University course + baby + horse = Madness??

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Sologirl

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Opinions? I had an (unplanned!!) baby 4 months ago - taking a year out from uni until January and then back until June 2015.

Would it be TOTALLY insane to buy a horse? I'm talking a happy hacker "doesn't need riding every day" type. I know it's sensible to wait til uni is finished, share/riding school etc but I am absolutely miserable without my own!

Guess I just needed a moan! Sorry :o:o
 
I'm currently in my first year of uni (going into second in september) and I could have JUST coped with it this year, but next year there's no way I could cope. Part time job, uni and my pitiful social life takes up all of my time.

How would you afford horse and baby? I think baby and uni alone will be hard, but adding a horse into the mix sounds near impossible...Sorry, just my honest opinion!

Some things to think about:
Will you be full time uni or part time?
Will you have a job too?
If full time at uni (depending on how difficult/intense the course), you won't have that much time with your child anyways..why make it shorter?
Can you afford part livery/full livery?
 
Woman....anything is do-able.
When my youngest was 2 I was working full time, doing an MSc (for my job) and had 3 horses on DIY livery.....
I did go slightly insane but got through it and it's been worth it in the long run.
Go for it;):)
 
Cheers guys. I know it wouldn't be the easiest thing, but then I wasn't exactly taking the easy route by having a baby in my fourth year of vet med...haha.

I just wish I could be satisfied with sharing a horse one day a week, or weekly lessons...but it's having my OWN I miss. God I sound like a brat!

Ugh, if only i'd won that £157 million...:rolleyes:
 
I know its not the same thing but I work full time, have 3 ponies, 4 dogs and live on a busy farm with OH, study part time for a degree, it can be done if you want it enough and have a supportive OH :)

And the 157 million is mine, so get off:p
 
As others have said - if you want it enough anything is possible. I had baby 4 the same week as my bar finals and now have 5 children, part time job. 4 horses and 2 dogs and event nearly every weekend spring - autumn. if it's what you want you can make it happen - you won't go mad but you will learn to be very organised. Good luck!
 
Babies are hardwork, but then so are children any age. I had to go to uni full time for my job, plus still carry all my work responsibilities, run home, cope with two teenagers and their ponies plus other various pets. I look back at pictures of my self over those two years and I look exhausted, but I got through and did enjoy the uni experience and get the extra qualification that helped me professionally.
Only you can decide, so good luck which ever way you go.
 
You won't have the time ( or money) when you qualify and may need to move to another part of the country for work - hard enough with a baby or a horse (or neither) much much harder with both. If you have a husband/ partner who could occasionally help out/mind baby etc then possibly. I'd suck it up for a bit tbh - I actually think it would be a bit selfish in your situation. Your child deserves your attention at this stage in their life.
 
I have been struggling with a part-time job, baby, horse on DIY and that's with a helpful husband! I have been able to ride maybe 3 times a week, and no time for competitions. If I didn't have a horse life would be a lot easier. I tried to sell him this spring when I fell pregnant again and couldn't due to him recovering from lami, so he's on loan. Once new baby comes I am not sure how things will pan out but as it is I don't think horses are selling at the moment so I may end up stuck with him as he gets older. However he's old enough now to cope with intermittent riding and he's easy to look after, and he's a sweetheart so it would be like selling a dog if he had to go. I couldn't afford livery if I didn't have a sharer to contribute. If push comes to shove he'll go and live out in my friend's field with her mini and my son will ride the mini.

It's do-able as long as you're in a routine and have some help, but it's when things go wrong that it becomes very difficult. For example my horse came down with lami when my son was 6 weeks old. Try going up to a poorly horse twice a day while breastfeeding a little one on 4 hours sleep a night...

