Those of you that work long hours

I don't anymore, however I used to work 12 hour shifts in my last job. I got up stupidly early and did my yard chores and someone else brought him in for me in the evening. I rode in the days I wasn't working - I did 3 12 hour shifts a week. Tiring in the winter but its doable
 
Are you on a yard where you could strike a deal to help someone on your days off in return for assistance one end of the day when you are On Shift?
 
Yep I now work 12h shifts (days and nights), four on four off. Been doing it since April. It sucks. Henry lives out 24/7 all year round (he has done for years) and until recently I was going up after work in the evening and checking and poo picking. Now it's getting darker my field-mate checks and poo picks when I'm on days. It's easier when I'm on nights (finish at 0700) as I can go straight up and see to them and then go home and sleep. So me and field-mate take it in turns. Any riding or other sort of messing about happens on my four days off.

I think we will actually have enough grass to last us this winter (unlike last winter where I was feeding quite a bit of chaff), but if we have another snowstorm like we did in March this year I have no idea what I'm going to do, as they came in for three or four days. As I'm frontline NHS I have to make every reasonable (and then some) effort to get to work in inclement weather so can't really just say tuff tits I can't come in. I'll have to cross the bridge if/when I get to it, eek!
 
My hours are insane only for a limited number of weeks, but during those times, I manage:

In my setup, the horses live out 24/7, and poo-picking is kept to a minimum by paddock rotation and harrowing. In the winter months, they have free access to the hard standing, which is where hay, water, and feed are distributed. So on a day with minimal time, I just check the water, count legs, and hand out feed buckets (with meds), meaning I'm at the yard less than 10 minutes. If I have 20 minutes, I can also poo-pick the hard standing and replace round hay bales. If I have an hour, I can manage a 30 minute ride in the school.

Main things that help:
1. Not having a set time that the horses expect you. I can be there at 8am one day and 10pm the next, and they don't care. They expect me when they see my car. (There are people living on site that can keep an eye out in emergencies.)
2. Lowering standards of grooming. As long as there's no mud actually in the saddle area, we can go for a ride.
3. Thinking carefully about the setup, so that it's as low maintenance and efficient as possible. Oddly, this also seems to lead to happier grass and more chilled-out horses. As much as possible, set things up so the horses can just do horse things while you are doing people things. This is hard at livery, but if you find some like-minded friends, can work even there.
4. Be a helpful person, and in turn have helpful friends nearby that will give you a hand if you really need it. I have a very ill companion pony at the moment, and am humbled by the level of support shown by friends from nearby yards.
5. Don't beat yourself up if you are too tired to ride for a while, or if everything feels dark. Better times will come.

Best of luck! It can be done, but it might take some careful thought, research, and a lot of tweaking to get it right.
 
crazycoloured said:
I'm the only livery on the yard.the horses will be in for the winter in a few weeks
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I don't think you can do it without help, a horse needs routine which can be flexible but probably not as flexible as you would need it to be to fit in with your shifts so the YO needs to offer services if you are going to stay and keep the horse in at night or you need to find somewhere that can, the most sensible option would be to keep the horse living out over winter but that may mean a conversation with the YO which is probably the best place to start anyway.
 
I do 12+ hour shifts and the only way I manage is because my mares are at my sister's place and she looks after them the days I can't get there. My shifts are usually 12 hours solid, if I manage 10 minutes to sit down and eat I'm doing well so am usually pretty wiped out by the time I'm finished and not fit to go sort horses.
 
I did 7 x 10.5 hour shifts, also rotating through nights. I am completely DIY. What worked for me was to have the horses out 24/7 and not in a particular routine. Basically I arrived when I turned up. This changed weekly (I would have 7 days off after doing 7 days of shift) and they adapted quite well to hanging around until I came. Night shift was easier for me, I would see them briefly after work for a check and ride/feed in the afternoon daylight.

If you have no help at all, I don't think having them in over winter will work. It'll probably be 13ish hours by the time you factor in delays and travel (depending how close you are). Is there any way you can keep them out? Maybe talk to the YO about a sacrifice winter paddock?
 
