horses and full time work

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caroline23

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I've always either been studying or had part time work, but now i am getting interviews for full time positions, i'd like to know how people manage juggling keeping a horse especially in winter along with full time work, most jobs im going for are about 40mins travel away for the profession i want to get into and im starting from the bottom so won't be earning a huge wage still, any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated thanks :)
 
Livery! I don't think I could manage to work full time, my out of work commitments and the horses.

I keep them on grass livery as it's more affordable but have access to stables and pay for assistance (feeding, hay, and to have them brought in for farrier/vet and to have them in already on the days I ride). That way I get to yard after work, tack up, ride, turn out and get home for 9pm.

Also, invest in slow cooker. I put dinner on in the morning on my way to work, so it saves loads of time and (theoretically) stops me snacking on chocolate.

Try see if the company has a working from home option, even 1 day a week makes a huge difference as you can get all the house jobs done in your usual lunch hour

If you plan to keep them in and DIY then invest in lots of hay nets, spend Sunday's filling up x14 hay nets for the week, etc - things like that will help.

Maybe look for a sharer? Would take financial and time pressure off you.
 
I've ridden all my life but could only afford my first horse when I began work full time. It's not easy, but if you're passionate about it, you just kind of make it work.

I work from 7:30am until between 4 and 5pm Mon-Fri. In winter this is difficult, it means I have to ride out whatever the weather to keep him fit. I don't have lights on the menage so can't ride in the evenings. I do pay someone to ride him for me once or twice a week so I can keep him fit enough to hunt.

Summers a breeze in comparison. Think of it as therapy, even poo picking helps you unwind after a hard day. It's best not to think about the frosty, icy, wet, rainy 5am starts but that's why we love our animals. I'm pretty sure the staff at my school would disagree when I arrive in muddy boots with hay in my hair, sporting a unique odour, but they learn to live with your quirks.

Maybe try helping a friend out with their horse once you have a job, that way you will find out if you have the time and commitment. Good luck!xxx
 
I work full time, single mum plus have 6 horses on DIY.

I get up 5am everyday and finish at 8pm ish.

Can be done if u don't mind getting up early
 
I work full time with horses hours are 7.30-5pm 6 days a week and keep one on DIY plus I am a single mother to an 8 year old luckily it's hers on DIY so she doesn't mind been at the stables. You just get used to getting up early and been at the stables till late!! I have to drop off and pick up from childminders before and after work to!!
Defo the slow cooker I couldn't be without mine especially in the winter. And plan ahead with everything!!
 
I work full time
6 - muck out breakfast put out
7 - have shower
730 - leave for work
330 - get in, ride, fill up hay, dinner, put to bed
6 - home time

I start my new job next Monday and its different hours 7 - 3 or 2 - 10 so my routine will change in summer he will stay out on a late shift.
 
Plan ahead. I feed from the floor, so I tie bundles of hay up in portions at wkend ready to grab, leave mine & daughters clothes out ready for next day the night before etc. And get efficient on yard jobs, not just being able to muck out quickly, but basically never crossing the yard empty handed. And not wasting time waiting for waters to fill etc, do feeds or something whilst watching them. Daughter & I have one each, she does hers, I do mine. Well mannered horses also help, little things like being able to leave the door open as you go in & out, or taking off headcollars outside the door & letting them walk in, picking out feet from one side etc. None save much time separately, but together they add up. And depending on yard & friends, you can always arrange swops of things like turning out, am/pm visits etc.
 
I work full time and have two. I get up at 6.30, at the yard by 7, feed, muck out and turn out. Leave yard by 8, at my desk by 9.

Leave work at 5.30 (hopefully!) back to the yard by 6.30, bring in, ride (if I can be bothered), feed, hay, go home. Usually home by 8.30.

This Is my first winter having mine on DIY and its not been as hard as I thought it would be. Although traipsing round the field in the p1ssing rain and pitch black trying to find two black is not my idea of fun.