In hindsight I should have sold him when I first fell pregnant but I love him too much. In your situation I wouldn't buy one - what if things go wrong, horse gets injured, you can't keep the horse, you can't sell etc etc. Just enjoy your time with your little person. They don't stay babies for long! Surely you could find a share to ride a couple of times a week in the meantime.
 
hi i am going to be a blue meanie............you need to concentrate on your final 1-2year of vet school. this is going to set you up for the rest of your life. going back into education with a 1-2 yr old is going to be hard enough without adding looking after a horse as well. at the moment you are at home and it does not seem as bad etc. concentrate on your little one and i would also be inclined to keep up on the vet school side so you are not to much out of practice from when you go back maybe take an open university course just to keep your hand in. i know it seems a long time and it does seem doable in the sunshine we have but i think the answer has to be no. sorry.
 
Don't add this kind of stress to your life. Keep your money and go for nice lessons as and when you feel like it without the stress of looking after a horse full time. Life with a baby/toddler is a constant revelation, from the sleep regressions to the toddler tantrums. The only thing less demanding than vet school is vet practice so why add to the stress?
 
Hmm I did the whole uni + horses thing fine, but add a baby into it and I'm not so sure! I'm currently trying to begin the work-from-home-starting-a-business-thing + baby + horses + trying to do up our house and am struggling! It depends a LOT on what you do with your baby though, is someone able to look after her/him all day every day? If not, nursery does cost a fortune so you'd have to factor that into if you can even afford a horse! I personally really hate leaving my 1yr old in nursery 2 mornings a week so I can get some work done peacefully, I hate leaving him! But if you say, had your child looked after daily until you'd done uni and ridden a horse, well you'll be fine. Or perhaps the childs father could look after it in the mornings/evenings when you need to see to the horse? Because no matter how hard you try, horses + babies don't go well together. I used to be able to park my one in his buggy and he'd sleep while I rode etc. but now he's walking everywhere, its a totally different story!

What might suit you more, is if you could find someone who wants their horses ridden? There are people around who simply want their veteran or something taken for a hack 2 / 3 times a week just to keep them ticking over and don't expect anything in return. I've got a 13.2hh I wish I could get someone to hack out for me (as I'm too big!), shame you're too far away!
 
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I can completely see how you are tempted.... sharing and riding others is never the same as having your own... but although technically it is doable, with other peoples help and some money, I think right now you are a bit crazy to go buying a horse! I think your uni course alone is enough work, plus you have a baby, and presumably like most students, very little money. I work full time, plus I do an open university degree and have 2 horses, but it is very hard work, I never have any time, but of corse I don't have a baby to pay for or childcare to organise if I want to ride.
as hard as it may seem, I think you need to wait until you graduate, you are doing a very tough course!
 
I'm another one who thinks you should wait until you've finished uni and got your career sorted and I speak from experience having sold my mare during my final year of uni as I just didn't have the time or funds for her and knew I'd be moving to London for work once I graduated.

Some years on I now have a steady career with a good salary, get married in 7 weeks and move my new horse to our yard in 9 weeks time. It's such a great feeling knowing that I'm finally in a position to own a horse again and was definitely worth the wait :)
 
Yes!

(responding to thread title). Sorry thats really negative and its none of my business! But horse ownership as a responsible adult can be pretty stressful at the best of times (different from having a pony as a kid) and with your other commitments you may find you really don't need this. If you are a reasonably good rider (assume you are) why not share one as people will be keen to have a sharer who can actually benefit their horse. Good luck with it all... :)
 
Personally darl, i`d concentrate on child + Uni for now. Wait until Uni is finished and child is older. Use any spare cash for hacks/riding lessons just to keep your hand in, and try and put some money away so when you have finished Uni, and are working you will have the money for a horse.

I know it`s probably not what you want to hear, but from someone who is a full time mum, about to start part time work again, with 2 horses DIY, it is blooming hard work ;)
 
Personally I wouldnt get a horse, you sound very busy, im a mum of 3, just starting my own business and thats hard enough without the uni thrown in, I would focus on uni and baby, maybe find a share for now, then look for a horse when your finished uni, good luck with it all :) x
 
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