Time Management

[AmymBlue]

Hi,

In a couple of months im looking to buy my first horse. The only question is how do people manage horses when they have a 9 -5 job? I have an apprenticeship and I wouldnt get to the yard until 7pm each evening. It wouldn't bother me too much in the summer but in winter im not sure how riding and bring in would work.

Would love to know if anyone else has a 9-5 job and how they cope with their horse especially in winter when its dark.
Thanks

 

[Moomin1]

I work 70%, have a horse on DIY and a 20mth old daughter. My shifts vary between 9-5, 12-8, 2-10, and being on call all night. In winter I turn out in am either with my daughter in tow or after my mum arrives to look after her if I'm working. Evenings someone else brings in (I turn theirs out in am). I then go up myself at around 7:30 pm to skip out etc. Summer she's out 24/7 so I just go at times to suit me.

 

[Shay]

It depends on your livery yard arrangements. It would probably be worth building in to your budget part livery rather than full DIY? Some yards won't be too keen on you working on yard after 7pm as you'll disturb other horses. Or will have set times of access which might not suit you. Depends on the yard obviously And you'll need somewhere with a floodlit school!

 

[catroo]

I turn out/do morning checks at 6am and then back again after work around 6.30pm.

Suggest looking for a yard that can assist or has other liveries that may assist. Sharing turning out/brining in can be a great help and means you may only need to once a day.

Other tip is getting super organised and do big jobs at the weekends, I mainly just skip out during the week and do a big muck out at weekends. Also portion out hay/ make feeds etc so it's quicker in the week

 

[Shay]

The penny has just dropped that you also posted about going to Beeston horse sales with your YO to buy your first horse? You have already received good advice about that as a possible route and other posters have offered wise words about a YO who would encourage a first horse purchase from a horse sale. Combining that with the fact that you really are not going to have enough time to devote to working with a horse which will inevitably come with some level of problems I wonder if perhaps now is really the right time to get a horse for you? Might it be better to wait a few years until things settle down for you in life terms?

I know it is really hard - especially if this is a dream you have had for years. But horses are expensive, time eating monsters. The early stages of a career might not be the best time to be starting this? Could you perhaps look for a share horse first? See how you go?

 

[be positive]

The penny has just dropped that you also posted about going to Beeston horse sales with your YO to buy your first horse? You have already received good advice about that as a possible route and other posters have offered wise words about a YO who would encourage a first horse purchase from a horse sale. Combining that with the fact that you really are not going to have enough time to devote to working with a horse which will inevitably come with some level of problems I wonder if perhaps now is really the right time to get a horse for you? Might it be better to wait a few years until things settle down for you in life terms?

I know it is really hard - especially if this is a dream you have had for years. But horses are expensive, time eating monsters. The early stages of a career might not be the best time to be starting this? Could you perhaps look for a share horse first? See how you go?

Wise words, for a first time owner with no experience of being on a yard and how things work buying a horse from a sale is potentially gong to be a disaster, your YO should be able to explain how they run the yard before you commit to anything but the fact they are supporting purchasing from Beeston would make me seriously question their ability to offer advice to you.

Look into a share or part loan first and save for a good horse in the future once you have more experience.

 

[Makemineacob]

Wise words, for a first time owner with no experience of being on a yard and how things work buying a horse from a sale is potentially gong to be a disaster, your YO should be able to explain how they run the yard before you commit to anything but the fact they are supporting purchasing from Beeston would make me seriously question their ability to offer advice to you.

Look into a share or part loan first and save for a good horse in the future once you have more experience.

Absolutely echo other posters, look for a share or part loan first, that will give you the experience and understanding about having responsibility for a horse (and an understanding of just how much time and effort they need to be looked after. I would absolutely discourage the purchase of a horse from the sales for a first time owner, whilst good ones can be gotten if you really know your stuff, a lot of horses with huge issues go through the sales.

Get some experience under your belt first then you will be able to make a more informed choice as to the type of horse you want to buy and what areas you enjoy and would like to focus on.