My one lifesaver is my head torch!! And having a good routine!
 
I work full time, have 3 horses on DIY, compete, keep on top of an immaculate house and car, spend ample time with OH and see my friends a few times a week too.

Never thought anything of it other than it's completely normal to me to do it all and fit it all in fine!
 
Crackerz said:
I work full time, have 3 horses on DIY, compete, keep on top of an immaculate house and car, spend ample time with OH and see my friends a few times a week too.

Never thought anything of it other than it's completely normal to me to do it all and fit it all in fine!
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How do you manage? Not being rude, just curious.

I get up at 5.30am to feed, muck out and put out my boy, home by 6.30/7 shower, dress and get to work. By the time I finish work and sorting out Billy I'm not home until 6-6.30pm cook, clean whilst dinner cooking (OH usually helps too) but I wouldn't say this is ample time in the week. We may pop to friends on a Friday night but the cars very rarely get cleaned because there's so much other stuff to do at the weekends! That's without me competing....
 
I work full time and keep my horse on DIY. The yard is only 5mins from my house which helps and I'm lucky to have always been able to split care with a fellow livery. One of us does mornings, the other does evenings. Its always worked out pretty well with a bit of give and take to cover other needs as and when.
Invest in rubber mats to save time if you stable yours over winter and put money aside in summer to bulk buy wood pellet bedding as this also really saves on time each day. I feed hay off the floor so no nets to faff with. Takes me half an hour to feed, turn out or bring in and do stable etc.
Our yard is right on the bridlepath so evening rides in winter in the dark are possible - lots of high viz and lights just in case but traffic-free thankfully
 
BillyBob-Sleigh said:
How do you manage? Not being rude, just curious.

I get up at 5.30am to feed, muck out and put out my boy, home by 6.30/7 shower, dress and get to work. By the time I finish work and sorting out Billy I'm not home until 6-6.30pm cook, clean whilst dinner cooking (OH usually helps too) but I wouldn't say this is ample time in the week. We may pop to friends on a Friday night but the cars very rarely get cleaned because there's so much other stuff to do at the weekends! That's without me competing....
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Up at 5:30 to go to yard & do chores, home for 7am to shower, breakfast, tidy any muddles, maybe whizz hoover around. Work for 8:30. Home for 5:15, 15mins for exercise bike then straight out to the yard for 5:50, winter - do chores, summer - ride too. Home 7:30/8:30ish depending on weather/chores.

Then home, cook dinner, eat and settle down with OH & TV. Or we go out and meet friends for food.

Cars cleaned once a week - only takes an hour of a weekend unless it's polish day!
House is easy, we clean the kitchen thoroughly as we use it, and the bathroom gets a whiz over each weekend. Any other niggly bits are done before work.
I can't have a dirty house or car...

Summer of competing = OH doing more car cleaning, hoovering the house, and generally doing that bit more. He works long hours at times too so it's swings & roundabouts.

I have a tidy mind - everything is methodical and simple!
 
I do:

Up at 5 - get ready
5:45 go to yard, don waterproof trousers and large coat to avoid stinking/ getting covered in mud/ poo/ general horsey grime.
Muck out sort everything out for the eve and turn mine (& sometimes one other) out

Then have an hours commute. Finish work at 4:30-5pm, hours commute home and then ride/ lunge in the eve.

Get home 7:30-8:30 depending on what I've done.

Summer is definitely easier and I'm not going to lie... By Friday I am shattered. But it's worth it :)
 
It's all routine up a 6am make sandwiches for OH and kids ,on yard for 6.30 feed mine plus however else needs doing muck out ,nets ,feeds,water,in winter tend to ride in the mornings (x2 lunging x2 schooling x1 hack midweek) home for 8 am shower cycle to work for 8.45. Finish at 5 on yard for 5.30 skip out bed down quick groom rugs home for 6.30 . Eat tidy/ washing /make tea for next night park ass on sofa about 8.30 go to bed 12 get up do it all again. Weekends on yard by 8 home by 11.30 /12.00 back at 4.00 to finish of .Summer is whatever play it by ear check her twice a day .
 
