Night workers...your routine?

[nedzy]

Hi,

Was just looking for some hints and tips of getting horsey done but still getting sleep in the day, like..
Do you find putting horse out on your way home keeps you awake? When do you find is the best time to ride and muck out, before or after bed?
It's a new routine for me so thought I would see how others cope?
(Horse is at DIY yard)

 

[archiesmum]

Hi, I am a full time night worker and I'm not going to lie, it is hard work trying to fit sleep and horses in during the winter months!

My two boys are also on DIY and I normally finish at 6am so I go home, change, straight to the yard to exercise one, feed, muck out and turn out then back home for some sleep. The arena at the yard doesn't have floodlights so I can't work them in the evening (and it's busy after school hours!). In the evenings all I have to do is bring in, groom, rug up and feed. I do tend to be up the yard in the dark in the evenings otherwise you get hardly any sleep. My two are very good and fit in with me as their routine could mean I turn up between 6:30am-9:30am and between 4pm-7pm in the evening depending on when I finish my night shift and if I am working at the race yard that afternoon (I wouldn't advise getting an additional afternoon job!! *yawn*!!).

See how your body copes with nights and alter your routine to suit you as there is no right or wrong way of doing it. It is a lot easier if your horse is easy going and doesn't need a rigid structured day thats for sure!!

Hope that helps!

 

[Copperpot]

I only do 7 nights every 18 weeks as part of my shift system. I love working nights and sleep well in the day, but I struggle in winter to fit in my riding.

My start and finish times change night to night and I don't think this helps. If I finish at 8am it's light and I find it easier to get stuff done. If however I finish at 5am I tend to struggle.

I think you have to be very disciplined with yourself which tbh I'm not! For my first set of nights coming up since my horse has not been on full livery, so I will have to make the effort to exercise him, knackered or not

 

[nedzy]

Thanks for your comments. Luckily I do have a laid back lad who I'm sure will adapt. I suppose it's just a matter of seeing how my body takes to nights and see what I can fit in!

 

[cindydog]

Nightshift suits me, I attend horse in morning before bed, feed, groom, muckout.
I am very lucky we liveries all work together, I will put other horses out in morn ( if owner wants) and they in turn will put mine in at night, we wont muck out/groom for each other unless owner ill and cannot make down, we hay/water/give feed/change rugs/turnout/in for each other, all feed and hay nets have to be made up for us to give to horses. As for vet/ farrier appointments should be made for when owners can make it, still not always possible and again others would help with that.