Who's self employed and has horses?

Lisamd

Lisamd

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Just out of interest, who is self employed and has horses?

What do you do and was it a decision you chose so that you could be more flexible both monetary and time wise for your horses?

Just being nosey!
 
Me! Well, technically as a Director I am an employee of the Company I own a large chunk of, but I pay my own personal tax. As for flexibility, well forget it! The company, employees (40 plus), clients, etc all come before me and my business partner. I hoot with laughter at those people who decide to go self employed to give themselves 'More time with their family/friends/horses'. If you want to make money, you have to work and work dam hard at that. If you want to spend more time with your family etc, get a part-time job.
 
me, i am a freelance dog walker & groom, i also look after crofts etc when people are on holiday.
i gave up a well paid office job but it was because i was so unhappy in that job and was so stressed out all the time
now i dont have a life really never seem to get a day off and dont know what holidays are but i love it, i do seem to be at home more but not for long i am lucky in that most of my work is close to home so nip back to see to my horses and let my dogs out & of course have a cup of tea!! but i never seem to have enough time to ride so much - and never have the energy either
the thought of going back to office work gives me a migrane!
 
I ride in the morning at 10am, which is a nice civilised time of the day to ride, and is after the morning rush hour, so good for a hack too! Then I start work at noon, but finish when I'm finished, which is sometimes very late in the evening!

I often work 12 hour days, (noon to midnight if I've got deadlines) but will always make time in the mornings for the horses. They keep me sane.
 
I'm a self-employed mobile beautician and would certainly disagree with TheoryX :) perhaps I'm lucky, but I make enough money for myself&horse on part livery working 4 days a week. I could have made more money working 24/7 but I choose to take a bit less clients to make more time for myself&horse. I think in all depends on the sort of business you're in and what matters to you.
 
I'm self employed. I go to the yard at 6, feed and muck out, go home and get son dressed and brakfast (OH is at home with 3yo son until I get back at 7). Then me and son go back to yard, I ride in menage for 30min whilst son watches a DVD in car, then turn out horse, get son out of car and do all the rest of the jobs. We then go home, shower, tidy house lunch. Work all afternoon (son at nursery 3 afternoons a week). Go back to stables and bring in at about 4:30. Home, make tea, work if required - bed - knackered!! I am an Design Engineer and set up on my own, sometimes the money is tight, other times not. Sometimes the time is tight, other times not. Sometimes it's 7 days a week, sometimes not. It's hard work but I would hate not to be in control of when I work and I love it. I just whish there were more hours in the day.
 
I've been self-employed for 10 years and enjoy the flexibility but the unpredictability of what work will come my way is somewhat scarey. The last three months or so have been really quiet as I do a lot of government contracts and there haven't been any! I combine this work with running a yard and bringing on youngsters.
 
Im a self employed groom on a full livery yard, spend a large portion of my day looking after other peoples horses and rarely get more than an hour morning and night with my own girls. I also dog walk at lunch for a friend, and do some freelance grooming as and when.
I trained as a chef, and then went into admin and got an NVQ level 2 and trained to be a legal sec, then whilst signed off with stress I taught myself accounting and subsequently took the lower level exams, I also worked in logistics with high security drugs, but mentally I couldnt cope :( My depression flares more when Im tired or under stress, and working in an office environment just isnt for me.
My familiy is self employed (dads a shepherd and mums a florist) so I guess its in the blood! I do wish sometimes I had regular hours and regular salary, instead of 24/7 for changeable money, but at least Im not as bonkers as I was!!
 
Best of both worlds - be employed but work at home. Times your own as long as the work gets done with a guaranteed wage at the end of the month.

Can't fault it.
 
I am a freelance graphic and web designer and my main reason for starting on my own was to have more flexibility with my time. Well I do have that, and wouldn't be without it, but I think on the whole I have less time than when I was employed. I get up at 6 to feed, muck out and ride, and by the time I have showered and got myself into the office its normally 10.

I work through lunch, and am normally home to put horses to bed by 7 / 7.30. Its really hard to describe to someone thats not self employed the pressures you face working for yourself and having horses - I wouldn't swap it for the world, but sometimes would really like to:

- Go on holiday and not worry about loss of earnings
- Be sick and not worry about loss of earnings
- Have a regular wage
- have someone to bitch about work to
- have other horse owners understand that just because you can be flexible with your time, doesn't mean you have the time to stand for them for the farrier or turn their horses out when they can't be arsed
- be a postman
 
Me - for the last 20 years I worked from home for pharmaceutical companies. I was driving approx 40k miles a year and would have to be away from home a lot. The corporate thing was losing it's appeal - especially after 5 different managers in 2 years - so when I finally saw what I could do to leave it behind I did! I only started in September and like others have said I probably do more than I did when I was employed - it has it has it's scary moments but it is way better than being stuck on the corporate hamster wheel..:)
 
I'm not self employed but DH is, and I'm with TheoryX1, it doesn't give you more time!

