Keen to hear experiences of those who work full time and have horses on DIY/Part/Full livery.

[Evelyn]

Hello all,

I've had a huge break from horses (25 years!), but for a long time have been wanting to get back into the swing of things. I have a long list of things i want to achieve, but further down the line (as my knowledge and skills is very rusty, plus everything seems so different now) would be getting a horse and possibly a pony for my son.
At the moment I work full time so i'm keen to hear how you all manage with various livery options with full time work and having children! I work 9-5.30pm and at the moment very little flexibility in those hours. Hopen to widen my lack of current knowledge!
Thanks.

 

[AmyMay]

I’ve always been diy, but with services available should they be needed.

 

[dominobrown]

I keep my horses at home and work 2 jobs, both part time so 36-45 hours a week depending. I have 6 horses and 1 livery horse to do. I don't sleep much.

 

[shortstuff99]

Get up at 6am, do horses before work. Start work at 8.30 am. Pay someone to bring horse in for me in winter and go up after work at 5pm ish and ride and finish off. When really bad weather I do pay for someone to muck out for me in the mornings, they live out 24/7 in good weather so that makes it 100% easier.

 

[motherof2beasts!]

I work full time and I’m on DIY , I get to yard for 6.30 , feed, turnout then muck out , soak hay /prepare dinners, then rush home wash and work. Then go back after work un soak hay, bring In /feed/prepare my nets for tomorrow/ride if I can be assed/otherwise groom , go home watch tv sleep and repeat every day. Winter is a drag but spring /summer much nicer when you can go for an early morning or after work hack. It’s a juggle but I love it, get an equidry as I can go to muck out etc in work clothes and still look presentable.

 

[Wishfilly]

Hello all,

I've had a huge break from horses (25 years!), but for a long time have been wanting to get back into the swing of things. I have a long list of things i want to achieve, but further down the line (as my knowledge and skills is very rusty, plus everything seems so different now) would be getting a horse and possibly a pony for my son.
At the moment I work full time so i'm keen to hear how you all manage with various livery options with full time work and having children! I work 9-5.30pm and at the moment very little flexibility in those hours. Hopen to widen my lack of current knowledge!
Thanks.

I usually work about 8-4.30, so similar hours but shifted slightly earlier. The first yard I was on, I started work even earlier so used to pay someone to turn out, then would come up after work, muck out, catch in, feed etc. Individual/paired turnout, so would also have to poopick whenever I could fit it in. Out in the day in winter, and night in summer. The biggest issue at that yard was in bad weather etc, a lot of people would also catch in very early and he didn't like being the last one out! Easier when I could pair up with someone who also worked and arrange to catch in at the same time! Used to ride most weekends and once or twice a week in summer.

Next yard I had 24/7 turnout, so way less jobs etc, which was great- but the school was very often busy evenings/weekends, so it was really difficult to find time to ride. Still obviously had to find time to poo pick, and do jobs like pulling ragwort etc in the summer. I'd usually bring him to feed at least once a day (twice a day in winter which was usually in the dark!). Yard would catch in for the farrier etc, which was helpful, and would also provide holiday cover which was very useful!

Current yard is pretty much fully DIY, although there are a few people I could pay to muck out etc if I was desperate. Luckily a lot of people on the yard work, and they are very good about not leaving horses out alone- we all do each other favours and catch in the last ones etc. It's relatively easy to swap favours with people if I need someone to turn out or bring in for me. I usually go up before work, feed/turnout and try and do a few jobs. After work, I do whatever jobs I haven't done, and then catch in- again the hardest part about this is that recently it's been in the dark which is tricky with muddy gateways etc! At the moment, I'm just riding at the weekends- the aim from February is to try and ride one day a week after work, but I'm not sure if I'll manage it. People cover for each other during holidays etc. There's the option to turnout 24/7 in the summer, with poo picking on a rota, which is easier.

The biggest issue I have with working full time on DIY isn't the day to day care, but the issue of getting out saddle fitters, vets, physio, farriers etc. I am very lucky to have found a few flexible farriers who will do evenings or weekends for me- but this isn't easy to find necessarily. If I ever need an emergency vet, it realistically means calling in sick to work which isn't ideal at all.

