Horses + work + young children

mini_b

mini_b

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Hi all - I know this has been done to death but I’m wondering if any of you can answer my question specifically re DIY and primary school age children.
(My OH is not in the picture for child based chores because of his working hours so I can’t rope him in unfortunately)
I start work after I’ve dropped said child off at school and I finish at 2/2:30. Work is *fairly* flexible, I can work 4 or 5 days a week (choose mon to sat)
(There are several yards I would be happy considering providing they have space, all within a 15 min drive of home, then back to school. School is 10 mins from home. Work is either 30 mins drive max or I get picked up from home. Just to give you an idea)

I haven’t had my own horse (grey girl in DP) since leaving home (we lived with parents to save so I had a lot of help childcare wise) or having child and now in a position to do so. I’m really interested in how you all juggle it, working out the logistics is blowing my mind. I’ve been dying to ask you all and read through threads but it sounds like horse is either at home or children are a little older from what I’ve managed to gather.

Thanks in advance :)

(Edited to clarify info)
 
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You need assisted DIY that turns out am so no need to go, then if it fits in go up and ride between work and school pick up, to ensure you do actually ride a few times in the week, then take child up to muck out quickly during the week, leave them in warm car if safe, do most of the jobs properly at the weekend so less to do in the week. Buy plenty of haynets so they can be filled at the weekend, rugs that can be left on overnight, keep feeding really simple and ideally have full time turnout as much as you can so less need to be in a routine.
As a YO I really think winter on DIY must be such a chore going twice a day, 7 days a week, hardly seeing the horse in daylight and juggling all the essential things such as farrier visits, many people seem to almost give up riding as they have no time for it, I have always offered assisted and for most people the small extra cost is balanced out by fuel saving and obviously less rushing about before work.
 
When I did it I got up at 5.30am, drove to yard, turned out, mucked out, and got stable ready for evening, then home, shower, drop kids at the bus and get to work for 9.30am.
Had childcare 4 evenings a week, so would get to yard about 5.45 to bring in, one early finish would allow me a lesson, and the one afternoon I had the kids I would take them with me to the yard.
I don't do it anymore, it was a slog and I wasn't riding enough. Now my girls are riding and have their own ponies I have run out of spare time completely, so horse has gone and I am being a PC mum for the foreseeable 😊
 
I gave up the stable, went for grass livery & reduced my expectation of actually getting a ride to once a week! Even less chance in school holidays. I'm desperate for a horse i can do a bit with but realistically i just won't have the time til the kids can be left at home for a couple of hours on their own. So the old boy has a nice lazy time of it chilling in the field with the odd hack to keep me sane & I window shop for the horse i might buy in 5yrs time!
 
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I was thinking doing ‘bits’ as well @SnowandSunshine, low level RC, fun rides etc. Sounds like so far you’ve all confirmed what I’m thinking already.

I’d love to hear from someone that somehow makes it work :oops:
One of the yards offers really bespoke DIY so it’s between assisted and DIY which would help on the days I’m rushing about.

Child is currently riding out on leadrein with me but he’s not totally invested (karate and football) he just loves the pony and enjoys hanging out with me so don’t think I’ll be a PC mum anytime soon. Here’s hoping 🤞🏽 ha! @buddylove
 
Grass livery that doesn't require poo picking (gets harrowed). All you have to do then is ride and feed. Kids stay outside the field while you catch in, then sit with an iPad or similar and downloaded videos on the mounting block in the school while you ride. Minimise TV at home so the videos are a treat and you don't get moaning small people. Hacking when OH available to watch kids or take child with on lead rein. Or find a friend at the yard with similar aged children and play swaps with childcare/horsecare.. With one horse on grass livery and speedy tacking up, would take about an hour a day at the yard when riding, less if just feeding.

I have had my own place and am now at a friend's yard (horses have always lived out!) and both those options are far easier than being on DIY as more freedom for the kids without worrying about other people. However, we go out to hire schools and the kids sit in the lorry where I can see them, or on the mounting block with an iPad and it's fine.
 
Hardy, hairy ponies at grass. All that bringing in and out, rugging, shoeing, clipping, feeding - it takes time you don't have. Find somewhere you don't need to poo pick, ideally with running water that doesn't freeze in winter. If you can, move them onto fresh grass rather than feed hard feed. It's hard to bucket feed in the field without causing problems.

Accept that your horse will look like a yak (a muddy yak), but it will be happy, and you will have time and energy enough to ride it.
 
In summer both live out so I can just go up once a day anytime I like.
I’m winter on my work days I’m there around 5:30 and home for 7:15
Then on my days off or the odd late eve I ride.
We have services at the yard so I pay for them to be bought in and put to bed 7 days a week so I only ever go once a day unless I’m going to ride. If time is super tight I can put them on full livery on the odd days.
To be honest it’s not so bad as long as you’re very organised x
 
A tough pony living out 24/7 we have primary age toys that keep them occupied while you are riding, a trampoline and bikes and a bit of field to play in good for the horses good for the kids. I hate to say it but a dvd player in the car might work as long as they are warm enough but running about and playing old fashioned games will keep them a lot warmer and healthier
 
I think most has been covered... I’ve always been on DIY.

In Winter I pay to have someone do the ‘other’ side of the day for me so I can only go up once. I do everything so that all there is to do is bring in(or TO)/change rug. I wouldn’t manage both sides of day.

It is doable, sometimes need to accept can’t ride as much as you want to for instance I can’t hack if my lo is there. I get my parents to watch as much as I can as I like my time alone at yard.
 
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