Policing Career and Owning Horses

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XxMaddixX

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Hi all. I am currently undergoing the application process to become a police constable. I have my fitness test and medical to go still, but as my chances of becoming a police officer in the very near future are seeming very realistic now, I am having to seriously contemplate how this will affect the logistics of horse ownership.

I am considering either putting my boy on part or full livery, finding a sharer, or possibly parting with him. He is currently kept at home at my parents' yard, but I will be moving in the next year and will have to find somewhere closer for him. In an ideal world I would put him on full livery somewhere. However, with moving into my own house it is not likely that I will be able to afford it. I am lucky in the sense that he doesn't need exercising daily but I am big on keeping them in a routine.

I am hoping that I might be able to get the opinions of current or past serving officers who can tell me how they have found it, is policing and owning a horse doable or am I better to sell him to someone who will fulfil his potential and have fun with him?
 
I have a police officer friend who keeps a horse without a problem. The horse does live out which probably helps and she works her riding around the shifts. She seems to spend more time at the yard than I do in a regular job!
 
I did 25 years, retired 3 years ago. Had horses both at livery and at home. Livery was not as good tbh, as they did not welcome 4.30am or 11.30pm visits!

At home my horses learned not to go by the clock, they knew breakfast was soon after the toilet flushed in the morning, and could be from 4.30am to 9.30am. Tea was when they came in, could be 4pm or 11pm.

My husband and I were on opposing shifts, so usually one of us could avoid any earlier/ later than that, but we did have to arrange cover that could be called at short notice, such as when a riot was in a local prison, and we were both sent just at the time we were expecting to leave, so neither could go home.

The money was good enough to have a house, car, horse and box, and lessons/ competitions too. I missed a few BE events through last minute shift changes, usually lost my entry fee, but on one memorable occasion the secretary refunded me as she knew Police hours could be unpredictable. Sometimes I would be told at 11pm one evening that I was no longer off tomorrow, for example if there was a missing person, intelligence re unexpected demo etc.

Sometimes shifts would be deviated last minute too, one time a colleague and I were working until 6pm on Friday, and competing BE the next day. Our shifts changed to an 11pm finish, which was still just do-able, and we were late off too, finished at 1am finally. Home for 2am, up at 4am to travel 2 1/2 hours to the event. My colleague forgot her jacket and the SJ course, and I also did some silly error. Not surprising really!

Some years we were told no leave to be granted from X to Y, for example in the Olympics year no leave from April to September! Other times no leave booked for 4 months so they could train us on the new computer system. With winter Saturdays taken up with football matches too, there were many times I could not get out to compete.

The up side was that I stored 4 months of leave I had not been able to take for when I retired.

I also agree with fairyclare, you need one for your sanity!
 
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Thank you very much for replying fairyclare and red-1. It is comforting to know others have made it work. I do have other hobbies such as running and kickboxing. But i've been riding much longer and it would be a shame to have to sell my boy. I am aware that i won't be able to compete much, but i think that will suit my boy as he doesn't appreciate being worked too hard. I obviously need to find a good reliable groom. Its a shame that my partner isn't horsey in the slightest. He'll help with the dog but i wouldn't ask him to put the horse to bed.
 
I'm police staff on the same shifts as an officer and have 3 horses on DIY. It is hard graft but agree, it is doable and necessary for sanity! I prepare a lot - making up nets the day before, skipping out beds at all hours to make sure they're clean ish if I get stuck in work, 4.30am starts at the yard etc. I don't get to ride as often as I'd like. But you can make it work.
 
I am not a serving officer but have worked as a police civilian employee in the past; I would advise that either Full or Assisted livery will be your best option to cater for the exigencies of your duty rosters. This will give your horse some measure of routine as you will be able to ask the yard to "do" your horse and feed him when you're not there to do it. Note to the wise: have a spy at the yard to MAKE SURE they DO feed etc when they've said they have............

Don't get rid of your horse, as others have said, you'll need something to chill out with - you never know, you might start off the next Mounted Branch in your constabulary area! Good luck!
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
I am not a serving officer but have worked as a police civilian employee in the past; I would advise that either Full or Assisted livery will be your best option to cater for the exigencies of your duty rosters. This will give your horse some measure of routine as you will be able to ask the yard to "do" your horse and feed him when you're not there to do it. Note to the wise: have a spy at the yard to MAKE SURE they DO feed etc when they've said they have............

Don't get rid of your horse, as others have said, you'll need something to chill out with - you never know, you might start off the next Mounted Branch in your constabulary area! Good luck!
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Thanks for such a positive reply. I will be keeping a very close eye wherever he goes. I've only ever had one horse on livery that wasnt diy and as i worked as the head groom i did him anyway 5 days a week 😊 so i haven't had to consider that before.

I am going to wait a few weeks until i've passed my medical, fitness and vetting and then i'm going to contact several yards and explain what i am looking for.
 
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