I will be honest, I don't think I could manage 2 DIY with children- although sometimes having 2 is easier as you know they won't be left on their own etc.

Part of me would love 5-day a week livery, just the basics of feeding, haynets, mucking out, turn in/turn out- it would take the pressure off a lot, and probably enable me to ride more! But equally part of me is a bit of a control freak, so I'd probably struggle with it on some level! But the prices for that are much higher around here, and I value a lot of turnout in a herd above all else- so that's my number 1 priority for a yard!

 

[greasedweasel]

2 on DIY - on 24/7 turnout - my job is very flexible in the winter and pretty brutal in the summer. Helps husband is very supportive and especially in the summer does the boys more than I do. They get fed twice a day in the winter and I ride when I can, if that is not for weeks at a time I don't stress. If you are adding kids into the mix I really would budget for at least part livery. It can feel quite relentless on the short dark days, "did I not just feed you five minutes ago?"!!

 

[Barlow]

I work 9-5.30 with a fair amount of days spent away from home. My horse is on full livery, I tend to see him 3 weekdays and 2 weekend days. I try to ride every morning before work, so I’m at the yard at 7am and leave by 8.30. Having him on full livery means my YO is always around to step in and lunge or ride him for me if I can’t get there, and luckily my YO is very flexible like that, although obviously the more notice I can give the better!

 

[sjdress]

Work full time horses on DIY. One is retired so lives out 24/7/, other out in day in at night. Usual day is up at 6am to do horses before work, pay someone to bring in the one in work during winter as turnout limited, then I go back after work for more mucking out, feeding and riding. Get home about 7:30pm. It’s a long day. Use A/L mostly for vet/farrier etc visits! Live by headtorch in winter!

 

[Jambarissa]

I've always worked full time and had horses (up to 5) on DIY.

When I only had one or two I'd go on the way to work to turnout, trying not to get dirty, then in the evening to do everything.

Once I had more I'd get up early and put out and muck out then shower before work. Gave me time to ride in evening.

It is helpful if you can trade occasional favours with a friend or there's someone you can pay to bring in or turn out.

Having kids makes it difficult, there are only so many hours in the day. Helpful if all the family gets into it but you can't rely on them being and staying interested.

 

[Barklands]

I work full time and if you are going to do DIY my biggest tip would be to check turnout arrangements! I was DIY on a beautiful yard but what wasn't clear at the beginning was that there was restricted turnout in the winter to save the fields. Often would be 4 hours turnout and was impossible to bring in! Was having to race there at lunch time but just wasn't sustainable.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

I have my horses at home. I’m currently not riding because I have too much to do at work, and both horses need consistent bringing back into work so I’m waiting for more light and less ice.

I’m in the yard by 6am to do morning feeds and checks.

I then shower, get ready. Do my morning emails, prep for work etc.

My freelancer meets me at 8am (horses are out by 8.30 if they are stabled at night but they stay out a lot) and I check in with her before heading into the office for 9am.

Freelancer comes back at about 3ish in the afternoon to muck out and do chores, and she feeds a late lunch for anyone who needs it (one with previous ulcers gets chaff with AcidEase and anyone who needs extra in winter gets lunch) and preps supper. Horses come in at about 5 unless staying out.

I generally come home 6-8pm and feed supper. Sometimes this is 10pm but if I am due to be later, I will have asked freelancer to feed supper before leaving.

I work from home once or twice a week and then spend more time with them.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I work full time with 2 on DIY. No children!! Get to stables around 6 in winter, earlier in summer as I hack out before work. Feed, turnout out, muck out. Get everything ready for lunchtime as I bring in atunch during winter. After work finish off for the night. Summer time they will be out 24/7. Time wise I don't find summer easier as I poo pick field twice a day, I actually find it quicker and easier to muck out!

 

[SO1]

I think you probably need to be on assisted DIY at least to start with unless your partner is willing to get involved, if you get sick and are unable to get to the yard and it is DIY only it could be difficult.

It also depends on how flexible your work is and how annoyed they might be about emergency vet appointments, time off every 5 weeks for farrier etc.

Do your family want holidays and if so you will need someone to look after the horses for you.

Will you ever need to work late hours at short notice and depends on your job a bit and what support you have for emergency situations.

