WFH at the yard

I do, and am currently (taking a quick break from :p) working here this afternoon.

However, my situation is quite unique from two different perspectives, and working from here is not without its disadvantages.

Firstly, I'm not based on the main yard - there is a little block of 4 stables, of which 2 are mine, in some woods near the DIY fields. I don't have shared barn/container storage and facilities like the other DIYs do, so I have created my own storage space around my stables with various things including a traditional wooden shed, a tent and big plastic cupboards. I am able to use part of my shed as a mini office - I have a small table, chair, an extra (ultra widescreen!) monitor etc.

Secondly, I work on the yard mucking out in the mornings, and do a different job in the afternoons. As I don't drive, it got a bit silly taking up to an hour getting the bus home at lunchtime (it's a mile walk to the bus stop, and an infrequent service) to then get the bus back after a few hours to bring my ponies in and put to bed. I initially approached my YO to see if I could sit in one of the secretary's huts (from show days in the past!) by the fields to save going home, but after some months just moved to my shed to save the faffing around carrying all my stuff to and from the hut each time.

If either of the two above were not the case, I wouldn't do it. It's cold, it's cramped, it's isolated (no chance of a chocolate run, or popping out for lunch), you've only limited stuff around you, there's no home comforts, and I find it much more difficult to get into the 'work zone' than I do at home. That said, over the summer, when the ponies were in during the day, and I'd set up my desk outside their stables, it was lovely!!!

This is a bit of a deadspot for phone reception anyway, but after dropping out of one too many team meetings due to internet issues from my phone hotspot, I bought a starlink router and now use that. I'm trying to prepare better for the cold over winter - last year I couldn't type at times as my hands were so cold, so I'm trying out various gloves/mittens etc to eliminate that issue. I've bought a food heating thing as I wanted hot food for lunch over winter and got sick of pot noodles and don't really like walking down to the main yard to borrow their microwave. I have a stash of old jackets/socks/towels to keep warm (and dry if the morning on the yard was rainy), and I'm trying to make the space as comfortable as possible.

I wouldn't even consider trying to work from a communal tack room, especially if, as you say, you spend a lot of time on teams calls. It's not fair on anyone else trying to use the space, it's not fair on the people you're on the calls with, and it's not fair on you. It's not professional and I'm fairly certain that although I've bought the starlink and stabilised my internet connection, my (non-yard) boss would prefer me to be at home when doing a call rather than in my shed, especially for board meetings! 😂 But she accepts it because I need to make everything work.

If I were you, I would speak to your YO to see if there is any fairly private space there that you can use, with electrical access. You could get a big portable power battery, which I did in summer when I was outside, but it was only good for 15-20 hours per charge. If there is nowhere suitable to use, I would just drop the idea. It's just not fair on anyone. Coffee shops, libraries, even Wetherspoons somewhere close to the yard could all be better alternatives.

And just because you're near your horse while working doesn't mean you'd actually be able to do anything with them during 'work hours'. I always got the guilts if I did more than quickly glance over the stable door at mine when I was supposed to be working.

Talking of which, I've taken far too long to write this and now have the guilts about not working...
 
I have taken Teams calls while at the yard! Tbf it has been because I have been waiting for vet or chiro or was hand walking after chiro so he gets some blood moving as it was near bring in time. I have also taken calls on the way home from the yard when things have overrun. I dont have a car so it was basically just walking and talking to the train station and if I got to the station too quickly, hung out in a coffee shop to finish up the call. I also have done emails or reading while waiting for vet or chiro to arrive - time that I otherwise wouldnt have.

I haven't however, actually worked from the yard and feels like it would be a bit chilly in the winter/spring/fall and some summers.
 
There would be no point in me working from the yard because when I am working whether at home or in the office, I am working flat out!
 
Thanks all for your thoughts.

Red-1 said:
If it is a shared yard, then as a fellow livery, I would not enjoy someone doing work teams calls in the tack room. The horses would be a place I would go to relax. No issues if someone did it as a one off for the vet etc, but no, not as a regular thing.

Does your work not need some type of confidentiality?
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I completely understand your point, but it's a retirement yard, so very rare that there's ever another livery there.

meandmyself said:
Seven hours (in one direction?) is crazy. Is it the distance or other factors that are taking so long?
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Seven hours as in seven hours total duration between leaving the house and returning home: 2hrs and a bit one way jouney to the yard, then 3 hours ish at the yard (can't cut that time down because of infrequent trains), and another 2hr back.

throwawayaccount said:
could you work in a nearby coffee shop instead, that would be warmer and at least you would be able to charge your devices?
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There's nothing walking/cycling distance from the yard but a small village with houses only. Though I suppose I could put feelers out to see if anyone will rent a room in the daytime.

sarcasm_queen said:
Depends entirely on your job and company, but mine would be seriously unimpressed if they found out I was hanging out with the horses during my work day.
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This is where the flexible working comes in. If I don't have calls to attend, I can take a few hours out of the day here and there as long as I reach my 8 hours by the end of the day.