I did a stint of 13.5 hour shifts x5, 2.5 days off, 9-11 hour shifts x5, 36 hours off repeated. I quit the job! I’m now on weekday 10.5 hour shifts and 2 of 5 Saturdays and still rarely ride before 9.30 pm, with a groom mucking out!
 
They don't allow winter turnout at all except when mucking out etc..I may speak to yard owner regarding someone attending to my horse the days I'm working
 
crazycoloured said:
They don't allow winter turnout at all except when mucking out etc..I may speak to yard owner regarding someone attending to my horse the days I'm working
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That is not acceptable in my opinion, you are not going to be able to work the horse properly every day with your shifts so it will potentially be stuck in a box for an extremely long time with just the odd half hour out, even if you worked 9-5 it would be a struggle, as YO I would never be so restrictive about turnout, I am on low lying wet ground yet they rarely have a day in so I would be looking for a better livery option where your horse will not be spending every day and night in its stable.
 
Not only is that not acceptable to restrict turnout that much, but it's not do-able with your situation. You need to move yards, or at the very least, if you are comfortable with that amount of turnout, get a freelance groom to do your horse, including exercise, when you are working. Just out of interest, what did you think you were going to do when you took the job? Don't get me wrong, most of us have to work for a living and we do the best we can, but what was your plan in the first place?
 
The job was offered to me with career progression.have always had to make the horses fit in around my lifestyle.yard owner doesn't like them out 24/7 in winter for her own reasons,she keeps her own horses/ ponies in too I'm hoping to set up a plan for the days I work
 
I work very long shifts,including night shifts & weekends. My horse lives out in a herd with friends horses so we all help each other out so I know if I can’t get down I can ask someone to check her,put her out if she’s been in for day(on diet currently!) or put a rug on. In return I’m often around in the morning so I do stuff to help them. I’ve found life much easier the last few winters when I moved on to having the horses living out 24/7,no more worrying about getting there in the morning or having to bring in early if I’m rushing off to work. 1st winter with new horse who’s a very good doer & currently in during the day but once it’s properly winter she’ll be out 24/7.
 
crazycoloured said:
The job was offered to me with career progression.have always had to make the horses fit in around my lifestyle.yard owner doesn't like them out 24/7 in winter for her own reasons,she keeps her own horses/ ponies in too I'm hoping to set up a plan for the days I work
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24/7 turnout is one thing, but your horse isnt going out at all and you are going to be wroking such long hours they will be stuck in the box for days at a time!
 
I work irregular/ long hours and having my horses out 24/7 is the only viable alternative to having them on full livery
 
I have done it, and been on a yard whereby the fields are shut at very short notice for months on end. I’m afraid that regardless of whether it’s right or wrong, it’s becoming increasingly more common.
Anyway, if I was in long days, I’d go up before work and after. Often not getting home until 10.30pm. I also had someone ride him during the day, he was fed by the yard so that was no problem.
I made sure it never happened 2 days in a row, and I had plenty of time on half days and days off to hand graze him.
It was easier on nights as I could do everything myself before and after work.
It was exhausting, and not sustainable. I lost out on a lot of sleep which in itself is very unhealthy.
If I were to look at doing it again I’d go for full livery and ensure grazing was never shut.
 
I do 12 hours day & night shifts with a 40 minute commute each way. I stayed on DIY as long as I could doing favours & turning others out etc but I got very run down & ill - I need to be on the ball in my job & it just wasnt manageable.
I keep mine on a half part half full arrangement. Full livery the days I'm on shift & part the days I'm around & can at least do one end of the day. He has 24/7 summer turnout & they have a good 4 to 5 hours out daily minimum over winter plus a walker.
I cant manage going up on days I'm on shift at all.
 
Could you find a sharer who can then help with exercise and cover chores/feeds/farrier/vet between you. Can't see how you are going to do this otherwise if you want to stay at your current yard.
 
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