I work full time and am on part livery but when I was in less demanding job and didn't have family commitments with elderly parents needing my support I was on grass livery and only needed to go once a day and no set time to get there. I had a couple of friends who could do favours and YO would check the horses once a day.

I have no family or close friends I could rely on to look after my pony in an emergency so I know I can't be pure DIY it has to be at least assisted. Part livery gives me wrap around care including being there for emergency vet. I need to go to Norfolk next week to help my elderly parents and I know if there was a vet emergency my yard would step in and be there immediately.

I know someone who broke their ankle and was on DIY and her husband couldn't look after her horse and she had to rely on friends from the yard to look after her horse for 6 weeks.

The main problem I have found is vets for emergency and the impact that has on work. By law people with children have to be allowed to leave work for childcare emergencies without repercussions if the school calls and says your child needs to see a doctor immediately then off you go no problem if your horse needs emergency vet workplaces can soon get fed up.

 

[Surbie]

It depends a lot on the yard hours and turnout rules for the options you have locally. Several DIY yards near me have opening times of 6am which is too late when I start at 7am. And winter bringing in times can be incompatible with working hours, particularly if you are commuting. Add in children and personally I would want to be on part livery at least to ensure that my horse time isn't just spent mucking out and poo picking.

I'm on DIY and get to the yard usually around 5am, and leave by 6.30am. Others on the yard are there at 4am. I am lucky that someone will bring my horse in for me if I can't be there when they want to get the rest of the field in, but that also means his box has to be set up and ready no matter what.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Full livery here, work full time and have a daughter. I have to start work at 8 which is an hour away (on the days I go into work, work from home a fair bit) so no option really for anything else as I can’t get my daughter sorted with breakfast club and do a horse before work! We could probably manage with part livery but it does make life easier not having to rush over after work and try and get the jobs done in daylight. Our current yard doesn’t offer anything but full.

I would check when you are able to go up, our current yard has a stupid 10am rule for the full livery owners…one of the reasons we are leaving this month!

Also is there lights so you can ride in the dark before/after work in the winter? Again ours doesn’t…so very difficult for working people to ride in winter. Another reason we are leaving!

Assisted DIY works really well if they can do the am feed/turnout for you or the other end of the day if you can go up first thing. I did that for years before I had my daughter x

 

[scats]

DIY with no assistance. I work full time- I run my own business and also work 1-2 days at a college I set up with a friend. I work 5-6 days a week, depending on what I have in my diary.
I do as much as I can in the morning with the horses- all jobs, ride etc. They go out for the day and then I grab them in and finish off after work.
No children though, but a houseful of animals too.

 

[little_critter]

I switched from diy to full livery about 3 years ago. Work had got busier and the weekday bringing in times were getting earlier and earlier on the diy yard causing me stress (my girl kicks off once other horses start coming in)
Im now on 5 day part livery so I still muck out etc at the weekend but can come and go as I please on weekdays.

 

[Kirstd33]

I work full time with 3 kids and have a cob on local diy. It’s hard work juggling everyone’s needs and carving the time out to get everything done. Winter has been hardest as the YO only wants them out in the daylight hrs so I’ve had to pay to have him turned out and brought in at 9-3 as I’m at work. I rush to the stables after work and do his box, 2 x hay nets, feed, water and a quick groom etc. I’m fortunate that I do finish at 3, 2 afternoons a week and then can bring him on those days and hoping to be able to squeeze a short ride in now the nights are drawing out but it means sorting out after school clubs for my youngest as he’s still only 8!
Enjoying it but can’t wait for the late spring when they return to 24hr turn out again and life will be easier

 

[DeliaRides]

Pony is my daughter's (she's 12), and we're on a DIY yard with a freelance livery service for those that need it, which is on a very flexible 'pay as you go' kind of arrangement, but our week looks a bit like this:

1 day of full livery... We don't go at all.
4 days of bring in livery, somebody else in our barn drops feeds in at about 6.30am and we turn out at about 8.
Weekends fully DIY.

We have dedicated indoor arena slots 2 evenings a week, and sometimes jump in to share with others one of the other nights. Pony is usually being ridden 5/7 days, but more flexible in summer as daughter often hacks with friends after school.

