Horses plus long commute - your tips/opinions

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pixie27

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After being made redundant rather swiftly and unexpectedly last week, I've started the rigmarole of applying for jobs. Have got through to a couple of second stage interviews at great companies, but they both are a right trek away. The best one is about 1.5 hours (train into west London), and the other is south of London, about an hour-ish drive (but includes the M25, so assuming longer (they've agreed to flexi-time... but life in an ad agency rarely fits with that!)). My old commute was seven minutes in traffic (or a ten minute cycle). So, it's gonna be a big lifestyle change.

People with long commutes and horses - how do you do it? Especially those that compete and have horses in decent level of work? I know it's gonna be tough, but I just need a bit of inspiration (and a few tips!) to help me feel better about this situation.

Horse is on part-livery, so during the week I only need to ride and skip out. And the yard is about 15 minutes from home/the station.

(ETA - this isn't a long-term thing. We hope to relocate to the other side of the country in the next year or so.)
 
when i was young(in my twenties) i travelled to london on the overhead train and the tube and had to walk the last bit, it took me an hour and a quarter each way. i had to muck out every day and ride in the evening as we had no turn out... you do get used to the travelling and eating your evening meal at 10 ish..... i did it for 13 years and dont remember being that tired. i think once you are in a routine its ok...but you do get to a time when working locally seems a better option although the pay is lower..
 
My commute is between 1 hour and 1h20 each way and I hate it!! I sit in traffic thinking of all the other ways I could be spending my valuable time but until I find a suitable job closer to home I just have to get on with it. I am up at 05:45 and at the yard, which is 7 minutes from home, by 06:20. I do all my jobs and turn out and leave no later than 07:15. I now pay for him to be brought in as I was sitting in traffic stressed about him being the last one out, so that has taken that pressure from me. I usually get to the yard around 18:00-18:20, ride/potter on, and usually get back home around 20:30.

Everything is do-able if you want it enough, just ignore the tiredness/hunger/dark and get on with it......and just remember it is fun even when it's not!
 
Yes, part or full livery definitely and only go once a day at most. I found it much preferable to ride before work in the morning, even if it made me late for work and then not need to rush off at the end of the day but a lot will depend on how much flexibility you have to manage your own time in the job. Also from the daylight perspective there tends to be more in the morning than the evening.
 
Daughter is currently doing a two hour commute to the other side of London (so four hours a day in total) - she has being doing this since February and has still managed to compete two horses at BE events. Horses are kept at home so we do the day to day chores during the week and she does the bulk of the horse care at weekends. The older horse is a been there done it schoolmaster so it is easy to find people to ride him during the week, but the youngster is a bit more unpredictable so she rides him before work at 6.30am (luckily she doesn't has to be in work until 9.30am). Not something she wants to do long term but OK for now for her to get the experience she needs as a recent graduate.
 
A friend was in a similar situation after spending the last 10 years working from home, she was made redundant and her new role is in London. Her new employer agreed for her to work from home 2 days a week once she had settled into the role. It's definitely working asking what any prospective employer thinks of remote working during your interview as it may be an option that would make your life easier.
 
I think that's doable if the horse is on part livery as long as the yard is not too far from home.

I have an hour each way commute, longer on the days of bad traffic which seems to be most days in winter. Flexi time is very helpful! I would not want a job without that if I could help it.

I have 4 horses at home so no help and I'm knackered most of the time but it's worth it :)
 
Should add I used to change at the yard after riding in the morning and do make up on the train to save time! Hat hair can be a problem so I solved that by having it long so no styling required.
 
I have had an hour and a half commute for most of the time I have had my horse. She is kept fit all year to hunt and compete.

My advice would be to pay for as much help with stable chores as you can afford. Your horse doesn't care who fills nets or mucks out so free up time for riding and grooming by paying for livery services. It also saves you from being in a flap because you are unavoidably delayed and your horse is out alone in the dark. Using the livery services for routine vet/farrier visits is invaluable too.

Find a yard with a floodlit school so you can ride after dark. This means you can school 3/4 times a week and hack in daylight at the weekend.

Consider changing your clothes either at work or at the yard to save time.

Get some quick and easy meals for week night evenings after you have ridden.
 
Thanks all! Riding before work would definitely be more appealing - rushing to get home always stresses me out and I doubt I'll be at the yard before 7.30/8. I think both places would be happier with late in/late out than early in/early out too. Working from home would be a no-go - I work in a pair so would be a bit tricky!

Luckily the yard has a floodlit indoor and all I'd need to do in the week is ride. Will need to reset my body clock for early starts now!

Thanks for all the help - making me feel lots more positive about it.
 
