Horse, dog, baby and own business - magic formula?

[hph]

I'm about to get my own horse after a break from riding of about 15 years. I've been sharing for the last six months and am very much looking forward to having my own again.
I'm wondering if anyone has any hints or tips for how to manage a horse, a dog, running a business from home and dealing with starting a family when that happens in the next couple of years.
I know it will be hard, but others do it and I'm not scared of a challenge.
I'm quite an organised person, which I know will help, but bet others who've done it all already can offer brilliant advice.
Thanks in advance!

 

[flirtygerty]

Being organised helps and don't sweat the small stuff, cross bridges as you come to them (family) presumably if you work from home your hours are flexible, which would be a bonus, know your limits and admit to yourself when you are overstretched (it happens) no reason at all it can't work. Good luck, you will sleep well

 

[hph]

Thanks flirtygerty! I'm already a good sleeper, so that will help. Yep, super flexible hours.

 

[Booboos]

Business, dog and horse should be fine especially since you work from home and can presumably be flexible about working hours. Adding a family to all that makes things much more challenging. What kind of horse do you want, e.g. a chilled out hack who is happy to plod round the block after two weeks off or an energetic competition horse that must be kept fit and in work? What kind of livery can you afford, e.g. would you be able to afford full livery or even someone to ride your horse if you had a difficult pregnancy or struggled a bit with the baby?

 

[WindyStacks]

You will need childcare - it just isn't possible to run a business with your head scrambled by small children.

How much your partner is on board will actually be the key thing - and I fear it may be crunch time in my own marriage as my husband gets annoyed and "tantrummy" if I go to the yard...

The dogs, children, horse and business all get neglected - usually on different days.

 

[oldie48]

sorry if I sound like a wet blanket but a couple of my young friends have had children recently and have really struggled to keep riding. Finding time and childcare has been really difficult, one put her horse out on loan for nearly 2 years but had it back because she lost confidence in the loan home and although she keeps it at home and is currently not working she still finds it difficult to ride. I know lots of people do it but most seem to find it tricky. Why not go for a share and work the rest of your responsibilities round your riding days?

 

[measles]

As others have said childcare whether a nursery, childminder or helpful family member is vital. I managed a baby, a full time job away from horses working 20mis from home, a yard of horses and a business from home all at once but only with my parents living next door and zero sleep. My OH couldn't be more supportive but without him and my parents I couldn't have done it.

 

[hph]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.
My husband will be supportive of keeping me happy and supportive financially. But he works very long hours so won't physically be around.
The hope is that we'll be able to afford childcare pretty much from day one.
I hope this doesn't make me sound cold and horrible (and I will of course love the children) but in my mind at the moment, the animals come first! I'm sure this will change when the baby (babies) come along, but my fear - as touched on above - is that the animals will suffer and I'm very concerned about that.
How does everyone exercise the horse on days when you have the child/children in tow? Where I am people put the kids in the car while they go in the menage.
And how do you cope with toddlers who are too heavy to carry when you're walking the dog along muddy paths that aren't accessible for pushchairs (like all the footpaths around us)?

 

[Booboos]

I walk the dogs with the baby in the sling or the toddler in an off-road buggy - there are some brilliant ones around. I find that going out and walking with everyone really helps me preserve my sanity on days when the baby has refused to sleep or the toddler has been tantruming non stop.

As for horses I have mine at home. Very simple things like towing some hay on the field I do with the children, but for any handling and riding I need someone to help as I think one adult has to be in charge of the children. Because I keep the horses at home it makes more sense for me to have a nanny/groom. Between the two of us we do two dogs, two children, four horses and two kittens but no day is the same and we are both very flexible.

 

[Princess1986]

Can't imagine you will feel the same once you have kids, I was always an animal person but my kids come first and I would drop everything if they needed me or were sick etc. Luckily my yard owner is also a mum so I'll do all horses wen she can't make it and she will do mine if I can't make it like during school nativity and parent teacher meetings.

it's harder in winter as too cold to bring kids to stables, when everything's frozen and there's nothing to do. summers a bit better as they can play around the yard