Winter is a bit brutal and if no indoor/lights we'd have to write off riding in the week. But it's not many months if the year that it's really that bad.

I work full time, relatively flexibly, at home, so can often go up for random things like holding him for the farrier etc. But I can pay yard staff to do this if necessary.

 

[ihatework]

Although less applicable now, over the years I have had a variety of horses in different livery set ups whilst working busy full time jobs. From those experiences the 2 key things for you to consider are the following:

Adequate exercise for the horse - sounds simple but be very sure of the yard set up because you will have plenty of days that for whatever reason life will take over and the horse has to give. Lots of yards have restrictions on turnout over winter. If at all possible you want decent daytime turnout virtually guaranteed through winter. If it is restricted and that is something you are willing to accept is there a good all weather surface with lighting and a walker, so you have half a chance of at least getting horse out of stable twice a day?

If you are considering DIY then the biggest issue is routines around bringing in / turning out. As a minimum be prepared that you will need assistance services and that these are available. This was usually the biggest pita/stress if just having a single horse on diy

 

[Jellymoon]

I think if you can afford full livery, I would do that, especially as you have been out of it for a long time. I have juggled full time work, kids, horses on DIY, and its not easy, something has to give. In my case, we bought a house with land so I could have the horses at home, and i changed my job so I can work from home.

 

[Gallop_Away]

My husband and I work full time and our horses are on DIY. We managed the horses between the two of us for the most part. We are also very lucky that we are part of a brilliant group of liveries who will all happily help each other in an emergency.

Personally, the cost aside, I would never choose to keep them on full livery. I am a self confessed control freak and also for me personally, part of the joy of keeping horses is also caring for them day to day.

If things changed, for example work commitments etc, then I would probably consider assisted DIY/part livery at a push.

 

[abbijay]

I work full time and have primary school age twins. I think it depends on your lifestyle as to what works and what you want from it.
Most days I leave home before 7am and get home about 6pm because I commute on top of the 8-5 routine. You have shorter working hours so if no commute you could have several extra hours in the day. I don't have to do school runs as they catch the bus but then we have various after school commitments 3 nights a week. How much running about do you currently do for LO; would they want to give up those hobbies for a pony or not. On a weekend we have to fit in (on average) 3 sports fixtures that can be over an hour away plus the hubby competes in his sport most weekends. The horse has to be squeezed in when we can.
My job doesn't offer much flexibility so I have to find professionals who will do evening or weekend appointments where possible. My farrier has worked with me for years and I don't need to be there when he comes - horse is very well behaved. Emergency vet stuff has to be taken from annual leave which means I have to plan my holidays carefully.
My ridden horse is on part livery with weekday muckouts. He gets ridden by me 3 nights most weeks (a floodlit arena and no time limits on a yard are deal breakers for me) and I have a pro who rides him once a week for me. On a weekend he always gets minimum 1 hack, 2 if I can but it varies. I am heavily reliant on a teamwork approach to life from my other half. We barely see each other but we make sure the kids get to everything they're meant to, each get the chance to do our sports and life just about runs smoothly. Dinner is served about 9.30/10pm in our house - sometimes later if we're busy. Husband will do the horse if I'm desperate - ill or got a major problem - but he's my responsibility most of the time.
If you currently enjoy lots of leisurely evenings in front of the TV or spending lots of family time together then you may find it a huge shock to the system if you get 2 horses on DIY. IT's not impossible to do but I don't think I could manage it on top of everything else.

 

[Kirstd33]