SEL said:
Is there a reason you're so far from your horse?
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He needs turnout on poor quality grazing, which is near impossible to find, especially when you're reliant on public transport. He's happy there so there's no question of moving him, but I also can't move out of London for the foreseeable future.
 
stangs said:
Thanks all for your thoughts.


I completely understand your point, but it's a retirement yard, so very rare that there's ever another livery there.


Seven hours as in seven hours total duration between leaving the house and returning home: 2hrs and a bit one way jouney to the yard, then 3 hours ish at the yard (can't cut that time down because of infrequent trains), and another 2hr back.


There's nothing walking/cycling distance from the yard but a small village with houses only. Though I suppose I could put feelers out to see if anyone will rent a room in the daytime.


This is where the flexible working comes in. If I don't have calls to attend, I can take a few hours out of the day here and there as long as I reach my 8 hours by the end of the day.


He needs turnout on poor quality grazing, which is near impossible to find, especially when you're reliant on public transport. He's happy there so there's no question of moving him, but I also can't move out of London for the foreseeable future.
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Crikey, you do this most days?

How do you fit the rest of your life in?

I guess you have posted because you know that something must change but also that you suspect working from the tack room won't really work, hence asking on here rather than simply doing it.

Presumably your horse isn't retired, as you need to visit so often? Could a different horse fit in with the yards more local to London? Is yours the sort of horse who'd make someone very happy, who lives close to poor grazing? Could someone else be paid to ride the horse a few days a week?
 
Red-1 said:
Presumably your horse isn't retired, as you need to visit so often? Could a different horse fit in with the yards more local to London? Is yours the sort of horse who'd make someone very happy, who lives close to poor grazing? Could someone else be paid to ride the horse a few days a week?
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He’s retired and unrideable, I just miss him in the week. And I’d set the world on fire before I ever sold him.
 
I think the idea of looking for someone willing to rent a room a few days a week would work well. You are then working from a warm, comfortable location. You are close enough to pop out to see your horse in your ‘lunch break’ and can commute at either end of the day.
 
Is there anywhere vaguely on route/short distance from horse that would have a co-working space (or even a library or something) that also has reasonable transport links to the village where your horse is?

You could then go there on a morning to work, nip over to see horse after work, then head back home. I'd not want to do that every day but once a week might not be as bad?
 
I don’t know your commute to the yard, but would it help if you got a folding bike like a Brompton which would give you more options to bike between other bus stops and/or train stations to find ones with more frequent connections?

We’ve got Bromptons, they are brilliant to ride as well as being easy to take on a bus or train. They have 16” wheels, and up to 20” wheel folding bikes are permissible when folded on train/bus/tube routes.
 
stangs said:
He’s retired and unrideable, I just miss him in the week. And I’d set the world on fire before I ever sold him.
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I understand completely. An older horse who is a family member is a much different proposition to a competition animal who was bought to do a job. I'm sorry I didn't know your situation.
 
I would pop a flier through the door of the larger looking houses in the village and keep my fingers crossed that someone wanted to earn a little cash renting me a spare room for 8 hours in the day a couple of days a week.

No electric
No WIFI
No heating - sitting on calls in a tack room over winter isn't going to work !
No guaranteed privacy (the odd other owner might call in and always at the worst moment)
The joy of chickens crowing, horses neighing, farm dog having a fit at the postman and 100 other weird non work noises

You need an old couples spare bedroom 10 mins walk from the yard, then all issues are solved.
 
I have my home office set up on my tack room (in a timber stable block, on concrete with rubber mats). It's my own yard and we have electricity, otherwise I don't think it would work.

But regarding the cold - I have an infra red over the desk heater, suspended from the beam above, and a heated mouse/keyboard mat on the desk to keep my hands warm - the heated mat was a game changer for me. I rarely use the heater as I find my Equidry does the job very well. I have a standing up desk so can move about a bit.

The only issue left to resolve is my feet, I havent found a way of keeping them warm all day.

Before we got FTP and decent home broadband at last, I had a mobile broadband router from EE which worked well on the yard, providing WIFI for the laptop and the cameras.