Hunter93 said:
I work full time
6 - muck out breakfast put out
7 - have shower
730 - leave for work
330 - get in, ride, fill up hay, dinner, put to bed
6 - home time

I start my new job next Monday and its different hours 7 - 3 or 2 - 10 so my routine will change in summer he will stay out on a late shift.
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See to me that's not full time. I work full time and my days are normally 8.30 to 5.30 or some days can be 8 am to 6pm. I can't just walk out the door at anytime so sadly I don't have my own due to my job. If I ride after work I will normally get in about 8pm / 8.30pm.
 
Have 7, luckily 1 away at friends at mo. Work full time, but usually 2 days/week from home which saves the hour & a bit commute each end of the day.

Get to yard 6-6.15. Feed, steam hay, change rugs, muckout etc etc. 1 on box rest + 1 kept in to keep him company. Turn 4 out unless weather bad.

Drive to station at 8, park and walk/run the 1/2 mile to get train. Usually no seats so stand for 30 min journey to London. Walk/run the 3/4 mile to office, nip in shop on way to grab lunch for later, climb a gazillion stairs as no lift. Arrive at desk about 9.20 looking fresh as a daisy, not!

Leave office at 5.50, reverse the above journey, although do usually get seat on way home, hurrah.

Get back to yard by 7 - re muck out those in, steam more hay, make feeds, bring in, remove mud, change rugs, make haylage nets for night and next day etc etc etc. Husband comes to yard in evening only. Will empty wheelbarrows, stir feeds, switch on hay steamers and help get boys in, but usually just watches me do everything else.
Usually get home about 9.30. Too late/tired to cook, so snack on rubbish!
Sit on sofa to watch TV, fall asleep, wake up at about 1am with cricked neck, go to bed!
At mo I'm off riding with injury, otherwise would try to ride 2/day.
Try to keep house clean and tidy as we go. Do have cleaning firm come and do a big clean every 2 weeks.
 
A few years ago I had 3 on DIY livery, worked full-time (9 - 6) and I have 4 kids and 2 dogs plus an OH who works away a lot.
It can be done but you have to be mega-organised! Hardest thing (apart from getting up at the crack of dawn!) was finding enough time to ride, I did feel in winter that it was a bit all work and no play, but the fun we had in summer made up for it!

Do as much in advance as you can at quieter times, eg filling hay nets etc, and don't worry too much if your stable/ horse is not immaculate etc, long as he's happy!
 
When I was working full time my hours were longer but over fewer days so 7.15am till 9pm. Used to go before work turn out muck out etc in winter have everything ready and friend would bring them in. Then I would help out friend on other days. Horses are now living by a house I stay in a lot. So it's easy to do checks before or after work/ uni/ placements. Plus the kids are more than capable of doing feeds now etc. I have a sharer now aswell which helps a lot.
 
As previous posters say
a) winter is to be endured so as to enjoy summer
b) organisation is everything.
5am get up, feed, do yard jobs, turnout
take oh coffee, 6am off to work - either commute ( 2/3days week) or to gym on way to local office, at desk by 7am ish
leave work 5.30, friend will have brought in, change, wave hello to oh, ride/lunge one with lights in arena, rugs/ put o bed
Back in house to shower/dinner/be nice to oh/ by 7.30ish.
We have a cleaner once a week
grooming other than essentials is a weekend job, as is tack cleaning and any other non essentials
Lovely and restful in smmer. Crap in winter.
 