I work full time and have primary school age twins. I think it depends on your lifestyle as to what works and what you want from it.
Most days I leave home before 7am and get home about 6pm because I commute on top of the 8-5 routine. You have shorter working hours so if no commute you could have several extra hours in the day. I don't have to do school runs as they catch the bus but then we have various after school commitments 3 nights a week. How much running about do you currently do for LO; would they want to give up those hobbies for a pony or not. On a weekend we have to fit in (on average) 3 sports fixtures that can be over an hour away plus the hubby competes in his sport most weekends. The horse has to be squeezed in when we can.
My job doesn't offer much flexibility so I have to find professionals who will do evening or weekend appointments where possible. My farrier has worked with me for years and I don't need to be there when he comes - horse is very well behaved. Emergency vet stuff has to be taken from annual leave which means I have to plan my holidays carefully.
My ridden horse is on part livery with weekday muckouts. He gets ridden by me 3 nights most weeks (a floodlit arena and no time limits on a yard are deal breakers for me) and I have a pro who rides him once a week for me. On a weekend he always gets minimum 1 hack, 2 if I can but it varies. I am heavily reliant on a teamwork approach to life from my other half. We barely see each other but we make sure the kids get to everything they're meant to, each get the chance to do our sports and life just about runs smoothly. Dinner is served about 9.30/10pm in our house - sometimes later if we're busy. Husband will do the horse if I'm desperate - ill or got a major problem - but he's my responsibility most of the time.
If you currently enjoy lots of leisurely evenings in front of the TV or spending lots of family time together then you may find it a huge shock to the system if you get 2 horses on DIY. IT's not impossible to do but I don't think I could manage it on top of everything else.

Sounds very familiar to our family life with 3 kids also taking part in Football, swimming, rangers, D of E, gym etc…. We’re ships in the night and my hubby is very supportive thankfully of me having my pony and my eldest daughter part loans a pony at the same yard so it’s “our thing” to do together. The middle one has zero interest as football and fitness is her thing and occasionally our youngest come for a hack when the weather is ok!
I’m permanently knackered and dashing round from one place to another and have no money but having the pony brings a lot of joy into my life

 

[Catbird]

I work full time, have kids and have a horse on diy. Doing the day to day care isn't too bad as OH is great and I pay YO to turn out in the morning, but finding time to ride consistently is hard - impossible during the winter. We don't have family nearby so I try and have a long lunchbreak and make time up but it's really tricky to fit everything in and not feel like I'm rushing from one thing to another and doing a bit of cr*p job of everything.
Kids are now starting to want to do clubs after school so I'm going to have to go down the sharer route, which isn't what I ideally want but it's just not sustainable for me otherwise
If I could afford to pay part or full livery then I would!

 

[Widgeon]

I think you probably need to be on assisted DIY at least to start with unless your partner is willing to get involved, if you get sick and are unable to get to the yard and it is DIY only it could be difficult.

Agreed, assisted DIY is a lifesaver. Our YO gives breakfasts in the morning so then all I need to do is get there at some point during the day to hay, poo pick, do a "proper" check and ride if I want. Ours are out 24/7 which also means no mucking out or turn out / bring in.

 

[Polos Mum]

It's been a while but when I worked a tough long hours job I was on full livery. I often travelled abroad / far in the UK so they did everything except ride and I was happy that if I didn't go for a week he'd be well cared for.
This is clearly the expensive option but it meant that horse time was riding and that i really enjoyed that time. When time is tight spending it mucking out sucks the joy out of the whole thing.

I now have them at home but out 24/7 with lots of space so we will go away for a long weekend and my neighbour will keep an eye when she's passing. Or if I'm sick (or one of the kids needs something) I can safely ignore them and no bother.
A DIY yard where they have to be in and out to someone else's schedule would be really restrictive to family life - IMHO

Taking on a new hobby is a big change for you and your family. If you want to ride say 5 x a week then you'll need c.8 hours of free time - presumably you'd don't currently have 8 hours to yourself to read a book / other pastimes??
If you do DIY then you will need c.10 hours a week just to do chores and travel, before the fun stuff.

 

[abbijay]

it's really tricky to fit everything in and not feel like I'm rushing from one thing to another and doing a bit of cr*p job of everything.

I call this the perpetual guilt of motherhood! I never quite feel I'm doing my best at anything as I'm always splitting myself in 4. It takes a monumental change in view to accept doing your best isn't the same as being the best. If you only have 50% of yourself to give but you give all of it then you are absolutely doing your best!
A few years ago I thought to myself "if I could only give half as much to work as I do to competing my horses I would be very successful." So that's what I did, upped it to 50% and lo and behold my career took off. I didn't have to strive to put everything into it to improve.

 

[equinerebel]

I work on site (aka not at home) 8.30 - 5pm, Monday to Friday and keep my horse on DIY a 15 min drive away. My friend and fellow livery turns out on weekdays, I bring in. It works for us but they're long days. I don't ride during the week, I don't need that sort of pressure and would rather spend more time at home.