I work long, and fairly inflexible hours but I get paid monthly and once I'm home I'm finished for the day. I also get annual leave.

DH on the otherhand was still working yesterday at gone midnight. I can't remember the last time he didn't do anything remotely work related for a whole day! I guess it would be when we were on honeymoon, but even then he was taking photos that he could use as source material and scoping out opportunities. He was even working on the morning of our wedding, and got a job from the registrar who married us!!!

It is great that he is flexible, he works from home so it is easy if we need to have a tradesman out or if he needs to go to the doctor, and when we get a horse (eventually) he will be able to ride in daylight hours even in winter. It is even better that he makes a living from something he loves, that many people consider a hobby, and that his job gives him chance to go to fab places like Burghley (and take me). But the downside is that the income can vary wildly, and is very unpredictable, and you are never really off duty.

We can only consider getting a horse because he has the flexibility and I have a regular income.
 
ballvicki said:
I am a freelance graphic and web designer and my main reason for starting on my own was to have more flexibility with my time. Well I do have that, and wouldn't be without it, but I think on the whole I have less time than when I was employed. I get up at 6 to feed, muck out and ride, and by the time I have showered and got myself into the office its normally 10.

I work through lunch, and am normally home to put horses to bed by 7 / 7.30. Its really hard to describe to someone thats not self employed the pressures you face working for yourself and having horses - I wouldn't swap it for the world, but sometimes would really like to:

- Go on holiday and not worry about loss of earnings
- Be sick and not worry about loss of earnings
- Have a regular wage
- have someone to bitch about work to
- have other horse owners understand that just because you can be flexible with your time, doesn't mean you have the time to stand for them for the farrier or turn their horses out when they can't be arsed
- be a postman
Click to expand...

Your last point really really made me howl with laughter - that was DH's job before he went full time self employed!

He was a graphic designer originally, he became a postie after being made redundant and set up his self employed business alongside working as a postie. He dropped to part time a couple of years ago, then about a year and a half ago took a sabbatical. When his sabbatical ran out we discussed whether he should go back or continue full time and, well, I won't repeat the words he used....... it just makes us both laugh how many people think it is a wonderful life, he wouldn't go back for anything, and couldn't understand why you would want to! :)
 
I am a self employed personal trainer and pole instructor and it has it's ups and downs. I went that route because my former boss was a cowbag and i couldn't bare to spend a second longer working there.

I teach classes 6 nights a week and currently all my PT clients are from 7am, so it means doing the horse really early and no riding in the evenings. Plus all the no sick pay/no holiday pay etc. I don't earn a lot and it gets scary sometimes.

BUT
every afternoon is time for my horse and I get to spend a lot of time with him, which has been great this year as he is young and has had a lot to learn.

I love it and am so so much happier than I was before.
 
What an interesting thread, and its funny to see how we all view self-employment. I have to say I was feeling particulariy irritated when I wrote that post and it was a bit negative. Being self employed is extremely positive most of the time. I am very lucky, apart from a problem with a soon to be ex business partner (yay!) I love it. For the most the pay is good, and I get paid regularily every month like an employee, and I get 8 weeks paid holiday plus bank holidays (aint I lucky!!!!!!). Having managers and a great business partner (not the one we are trying to get rid of), I can take holidays and the business very kindly sponsors Mini TX in her eventing activities. I can also take time away to see to the nags without any guilt as well. Nice summer afternoons can sometimes see me 'Having a meeting' at about 3.00 pm and disappearing to the yard. Mind, you I have to spend hours into the evening catching up on my laptop. It has its ups and downs, but mostly ups. However, I do live, eat and sleep the business, every holiday I have had has ended up with me having to come into the office for meetings and emergencies and oh, the 60 hour week which I nearly always work can be a bit tiring. I wouldnt do anything else though.
 
Although technically I'm employed, in reality I run a small business and am entirely reliant on the company selling enough products each month to pay my salary.

If things are tight our employees get paid first, then our suppliers and then if there is anything left I get paid.

But the upside is I work from an office at home, can bunk off for a couple of hours if I need to or want to and its satisfying growing your own business (we doubled turnover in the last 12 months which isnt bad!). But the pressure is always on to make sure we dont run out of fabric, binding, strapping, quilting, sheepskin, wool etc, that we have enough orders coming in and that customers receive their orders on time, so its still a job and can be pretty hair raising at times.
 