When I was on DIY livery I also did turn out and take in for a friends horse so I'd get up 5am at yard 5.30am feed, change rugs, turn out, hay in field and much out my boy. Home at 6.30am house work, shower leave for work 8am to start at 8.30. Leave work at 5pm (if lucky) yard by 5.30pm take my boy in and ride then feed and put to bed (friend did night time rots but I was always up to ride). Home by 7/7.30pm cook, eat and fall asleep. It's all about routine, I had to start winter as I meant to proceed so always mucked out before work so I just had to ride etc in evening and if weather was too bad I'd be home early. Always gave horse Fri night off so I could spend time with OH/friends. I also have to travel away with work so this fell on th OH shoulders when I was away although he only did AM shift. Now got horses at home and have gone from 1 to 4 and live 50mins away from work. So I now strangely get to lie in till 6.30am and usually sit down in evening about 8.30pm.

It's perfectly doable but it's a life choice...I have plenty of friends who couldn't cope without full livery but I used to get frustrated with everyone sitting round drinking tea, making me feel bad that I wanted to spend my valuable time with my horse and doing my chores.
 
Grass livery is a lifesaver if you can find it. I'm in DIY at the mo, stabled at night.

I get up at 5am. Breakfast, get ready for work.
Leave house at 6am.
Get to yard, turn out, muck out, haynets, etc etc.
Leave yard at 7.30am, go straight to work.
Leave work at 5pm, straight to yard.
Bring in, groom, ride, etc.
Leave yard anywhere between 6 and 8 depending on time spent riding / other factors.

I'll be honest, being up so early and out of the house for 14hrs straight on a regular basis kills me. I'd love to have him back out 24/7.
 
caroline23 said:
I've always either been studying or had part time work, but now i am getting interviews for full time positions, i'd like to know how people manage juggling keeping a horse especially in winter along with full time work, most jobs im going for are about 40mins travel away for the profession i want to get into and im starting from the bottom so won't be earning a huge wage still, any helpful tips would be greatly appreciated thanks :)
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You need a good support system. So if you opt for DIY you need to know that there are services available (at a cost).
 
amymay said:
You need a good support system. So if you opt for DIY you need to know that there are services available (at a cost).
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This is crucial- the option to pay, rather than relying or asking for favours- is often a useful one. I found ona yeard I was at a few years' ago they said we can help (I assumed I could pay) but when I got there, if they did 'help'they wouldn't take any money and did it under force really- moaned about people who took them up on their offer of help. I'd either rather share with a friend, or pay, if I got stuck
 
Crackerz said:
Up at 5:30 to go to yard & do chores, home for 7am to shower, breakfast, tidy any muddles, maybe whizz hoover around. Work for 8:30. Home for 5:15, 15mins for exercise bike then straight out to the yard for 5:50, winter - do chores, summer - ride too. Home 7:30/8:30ish depending on weather/chores.

Then home, cook dinner, eat and settle down with OH & TV. Or we go out and meet friends for food.

Cars cleaned once a week - only takes an hour of a weekend unless it's polish day!
House is easy, we clean the kitchen thoroughly as we use it, and the bathroom gets a whiz over each weekend. Any other niggly bits are done before work.
I can't have a dirty house or car...

Blimey, you must be wonder woman, if only I could be like you and the other posters, I admire you all.

I have six varying from youngstock, sick, in foal and one in work, full time job, a tiny house and a very forgiving OH but I still struggle do get everything done.

My best tip for the OP is never go anywhere empty handed. I stick to this rule on my yard, so for instance this morning, I had 2 full haylage nets in one hand and a horse in the other. It is a routine that really saves time, it is so easy to walk around the yard, to and fro different horses/buildings emptied handed and wasting time needlessly. Mr party trick is a full barrow of muck, a feed bucket on each handle, huge haynet balanced between the handles, a rug on top of the barrow and a horse, on the way to turn out, in each hand.

Of course, a lot depends on how your yard is laid out and how labour intensive it is. I am fortunate, the yard is user friendly. As the others have said routine and organisation is key. This winter has been dire and I am so looking forward to a summer morning of merely having a walk round the fields with a packet of polo mints, instead of endless mucking out, haynet filling and wading through mud.
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This is me - I have 2

M-F
Up 6am - have a quick tidy go to yard
7am - Feed, rugs, turnout, muck out, water, nets, evening food ready
8am - leave yard, home, shower, do make up in traffic and get to work

5 - 5:30 pm leave work
6pm Get home, have coffee with BF and chat, put dog in car go to yard
6:30pm Bring in change rugs walk dog at yard. Ride 3 times a week

8 -9 pm home - cook - snuggle! If I ride, I dont cook.

