AGAGE
Well-Known Member
I don't know what to do! And feel like I'm at a bit of a cross road in my life, although thankfully don't need to decide yet! I know that nobody can make my mind up for me, but wondered if any of you have been in similar situations, and what you'd done.
This is my current situation- sorry it's so long!!
I've more or less found out that I won't be getting on to clinical psychology training this year. I'm soon to be 26, the average age for getting onto this doctoral level training is 27/28. I'm due to finish my part time MSc with the OU in April 2012. My current research assistant contract runs out in May, and there are very few, if any assistant psych or RA jobs available, and realistically I can't move for work due to my horses +oh and mortgage.
My sister who worked for my Dad's business as a PA is now moving to London with her OH, leaving behind her gorgeous and talented KWPN (that is hard work riding wise) for me to look after. So I will have 2 horses to care for soon, they are kept at parents. In my previous RA/AP roles, I was reliant upon my sister to get the boys in before it got dark. So what ever job I end up with will need to be flexible or close to horses, or I pay for somebody else to get them in!
My Dad has said I can work for him, when my contract ends, which would solve that problem, but it would detract from my preferred career, although I'll still be doing the MSc.
My Dad would like to take early retirement and would potentially sell his business. I feel a little guilty that he might have to sell, as he built it up from scratch, and would seem such a shame for it to end, my sister and brother have no interest in taking it over. I could consider managing the business obviously with dad's support. This would give me good money, good life with horses, possibility of having kids sooner, overall my quality of life would probably better.
I've been thinking long and hard about my long term career plans. As much as I enjoy working in mental health/psychology, I feel that I have had to compromise on my horsey life. I can only ride at weekends, as do so much travelling that I feel exhausted by time I get home. I feel envious of all of my fiends going out competing etc. I can't move to a bigger house as only ever on 12 month contracts and banks don't like that when getting mortgage! We've outgrown our small flat, and we would eventually like to have kids, although if I continue with psychology that might not be until I'm in my mid 30's.
If I pursue psychology which I've done for most of my working life, chances are that I might have to move for doctoral course (unless I can get on the only one local to home) and would be without horse for 3 years. But could honestly never ever consider selling them, so would have to put on livery and financially cripple myself, parents said they would help, but don't like to rely on them. I tried living without horses during undergrad degree and failed miserably, ended up working as groom 4 days a week to get my horses fix, subsequently resulting in me not doing as well on degree as could have done, although got 2:1.
I just don't know if I would badly regret giving up on psychology as I love my work and it would seem like such a waste, but it's exhausting, with horses and don't know that it would get any easier, at least for another 5 years or so. It could potentially take me around another 5 years to qualify in psychology ,and there is no guarantee of a job, as now fewer qualified posts due to nhs cutbacks etc. Although, if I could get a qualified job I could afford to work part-time, and do more with horses.
When I first thought about it as a career I thought it would be do-able with horses, but underestimated just how long it would take to qualify, how much I miss not riding, and how tiring it is getting up early everyday to muck out before work etc.
Have any of you been in a similar situation with horses vs career? What did you do?
This is my current situation- sorry it's so long!!
I've more or less found out that I won't be getting on to clinical psychology training this year. I'm soon to be 26, the average age for getting onto this doctoral level training is 27/28. I'm due to finish my part time MSc with the OU in April 2012. My current research assistant contract runs out in May, and there are very few, if any assistant psych or RA jobs available, and realistically I can't move for work due to my horses +oh and mortgage.
My sister who worked for my Dad's business as a PA is now moving to London with her OH, leaving behind her gorgeous and talented KWPN (that is hard work riding wise) for me to look after. So I will have 2 horses to care for soon, they are kept at parents. In my previous RA/AP roles, I was reliant upon my sister to get the boys in before it got dark. So what ever job I end up with will need to be flexible or close to horses, or I pay for somebody else to get them in!
