Horses Vs Work

I agree the job decision needs to be what you can do to earn enough (and make you happy of course!)
Ive gone down a slightly different route in that I work on a yard as its only part time hours thus giving me the time I need to do my own horse and my daughters who's at school.
The pay is pretty dire and I have thought about changing jobs and earning more but id need to earn enough to put them both on a proper yard in that case, which would be fine for my daughter who could ride in a school but my horse is semi retired and doesn't do school work so id be stuck!
 
We've got three, I work full time, my sister's at uni. I usually ride around 6 times a week.
We pay yard staff to do morning jobs, then I do evening jobs and ride after work. When sis is home, she does mornings and some evenings.

I agree with finding the job and then thinking about whether horses fit in - especially in today's job market, getting your foot on the ladder can be difficult.
A good yard with services and a floodlit school are essential for me!
 
I leave the house at 5am, get back to the house at 6.30am, take daughter to school, put in a day at work 9am -6pm then go straight to the horses and eventually roll in the door at home between 8.30 - 9pm where i then do all my chores, cook for the husband and fall into bed about 11pm. Its hard and exhausting but needs must and I'd rather this than not having horses. In summer i ride in the evenings, in winter I ride at weekends
 
Fides said:
I can't work that one out - what is the point in doing a degree if you have no idea where you want to work? Your degree might not even be the right degree. The first question I would be asking myself is what job can I do that pays enough for me to keep horses? Time is not necessarily the limiting factor... You need to decide sooner rather than later as you will be up against people with job specific degrees and also work experience in 'industry'.
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I'm with Fides on this, a bit confused, do you really have no idea what direction you are going in?

Its just there are so many things to consider, whether the industry and or any employers in it are flexible enough to give you the time to pursue is, will it pay enough, will you need to be London based as that has significant implicaitons? Its impossibe to give any useful advce, as I'm guessing that the work/life balance works for many people for such a wide variety of reasons. As an aside I can't imagine putting all that time and money into a degree and not believing that it was going to pay for itself and put me in a career I'd enjoy pursuing in the end.

For me when I graduated and was competing, I worked in a bank, but transactional banking so the 9 - 5 hours and the very flexible attitude of my employer meant I was able have as much time as I needed, plus the salary and my very supportive parents meant that I had the recources to pursue any horsey opportunity I wanted to. But I realise I was in a very fortunate and rare position, it was a combination of hard work, luck and being very careful and clear in both my job and career objectives.
 
If you find the right job and can afford it you can always consider part or full livery.

However, if you really feel you are going to struggle with time, socialising and a bit of freedom and money, do not feel guilty! You have to put yourself, your degree and your career first at a stage in your life when you are going to be competing quite fiercly against other graduates for the same positions. If you feel you want to sell, then do.

Saying that, if you find the right company and the right job, you can always move horses to a yard near you to manage them.

Failing that, if you just need a short term break while you job hunt etc, do not completely write off loaning- there are some decent homes out there (I found on short term while I moved house!), just be prepared it can take a while to find the right one, or that they could cme back to you at any point, even when you were not planning on it!
 
I assumed most people with horses worked full time?
I work full time, on Mondays and Thursdays I have an evening job as well so on those days I ride at 5-6am to make sure I fit it in.
I'm very lucky that my friend lets me use her arena. It isn't floodlit but in the winter I dec him out in high vid and lights to cross the road, and then ride in the dark. I don't mind it at all, I just can't do any jumping or polework. It's hard work but I usually fit in 6 days riding a week.
I think having just one horse makes it easier (it'd be even easier if he was the sort I could just pick up and put down, but he's a hyper beast!) and I am lucky to have flexible working hours, so no-one knows if I'm running late! I do cover incidents though so often get called out at anti social hours.
It's very doable (and I had no idea what I wanted to do after uni so don't worry!)
 
KatPT said:
I think having just one horse makes it easier (it'd be even easier if he was the sort I could just pick up and put down, but he's a hyper beast!)
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Really agree with this, I only ever had one - its too much running around and I'd prefer to do one really well, than be juggling two and not have enough time to do them properly. And when I was buying, it was temprement, temprement, temprement as I didn't have the time or the inclination to make my life any harder than it needed to be by buying a hot horse (used ot buy OTT t/breds, so this is a real risk).
 
