Horses and babies - how do u manage both?

noblesteed

noblesteed

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 August 2009
Messages
1,872
Location
Up North
Visit site
Hi
just wondering if there are any horse-owning, working mothers out there, how do you manage?
OH and I seriously thinking its about time we started a family, but I don't know what I would do with my horse. Sell him? Keep him in a field? Loan him out?
What do other horsey-owning mums do?
 
How easy it is depends very much on how much help and support you have from family!! But I would say the one thing you have to be is super organised!! I wouldnt be too hasty and sell your horse perhaps loan it until you have child then you have bit more of an idea if you can cope or not!!!! Is your horse on full livery that does make a hell of a difference
 
Unless you have your horse at home you will need help. We were on DIY livery when I had my first two kids and the farmer would turn out, bring in etc so I didn't have to rush down first thing.

A sharer would be good especially if you start it sooner rather than later so you can see if they work out well with you and your horse.

Only you know what will suit you and your set up but I agree with previous poster I wouldn't rush into selling your horse if you don't want to.
 
I Loaned my boy out whilst I was pregnant and the kids were small, then when they were a bit older my loaner and I shared, she did mornings and I did afternoons, it worked out well as she was fab!
 
My horses are at home and I work for myself so routine is easier to arrange. They live out 24/7 from May - November and then come in at night. When I was pregnant I rode until I was about 20weeks then turned my horse out until I was ready to start riding again when the baby was about 7weeks old.

Now I usually fit riding around my OH so either ride early morning, fit in a quick hack at lunchtime if I am at home (OH works from home 3 weeks and away 1 week) or ride in the evening - lights are essential in the winter with a baby as you usually end up riding at either end of the day when it's dark!

Obv in the summer it's vastly easier as the horses are out all the time so I do what I want when I want but Winter is when you need to be quite organised. I usually get up before everyone else, ride, horse has breakfast while mucking out, put up nets for evening etc and turn out and am back in the house for 8.45am! OH gets himself and offspring up, dressed and fed.

I'm an equine agent so I'm usually out looking at horses from about 10am until 3pm - if I have a very long day, the weather is either very hot or cold or I have big distances to cover, which I don't think is fair for a small child, my fabulous MiL babysits which she loves :)

Afternoons -I bring in around 4pm in the winter - I stick the young man in his buggy, leave him in the tackroom for 10mins while I catch and bring up to the yard then he sits and watches while I wash legs/change rugs etc. The horses then have haynets to munch while I do dinner, bath and PJ's and I usually ride after all that at about 6.30pm followed by a quick skip, dinner for my cob and haynet top ups if required (I usually hang big nets in the morning that will last them overnight)

When OH is away in wintertime, I nip out and feed before the baby is awake (clutching the babylistener!) , come back in and get us breakfasted and dressed then wrap him up and he comes out in his buggy while I turn out/muck out and lunge. Afternoons are more or less the same except I only ride about 2x a week in the evenings (next door babysits for me) and on the nights I don't ride I feed/skip late when he is in bed (with the babylistener in hand again :) )

My OH is well able to do the horses too bar riding so it doesn't have to always be me if I am very tired etc.

OH minds little chap when I go to lessons etc and shows but sometimes comes with to shows which is a nice day out :) We started taking him (the baby!) to stuff from a very early age so he's used to it!

I have my cob and 2 shetlands and my little boy is a year old in 3 weeks :)

It's not a walk in the park but with a routine, an understanding, supportive OH and a good babylistener it can be done :) On a yard I think you'd perhaps find it easier as you can have your horse on livery/have help.

Agree with not selling until you *know* if you can't cope - tbh my horses/riding is really important as my time and I'd be a bit mental without them I reckon :D
 
Last edited:
ive done 2 horses all on my own (feild not DIY) with all 3 kids & exept for 2 days when i was in hospital with number 3 have done them myself (OH did them those days)

its a very military routeen here mornings & late afternoons to get 3 kids updressed & bekkys, eldest off to preschool & then other 2 come with me to feed & check horses.
then at 5 we have dinner & go feed horses & sort out for eve then home bath, milky drinks & bed. the nights my OH is home i go back & do stuff extra with them (like ride)
 
Its really hard, gets worse when the child is mobile and sitting watching fron a pushchair just isn't doing anything for them anymore. My second child almost drowned himself in a trugtub of water while i was picking out horses feet right outside the stable door, you just cannot take your eyes off them for a minute no matter how safe/bombproof your horse is.

With help from Grannies or OH's, riding will become the thing that keeps you sane and gives your batteries a recharge.

Good luck with the babymaking, tiz all good fun :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top