I do cook on the weekends as much for pleasure as to have nice things for the week and have a delivery so not spending two hours of a weekend in super market.

One of mine is on loan to me, but her owner does her on a Wednesday and does mine too so have Wednesday off.

I pay for them to be turned out on a Sat morning so can spend time with BF.

I am luckly in that Saturday doesnt have to be a key riding day as I have indoor and out menage with lights and Friday afternoon off work.
 
I went from DIY when I was at school to part livery after 3years Of working FT n proved difficult to get up to put her out then rushing about getting her In when she was out on her own in the dark but to be fair I was working PT in the evenings too.

I got a pay rise and decided to go full livery makes life so much easier means if you are delayed at work you don't feel the need to rush because you know they are in a warm stable have hay n happy.

I am less stressed on full livery and with prices of hay straw ect going up I wouldn't say there was an awful lot of price difference between total costs for DIY to full especially with the cost of fuel when your making 2 trips a day
 
horsesatemymoney said:
This is crucial- the option to pay, rather than relying or asking for favours- is often a useful one. I found ona yeard I was at a few years' ago they said we can help (I assumed I could pay) but when I got there, if they did 'help'they wouldn't take any money and did it under force really- moaned about people who took them up on their offer of help. I'd either rather share with a friend, or pay, if I got stuck
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How annoying!!! Its so so handy being able to pay some one... Even if your skint, you find the money to have a day/morning off!!

Am also lucky in that because out of our clique I am there the most frequently, I often get asked to hay/water/check/turnout friends horses which I am perfectly happy to do as a pretty quick - so if I ever need favours have got people to ask.

Makes a difference if your horse is easy to do and safe to be in the stable with and lead.
 
CalllyH said:
See to me that's not full time. I work full time and my days are normally 8.30 to 5.30 or some days can be 8 am to 6pm. I can't just walk out the door at anytime so sadly I don't have my own due to my job. If I ride after work I will normally get in about 8pm / 8.30pm.
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I agree in this context full time is 9-5 minimum, or equivalent (shifts etc).

I have to be in the office 9-5, ideally a bit more, and I often can't get away on the dot as much as I would like to. I also have an hour commute.

I have one, currently on DIY and it is doable but I am very glad that the OH shares jobs with me so I'm not doing everything everyday. If I'm doing both ends of the day it goes something like this:

5.30am get up shower, dress and put stuff in car for work.
6.45am leave for the stables
7am arrive at the stables, muck out, feed, do water and hay
7.45am either change clothes in yard cloakroom or leave yard and change at work. I put make up and jewellery on in the car while sitting in traffic :o
9am start work
5-6pm finish work. Then drive home, or sometimes change at work and drive straight to the stables to save time.
6-7pm arrive at the stables. Muck out, do hay and water, ride and feed.
8-8.30pm lock up yard and leave
8.15 -8.45pm arrive home and start cooking. Eat whenever dinner is ready and spend some time with the OH/watching tv etc.
11pm - 12pm collapse in bed after having had a quick shower.

I'm lucky that OH does most of the house work so I only normally have to do washing up, laundry, cooking and supermarket shopping. I tend to do washing up/laundry when I get up, while waiting for the kettle to boil and the bathroom to warm up or while dinner is cooking.

I'm also lucky that I don't often have to do the horse on my own both ends of the day either OH will do the morning so I can have an extra hour in bed or he will come up with me in the evening and do jobs while I ride and groom. He also covers evenings when I'm out or working late.

I'm on a yard that offers services too so if I am stuck I can ask them to help (for a price).
 
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