Juggling baby and horses - can this work?

NeverSayNever said:
HOWEVER I do think its so very unfair to burden an expectant mother with the worry that their life will never be the same again and paint a negative picture of doom and gloom, because it definitely isnt always this way!!
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I would agree that it is not 'doom and gloom', and I personally loved the time when my daughter was a baby. However, I think it is fair to say for the vast majority of mums, life will never be the same again. That's not necessarily a bad thing - it just means life is rather different from 'before baby' and your priorities change and you have to work out different ways of getting things done.

I think it is good for mums to share their problems as well as all the good stuff. In my experience, the prospective mums who envisage motherhood as being a lovely picture of babies sleeping peacefully during the day outside a rose-covered cottage door whilst they do other things, are the ones who struggle most because reality comes as a shock! Whereas, those that are prepared for the worst are often happily surprised when their babies sleep through the night etc!
 
Another thing that's hard to explain is the love you feel. If a boyfriend or friend woke me every 20 mins, or spent the night throwing up on every available bit of bedding & furniture, I'd probably lose my rag. When its your baby though, the love cancels all the negative out.
 
I'm told that it's very hard to juggle objects of differing shapes and weights, so I think it would very hard to juggle horses and babies, although it would definitely get you into the Cirque du Soliel if you perfected it.:p:D:D:D

I'm sorry OP, your post title just kept bringing images of flying horses and and babies into my mind! I hope you manage to sort things out, seems that you've had plenty of advice so I hope my advice-free post at least raises a smile:)
 
Having a baby will change your life (no getting away from that!) Suddenly you are no longer the most important thing in your life!;) Everyone's experience is different, my daughter was three months old when OH went off on pre-op training (so only saw him at weekends), I went back to work when she was 6 months old (as the MOD stuffed up his pay so he wasn't getting paid!) and then he went out to Afghanistan when she was 7 months old, what fun!! I worked full time, had two big dogs that need lots of exercise, and kept on breast feeding (exclusively 'till she was 6 months old, then carried on 'till she was 14 months -12-14months early morning feed only). I don't think that I could have coped with a horse as well and I would only have been able to ride very intermittantly as there wasn't anyone around I could have relied upon to look after my daughter.

Parts of it are hard work, parts of it wonderfully easy, all you can do when they are feeding is read a book/watch TV/look at the internet!;) In the first 12 months, I think I got 2 full nights sleep, but, you cope because you have to!! I think it does a baby the world of good to get outside and get plenty of fresh air, my daughter used to accompany me walking the dogs either in a sling or a buggy, it does get a bit more difficult when they get more mobile, as others have said, very quickly though they are off to playgroups/pre-school or school which frees up alot more time.

Take it easy, work out what works for you, don't judge yourself, because there are enough other people around that will be doing that!!!
 
Spudlet said:
I'm told that it's very hard to juggle objects of differing shapes and weights, so I think it would very hard to juggle horses and babies, although it would definitely get you into the Cirque du Soliel if you perfected it.:p:D:D:D

I'm sorry OP, your post title just kept bringing images of flying horses and and babies into my mind! I hope you manage to sort things out, seems that you've had plenty of advice so I hope my advice-free post at least raises a smile:)
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:D:D:D:D:D:D this made me snigger :cool:

of course it 'changes your life' - you're a mummy with a fantastic little person to care for:D It adds a new dimension, its wonderful.. but it doesnt have to change your life :cool:
 
I would agree with what most people have put here!!

Another view point, from me.... I had heard all the 'it will change your life' stories (and also the ones from people saying it wont change your life if you dont let it etc). So anyway I started out with pure determination that I wasnt going to let it change my life. I then realised a few months down the line that I was incredibly frustrated and didnt feel like I was doing a good job as I was just spending my time rushing around, trying to fit things in when the baby was asleep/dragging her out when I felt she would have been better sleeping (because it was raining and the horse needed bringing in/mucking out/feed bought/farrier etc).

Anyway, once I realised this, and the fact that this was really going to change my life, no matter how determined I was, I let go of things more (and in fact sold my horse). All of these decisions were right for me- it depends on the baby- my girl didnt sleep very well (and as someone else said, didnt like to sleep unless rocked/held or walked in the pushchair to sleep). But then if you have an 'easy' baby you will be able to be more flexible. Good on you for getting opinions now- hopefully some of them will help you plan the future a bit more...

You may find it easier having the horses at home- I hated having to put her in and out of the car. Might also be useful to get one of those video monitors...

Its not doom and gloom- the changes you will make will be ones that you want to make!! I was horrified at thinking I wouldn't be 'career' minded or have a horse in my life- you know what, I love my life and the changes my little on has bought to it! You will find a way to make it work for you!! (oh and I have a new horse as well now- one that can live out this time!)... Good luck :)
 
if they only need exercise and not schooling, how about free schooling for the two horses with health problems? i think some people free school horses together, from what ive heard.
 
Thanks for all the continued opinions :). I do have a horsey husband who has already been told he's doing ALL the jobs for the first two weeks, then evenings for at least the next 4! We also have a fab freelance groom who we use for holidays/sickness atm, and has been warned she might be needed a bit more in the near future! That, and one of the loaners is a teenager who has pony in return for chores, so hopefully that will help and make things more manageable. We deep litter anyway so mucking out takes 5 min per stable, some of them live out, and it doesn't take more than 1/2 hr in the mornings to do them all even in winter. That will hopefully be achievable between feeds! So just the riding to figure out...

Baby will be amazing, but I'll be a better mum to him if I retain at least a couple of hours a day for me. That's 22 hours for him, 2 for me. Will give him some Daddy time lol!
 
Hey, give it your best shot and I am sure it can be done. Forgot to add earlier that one of the really good things about babies and horses together is that these children will get out into the fresh air at times that some other people coup their babies up inside for fear of cold or wet, but you can dress them and wrap them up for most weathers and they will be fine. My two boys are hardly ever ill (touches wood), my eldest only missed two days in the entire school year while some of his friends were constantly having colds! I am sure being out at the stables so much has helped with his immune system :)
I have heard many people say around me that horses and babies don't mix but for me they just had to and I think I have proven they do!
 
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