Oh and if you can use your commute wisely, if you use public transport then you can do your make-up get some life admin done and read/listen to music. If you drive it is harder but try audio books and podcasts to make things more bearable.

Oh and a handsfree kit so you can make calls safely. It relieves stress if you can let people know if you are delayed and a chat can pass time in bad traffic jams.
 
Kat said:
Oh and if you can use your commute wisely, if you use public transport then you can do your make-up get some life admin done and read/listen to music. If you drive it is harder but try audio books and podcasts to make things more bearable.

Oh and a handsfree kit so you can make calls safely. It relieves stress if you can let people know if you are delayed and a chat can pass time in bad traffic jams.
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One is by train and the other is driving. I think I'd rather the train, as like you say, I can get stuff done (hopefully can work a bit etc.). I used to have a long drive to a previous job, and sitting in traffic used to drive me mad! At least on a delayed train you can read/work etc.
 
I have one horse on DIY livery and my commute is minimum 1 hour 15 mins car drive. I hate the fact I waste so much time every day sat in the car!! The only help I have is fetch-in over winter, other than that I do everything myself. His rugs etc aren’t changed for me, he’s literally delivered into his stable and that’s it. He’s worked 6 days a week (thank god for the floodlit ménage!) And that the yard is less than 10 mins from home.

I leave the house at a little after 5am, am mucked out and jobs done by 6, net, water etc ready for when he comes in. Then I ride, horse is in field by 7, I leave the yard at 7.10 and get to work for 8.30 which gives me 15 mins to get cleaned up, clothes changed, make a coffee and catch my breath. I eat my breakfast in the car whilst sat in traffic. At the other end of the day I get to the yard at 6.20pm ish, change his rugs, do his feet etc, feed and have a little while just quality time grooming or cuddling or just having a chat with him. Usually home by 7.15pm.

It’s doable but tiring. I can’t afford (and wouldn’t want) full or even part livery. I have friends who will see to him the odd evening I might want to go out or have to work late but 99% of the time that’s our routine. Whilst it’s tiring, I like being in total control of every aspect of his management.
 
I'd definitely choose the train over driving. You can get things done or even just relax and snooze.
For some people the yard can make a difference. I've been on some yards on the edges of London or just outside where 6pm onwards is peak time as a lot of people came up after work. In can be nice to have other people around but on the other hand, you never get the school to yourself.
 
I commute 4 days a week to London - the trains have been awful these last few weeks with delays and cancellations and some days not getting home til 10pm.. I have a freelance groom do him on the days I am in London but go up if I can, but it is tiring when the trains are bad - and I have help. I am going to try to get two days at home.
 
I do 45 min to 1.5 hours (dependent on traffic).

I aim to be in the office for 7am, and tend to finish at about 6.30/7pm so I’m home by 8.

I have smart Hue light bulbs, set to gradually lighten for sunrise at 4.45. I find waking up like that helps immensely, as I wake up feeling awake and not groggy.

I dress to make my life easy. I wear my work clothes to the horses in the morning. I buy smart skinny trousers with flex in them so I can wear them under boots easily. I wear long, waterproof boots (mine are Fairfax and Favor explorer boots) - I found wellies leave a gap and I’d get bits off hay on my trousers so fitted boots have worked better. I wear a long, waterproof coat over my work things, even if it’s not too cold, just to keep everything clean.

I switch footwear and outer layers when I leave horses. I keep lint rollers in the car and in my handbag.

I feed, skip out the shelter and do rug changes in the morning, and leave the horses at around 6am to get to work.

On a good evening I might leave work at 5ish and then have more time with them and can ride, groom, scrub water buckets etc. On a bad night it’s 7ish when I leave the office and it’s a basic life-signs check, and a pat, for the horses.

Supper for me is a quick salad or a pasta, or something in the slow cooker all day.

My tips would be waking up fresh (this has been the biggest difference to me), buying lots of lint rollers, wearing boots that seal, buying fresh pasta so you can cook in 5 minutes, and getting one work from home day in the diary. I often can’t use mine, but when I can it is absolutely brilliant.

Oh- and invest in good torches and a head torch!
 
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Thank you LadyG - such fab tips on there! The sun rise lighting is such a good shout, I’ve been considering getting one anyway so will add that to my Xmas list. Your routine is incredible - v motivating to read about it.

We’re very lucky in that we have two schools, both floodlit and one is indoor. Generally is busiest after school/early evening, but my closest friends are usually there from 6ish. I imagine - if trains/traffic behave - I’d be at the yard for 7/7.30 most evenings. Or, get down for 6am and see if I can sneak into work a little late.
 
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