Shift work and horses.

[katherine1975]

For those of you who work shifts do you manage your horses on your own? Moving to new yard on Saturday and will be just my two horses there, at the moment I have someone who brings them in for me in the evenings, but will be doing it all myself now. Working as a nurse I quite often work late til 9pm. How do other shift people manage?

 

[xhayleyx]

I haven't yet got my own horse but have just got a job in a bar and the hours can be anything from 7 in the morning til 1 in the morning and im looking to get a horse in a few months.

By the time i get one it will be warm enough to be out 24/7 which i hope will be easier.. but i will be hoping there will be someone at yard who can bring in/put out if i'm not there.

 

[JoG]

I think if you can do your own thing then you're fine, horses get used to being brought in by torchlight at 10pm. If they're good doers then only feed after riding so they don't expect to be tucked up in bed by a certain time.

Otherwise if you can't leave out till late then when you're on a late bring in before work and leave with lots of hay and skip out on the way home. Make haynets up in advance so if you've had a really bad shift you can throw hay and go.....I always do morning yard straight after nightshifts and usually ride before i go for some sleep so then i just have to put to bed before the start of the next shift.....earlies then just throw them in the field before work (overalls over scrubs!!) and do everything later.

Top tips - leave you boots in the footwell of your car to warm up on the drive from work to the yard, buy some decent overalls/overtrousers/ski trousers and LOTS of caffeine!

 

[katherine1975]

Thanks for the advice, I do long days mostly 10-9 so I can get everything done in the morning. They will just have to get used to going to bed at different times. In the summer they will be out 24/7 so will go up and poo pick in the mornings and check them in the evenings. My OH is very helpful but often works away so I'm on my own sometimes.
Agree with the top tip of over trousers, got some really nice Joules ones and don't know what I'd do without them!