Agree with everyone who's said that most people work full time, and manage horses, it's very doable! I'm pretty shattered most of the time LOL! At the yard for 8am to get all the chores done. Then back at 6pm after work to ride and everything else. I work well by have a rigid timetable, so if I know I have to ride on Tues, Weds and sometimes Fridays, then I jolly well do! I also do pilates on a Monday evening which helps with my riding, and my weekends are generally horse related (I do feel for my OH) either lesson, competing or hacking. Once it starts getting too dark in the evenings to ride, we generally start our winter break, just hacking at weekends and the odd bit of schooling. The break does us all good :)
 
at work said:
Honestly? Having read how confused you are about what you want to do, I'd sell the horses right now (Big commitment and probably the wrong time in your life to be tied to them). Then take different jobs that actually interest you, have a social life, decide what it is you really want - and then come back to horses if you want to.

Horses are not compulsory! Also, don't think you have to be young to enjoy them - look around you, there are plenty of older riders out there, so don't think you are giving up horses, it could just be a break from them. Think of the freedom!
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I was exactly the same. Didn't have a clue what I wanted to do. If anyone had suggested me selling my horse I'd have shot them - what I do as a career I chose based on working around my horse.

It is not like that for everyone, and other people have different priorities, but I would have been very offended if someone had that attitude with me as a new grad. Half of my graduating class had no idea what they wanted to do, and we all fell into our careers - you don't have to have everything planned. I'm two years graduated now and only just got a plan now - am now running my own business, and studying for my masters with the aim of going into college lecturing once I've completed my five year contracts and finished my masters. But I didn't have a clue when I graduated, and did what many people do and took a job whilst I decided.
 
khalswitz said:
I was exactly the same. Didn't have a clue what I wanted to do. If anyone had suggested me selling my horse I'd have shot them - what I do as a career I chose based on working around my horse.

It is not like that for everyone, and other people have different priorities, but I would have been very offended if someone had that attitude with me as a new grad. Half of my graduating class had no idea what they wanted to do, and we all fell into our careers - you don't have to have everything planned. I'm two years graduated now and only just got a plan now - am now running my own business, and studying for my masters with the aim of going into college lecturing once I've completed my five year contracts and finished my masters. But I didn't have a clue when I graduated, and did what many people do and took a job whilst I decided.
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I had exactly the same experience. I have a very competitive law degree from a very good university but still didn't know what I wanted to do long-term, and nor did at least half of my graduating class. However, taking a break from my horses was never an option I would have considered. It wasn't about being involved with horses in general, but with MY horses. I could have sold them and got back into the sport five years later but I would have lost my best friends and other horses wouldn't have been able to replace them. OP, it's your life, and you prioritize it however you like. If you want a job that works around your horses, then look for a job that works around your horses. If you want to put your career first, then do that. None of us can answer for you or tell you what you should do, only what we would do in your position. The ultimate choice has to come down to what works for you.
 
I'm another that works full time. H is on grass livery which gives me a lot more flexibility. He's ridden 5-7 days a week depending on my workload. A usual day sees me leave the office at 6pm, head to the stables by 6.30pm, be on-board by 7pm and finish riding around 8/8.30pm so I tend to get home just after 9pm leaving me just enough time to eat, do pilates (I can't ride without stretching these days!), shower and then head to bed. In winter his workload decreases to between 2-4 days a week due to weather and darker evenings.
 
JJS said:
OP, it's your life, and you prioritize it however you like. If you want a job that works around your horses, then look for a job that works around your horses. If you want to put your career first, then do that. None of us can answer for you or tell you what you should do, only what we would do in your position. The ultimate choice has to come down to what works for you.
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I have to agree with this.. I put off uni for quite a few years, as I couldn't afford to and logistically couldn't do it do it along side the ponies. It is a decision some people probably think is completely ridiculous, but they are my priority and I wouldn't change my decision for anything. I'm starting uni this year, and I have only been able to do so with the help and support of my mum who has now retired so can help care for the ponies and due to a change in circumstances that has meant i've had to move home (boyfriend left and I can't afford mortgage alone). When I graduate, I fully intend to find a job that means I can fit the ponies in as well.. I don't think I could ever sell them to put a job first. Having said this, I am single and have no intention of having a family to support, so it is only me that is effected by my decision, I can understand it would be more complicated if partners/kids were involved as well.
 
