babies/children in this kind of environment if they seem happy, warm and content. Obviously they have to be kept safe away from the possiblity of a loose horse charging past/dust from hay/smell from amonia whilst mucking out, but then that's just common sense.
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Mines older - he has school, after school clubs and his own hobbies. I work during school hours 4/5 days. This is what’s making me flap as I’ve not done horse/child juggling yet and it really helps to hear how others manage. (Cope!! Ha)
 
Hi, just reading through these threads as I work long 12 hour shifts and wondered if anyone finds it better working a night shift rather days when having a horse. My theory is that you finish a night shift, go to the yard, see to your horse, come home, eat, sleep and be up (in daylight) to see to horse before going back in for another night shift. Im not a good sleeper, so unsure if this will work for me. Im tired of the office politics and think this could be the answer however....having always done day shifts, I am a bit reluctant. Anyone been in a similar position. By the way, Im a nurse! Thanks in advance.
 
Padge69 said:
Hi, just reading through these threads as I work long 12 hour shifts and wondered if anyone finds it better working a night shift rather days when having a horse. My theory is that you finish a night shift, go to the yard, see to your horse, come home, eat, sleep and be up (in daylight) to see to horse before going back in for another night shift. Im not a good sleeper, so unsure if this will work for me. Im tired of the office politics and think this could be the answer however....having always done day shifts, I am a bit reluctant. Anyone been in a similar position. By the way, Im a nurse! Thanks in advance.
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This is what I do. 10.5 hour night shifts, 7 days in a row. I then get 7 days off (3 of those I work another casual job). I love it, it works super well for me. I tend to sleep mornings until early afternoon, go out and ride and sort the horses, go home and get ready for work. There isn't much time for much else in the weeks I work, but that's fine with me. Night shift is absolutely not for everyone, but I would recommend you give it a go and see how you like it. You just need to sort out a sleeping pattern that works for you! I recommend making sur eyou have a very dark room and eyeshades for sleeping :)
 
Yes! Full time for the NHS and horse on DIY. Up early at 6 ish everyday and don’t usually get home until 7/7:30pm. I am now used to the routine so it just fits in. The hardest thing I find is having to use AL for vets/physio/farrier etc which then eats away a big chunk of it!
I tried full livery for a bit and yes it was much easier but I didn’t like not being able to look after my own horse!
it’s more than doable, you just have to be organised.
 
I work a Full Time Equivalent of 1.7 (yes, that's one full time job and 07 of a full time job :oops:).
And I have two on DIY, no help at all. They are retired though so I don't spend time riding.
It's fine, but you have to be organised. :)
 
I got up at 05:00. At DIY livery by 06:00. Wore coveralls and went straight to work from the yard. The regime for all the liveries was stabled overnight between November and Easter or thereabouts and otherwise out 24/7. Luckily for me my pony was very tidy in the stable; poos in a pyramid in one corner and one wet patch so a dream to muck out and set fair. I did everything myself unless I was on holiday in which case I could relax knowing the pony was in good hands with the YO which was brilliant. Most of the other liveries had the YO turn out for them in the morning and mucked out their stables after work. I continued with my pattern when I got my own place except I would start leaving them out overnight earlier in the year if the weather allowed especially at the weekend so I could get a lie-in.
 
I find it pretty easy. In the past had them at home but now just have 1 and it's on DIY. Yard is 4 miles away and go twice a day. I WFH now but didnt used to so I did the horse on the way to work and way home. I've done lots of getting changed in random places over the years but it's all perfectly do-able.
 
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