My Dad has said I can work for him, when my contract ends, which would solve that problem, but it would detract from my preferred career, although I'll still be doing the MSc.
My Dad would like to take early retirement and would potentially sell his business. I feel a little guilty that he might have to sell, as he built it up from scratch, and would seem such a shame for it to end, my sister and brother have no interest in taking it over. I could consider managing the business obviously with dad's support. This would give me good money, good life with horses, possibility of having kids sooner, overall my quality of life would probably better.
I've been thinking long and hard about my long term career plans. As much as I enjoy working in mental health/psychology, I feel that I have had to compromise on my horsey life. I can only ride at weekends, as do so much travelling that I feel exhausted by time I get home. I feel envious of all of my fiends going out competing etc. I can't move to a bigger house as only ever on 12 month contracts and banks don't like that when getting mortgage! We've outgrown our small flat, and we would eventually like to have kids, although if I continue with psychology that might not be until I'm in my mid 30's.
If I pursue psychology which I've done for most of my working life, chances are that I might have to move for doctoral course (unless I can get on the only one local to home) and would be without horse for 3 years. But could honestly never ever consider selling them, so would have to put on livery and financially cripple myself, parents said they would help, but don't like to rely on them. I tried living without horses during undergrad degree and failed miserably, ended up working as groom 4 days a week to get my horses fix, subsequently resulting in me not doing as well on degree as could have done, although got 2:1.
I just don't know if I would badly regret giving up on psychology as I love my work and it would seem like such a waste, but it's exhausting, with horses and don't know that it would get any easier, at least for another 5 years or so. It could potentially take me around another 5 years to qualify in psychology ,and there is no guarantee of a job, as now fewer qualified posts due to nhs cutbacks etc. Although, if I could get a qualified job I could afford to work part-time, and do more with horses.
When I first thought about it as a career I thought it would be do-able with horses, but underestimated just how long it would take to qualify, how much I miss not riding, and how tiring it is getting up early everyday to muck out before work etc.
Have any of you been in a similar situation with horses vs career? What did you do?
And have had a rocky couple of years, the thought of being able to relax and just enjoy yourself without worrying too much about career/money ect would be lovely 
). She was a six month old weanling, had not even been halter broken and took up the vast majority of my free time. I kept her on DIY and you know what, it was fine. Friends on the yard helped out and I helped them, she often stayed out after dark, so what, it didn't matter she was happy! 
I got a good degree in Microbiology (2:1) and then started a masters of research in biotechnology. Loved every minute of it, still had no problems fitting horse in around it (University was 35 miles from home and I drove there and back every day). I went straight on to do a PhD from there and as before it was fine. Moved in with OH closer to Uni, moved horse, even easier. Left uni, got a job with the NHS. Pay was absolutely rubbish and I had to give up and go back to a post doc research post after 6 months as I didn't have enough money to pay for the horse and the petrol to get to work! I then did a couple of high level management posts on maternity cover contracts (easier to get this sort of contract because most people don't want the lack of security associated with them). I am now, at the age of 33 the managing director of a charity doing a job (permanant contract) that is totally unrelated to my qualifications. I earn good money but I am very overworked (I'm typing this from my office today and it's saturday) I am now married and have a three year old son. Last Thursday I moved my horse to a full livery yard 4 minutes from home. I was getting up at 5am to get everything ready for work and my son for nursery (he's there 45 hours a week because I can't take any time off from my job) going to the yard, turning out and mucking out, driving to my office which is 45 mins from the yard and getting to work for 9am. I work until 5 then back to the yard before finally getting in the front door at 6.45pm. My son goes to bed at 7.30pm so I see him for around 90 minutes a day assuming I haven't got any evening meetings (of which I had two this past week). I haven't ridden my horse since September as there are simply not enough hours in the day any more. I made the decision to put her on full livery so that the time I would normally spend mucking out and poo picking can be spent riding instead. I used to show at County level but outings have just not been an option for the last 4 years. 