However, I do find outside noise a problem. If it rains hard, or my husband is cutting the grass I have to go inside for Teams calls, as I can't hear a thing even with volume up full on my laptop. Probably only an issue in a timber construction like mine.

To be honest the heat in summer is far more of a problem than the winter cold as there's nothing i can do about that.
 
Hackback said:
I have my home office set up on my tack room (in a timber stable block, on concrete with rubber mats). It's my own yard and we have electricity, otherwise I don't think it would work.

But regarding the cold - I have an infra red over the desk heater, suspended from the beam above, and a heated mouse/keyboard mat on the desk to keep my hands warm - the heated mat was a game changer for me. I rarely use the heater as I find my Equidry does the job very well. I have a standing up desk so can move about a bit.

The only issue left to resolve is my feet, I havent found a way of keeping them warm all day.

Before we got FTP and decent home broadband at last, I had a mobile broadband router from EE which worked well on the yard, providing WIFI for the laptop and the cameras.

However, I do find outside noise a problem. If it rains hard, or my husband is cutting the grass I have to go inside for Teams calls, as I can't hear a thing even with volume up full on my laptop. Probably only an issue in a timber construction like mine.

To be honest the heat in summer is far more of a problem than the winter cold as there's nothing i can do about that.
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Heated socks? My sons bought me a pair as I always moan about cold feet (and being cold generally). The (recharcheable) battery pack is too bulky to wear for riding but they'd be fine if you are just sitting. There are also disposable insoles which heat up, too expensive (and not very eco friendly) for everyday probably, I use them for hunting or the coldest days if I am going to be out for ages.
 
poiuytrewq said:
Its funny, I can go outside in cold temps, do horses, come back in where its obviously a lot warmer, sit down and am cold to my bones in no time at all!
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It’s because you aren’t moving about!
It’s a huge issue for older and disabled people, as in their own, or residential homes, where the heating bills are far higher than one would ever think necessary.
And I wish people would apply the same logic to their horse standing in its stable - potentially will be far warmer wandering about in its ostensibly colder field….
Stable clothing is often more important than for outdoors, to the horse’s well being and comfort.
 
Hackback said:
I have my home office set up on my tack room (in a timber stable block, on concrete with rubber mats). It's my own yard and we have electricity, otherwise I don't think it would work.

But regarding the cold - I have an infra red over the desk heater, suspended from the beam above, and a heated mouse/keyboard mat on the desk to keep my hands warm - the heated mat was a game changer for me. I rarely use the heater as I find my Equidry does the job very well. I have a standing up desk so can move about a bit.

The only issue left to resolve is my feet, I havent found a way of keeping them warm all day.

Before we got FTP and decent home broadband at last, I had a mobile broadband router from EE which worked well on the yard, providing WIFI for the laptop and the cameras.

However, I do find outside noise a problem. If it rains hard, or my husband is cutting the grass I have to go inside for Teams calls, as I can't hear a thing even with volume up full on my laptop. Probably only an issue in a timber construction like mine.

To be honest the heat in summer is far more of a problem than the winter cold as there's nothing i can do about that.
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Unless it was mid summer, I think I'd get too cold. I have worked from an indoor arena with wi-fi while house sitting and that was lovely in summer, but it had a good set up and was very peaceful.

As others have said, can hot spot for short periods but generally it's not ideal for full days.
 
Abacus said:
Heated socks? My sons bought me a pair as I always moan about cold feet (and being cold generally). The (recharcheable) battery pack is too bulky to wear for riding but they'd be fine if you are just sitting. There are also disposable insoles which heat up, too expensive (and not very eco friendly) for everyday probably, I use them for hunting or the coldest days if I am going to be out for ages.
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Thank you, I will have a look. Maybe Santa could bring me some ..
 
Just don't get caught out :/ maybe just say you want more spare time. Could you ask to compress 2 working weeks into 9 days? Only you will know if working 9.5 -10 hour days for one day off per week will cut it and how flexible they are as an employer. Does anyone else do it in your company? Hopefully someone has set a presence already.
 
FYI flexible working legislation doesn’t require you to state a reason you are requesting flexibility - it used to be a requirement and for the employee to explain how they would manage any business impact, not anymore! And even if no one else is doing it yet, that isn’t a reason to refuse it, likewise permitting one persons request doesn’t then set a precedent for others to necessarily have theirs accepted too. It’s very role specific.
 
I actually don't think you'd have as much time as you think even if you did work from the yard. We're lucky enough to have ours at home and my Dad often works from home, he literally has enough time in between meetings to chuck some hay at them or fill their water...
 
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