I am a teacher and I do think its a good job to have around horses. I ride every day, mainly after work but with three in work now I am starting to realise I will have to begin to ride before work too. I tend to leave work asap after classes finish (baring meetings/after school clubs) and head straight to the horses. I then do my marking and planning when I get home from the yard. I also try to fit in a 5k run each day too. Where there's a will there's a way. You just have to be clear about what you want and plan your time accordingly.
 
I've just got a job as a trainee engineer (doing a degree part time along side) and the hours are 8.30 to 5.30 with an hours commute each way. My horses are out 24/7 at the minute and only manage to poo pick after work before it gets dark (mossies are a problem too so put me off riding) Only see them once a day.
When they come in overnight in a couple of weeks I'll be getting up at 6, mucking out/turning out then getting home showered and out for 7.15 then back at 6.30, bed up (if not done in morning) nets, brush off and possibly ride in school.
weekends is when I'll most likely be doing my riding which is not ideal but they both get out for 12 hours a day so they're not stuck in. When I was at college I only managed to ride on weekends and I only had 1 horse! she didn't mind, we still competed and she was still very fit and happy.
I used to drive Busses and that was good in some ways as I got 9 weeks off a year and lots more riding time in total but horses had no routine whatsoever and had to beg my dad to do them quite a lot over winter.
Basically whatever you do there are always ways around things :)
 
If you are not sure what you want to do as a career and there is nothing wrong with that some people do still go to uni to study a subject they are interested not just because they are looking to work in a certain area.

It is often difficult to make a decision on careers and you need to look at what sort of careers would suit your personality and skills. Also sometimes it can be useful to do a bit of temping so you can get more exposure to different companies and different jobs within them which may help you decide what you want to do and what sort of organisation would suit you.

I think the people you work with and the culture of the workplace have a huge impact on how happy you will be at work. Even if your job is not massively interesting or challenging if the people you work with are nice and the company treat you well so you are paid a fair wage and appreciated then that goes a long way.

I presume most people with horses have to work full time in order to pay for them and fit them in around their working hours. People who work long or unpredictable hours may end up getting paid enough to pay for some assistance.

At the moment it seems like you have a lot of support from your family so i guess part of your decision will need to be based on if they are willing to continue to provide that support and assistance now you are no longer a student.

I work full time and during the summer months ride or lunge every day after work often not getting home until 9-10pm and during the winter I just ride at weekends. My pony lives out which makes a huge difference but i do have very little spare time to socialise with friends off the yard.
 
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misskk88 said:
However, if you really feel you are going to struggle with time, socialising and a bit of freedom and money, do not feel guilty! You have to put yourself, your degree and your career first at a stage in your life when you are going to be competing quite fiercly against other graduates for the same positions. If you feel you want to sell, then do.
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I agree with this and is exactly what I'm doing, though a little different. I have a great job that pays well, but I've decided to go travelling whilst I still can and am young enough to do so (I'm 21), I've had horses all my life and it's time I have some "me" time, travel the world and set off on a new adventure. My beautiful horse of over 2 years will be going back to her owner (I had her on perm full loan), and the option to take her back in the future has been offered to me (her owner is a gem).

Sell your horses and focus on your career. Horses (in general) will always be there if/when you decide to have them again.
 
Firstly I think you should go for the grad opportunies in London , if they appeal. These chances do not come around twice. You will be benefit salary wise for ever after too.

Commuting for 2 hours each way on a train is easily do able as the time is yours to do with as you wish, including sleep. You will get a seat, unlike on some of the shorter commutes. A 1 hr drive is much more tiring as you cannot lose concentration. Been there, done both.

Working hours flexibility is important but London copes with those delayed by public transport etc. Good flexi hours employers are civil service and local govt.
 
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