TheoryX1 said:
What an interesting thread, and its funny to see how we all view self-employment. I have to say I was feeling particulariy irritated when I wrote that post and it was a bit negative. Being self employed is extremely positive most of the time. I am very lucky, apart from a problem with a soon to be ex business partner (yay!) I love it. For the most the pay is good, and I get paid regularily every month like an employee, and I get 8 weeks paid holiday plus bank holidays (aint I lucky!!!!!!). Having managers and a great business partner (not the one we are trying to get rid of), I can take holidays and the business very kindly sponsors Mini TX in her eventing activities. I can also take time away to see to the nags without any guilt as well. Nice summer afternoons can sometimes see me 'Having a meeting' at about 3.00 pm and disappearing to the yard. Mind, you I have to spend hours into the evening catching up on my laptop. It has its ups and downs, but mostly ups. However, I do live, eat and sleep the business, every holiday I have had has ended up with me having to come into the office for meetings and emergencies and oh, the 60 hour week which I nearly always work can be a bit tiring. I wouldnt do anything else though.
Click to expand...

I think it makes a big difference whether you are self employed because you run the business, or because you are a sole practitioner. And the field you are in.

One of the biggest stresses for DH is that he is the business. He can't delegate the core work to anyone else. There are admin type tasks he could employ someone to do (or ask his long suffering wife to do for him) but the actual product is purely down to him.

Personally I don't think I could do it, I considered training as a barrister when I was at uni and the fact that all barristers are self employed was one of the things that really put me off.
 
When I bought my first horse I was a self employed journalist and was my OH. I went from working for other people to running my own title and ended up with plenty of money but no time and was stressed all the time. I had children, who (bless them) added to the pressure) and when we realised how miserable life was I wound the title down, went back to uni to do creative writing and now I have a book deal! I spend the mornings with our ponies, the afternoons after school with the kids and Saturday is all day at the yard with my horse mad daughters. I am very, very lucky that I have an OH who is also self employed so can fill in if we have a crisis. Say, an injured pony and the vet won't arrive in time for me to pick the girls up from school. He is also very good at looking after my youngster for me on Sundays while I work. But I agree with what other people have said about not having as much time as employed people. At the beginning of my self employed career I always had to be available for work and I often got my foot in the door when other freelancers went on holiday and an editor was desperate for stuff to be done. I actually got into horse ownership becuase I thought life as a freelancer was all work and no play and then I made my life fit in with my horse and then my children. Being an author is great becuase it means I can do all my work in the evening and not worry about making phone calls etc. But I thank god for my self employed, long suffering OH, who realises that the ponies are as important as the children. I also have the back up of a great livery yard, although it does come at a price. But the staff and my YO are well worth it!
 
im a self employed. Five years ago i gave up long distance driving because i hated it ....15 hour days and never at home. . I started my own business doing interior products for trucks... ie curtains and mats for sleeper cabs. I plucked up my courage and bought the silly ginger horse nearly two years ago. My only fault is that im quiet at work in the winter then crazy busy in the summer when i want to be out on the horse. However if i want a day off i just pick my mobile up and leave a message for me on the house phone. Vistis from the vet. blacksmith etc are no problem. Amongst my customers i have top class horse transporters and some handy bedding people.... and we have evan been brought carrots from Holland for the neddy. In my old line of work i could never have had a horse so for me going self employed was the best thing i ever did
 
yeah couldnt really do the horses and work 9-5 although have before, the money is the worst thing as it can be a bit up and down starting a new business specially if OHs money drops like it has at the minute. However I can get the vet etc on weekdays without it being a problem, and pretty much sort my own schedule, that is worth its weight in gold .
 
Yeah I'm a freelance journalist and PR, but probably couldn't afford 2 horses on full livery if my OH didn't have a good job!
Trouble is cos I can be away or working odd hours, I can't do DIY -when we were showing the mare she was on part livery, but had to go on full if I was working at the weekend, which I often am.
Think you have to be flexible (and have a flexible livery yard owner) and realistic. I've given up going to a particular show because of work, but similarly I have turned down work to go to our favourite show :D
This autumn has been a bit tricky cos I've been flat out with work but wanting to spend time with our new horse, but you sometimes just have to take the money when it's there. I know full well that December will be quiet, so I will have time to spend with them then.
However, something has to give, and we're pretty rubbish at finding time to visit friends and family, although they are obviously very welcome to come and visit us at the yard1
 
Me =) I love it! I'm still trying to build my clientel (hairdressing) but am also training to be a riding instructor through the BHS and other techniques (shant say what on here, i know how heated it can get when you mention anything other than BHS lol) and I so love having more time to ride in daylight, plenty of time to potter around and also I work and earn more in a day freelance than I would in a salon! No cons here =)
 
ME! I couldn't work for someone else... I like to decide when I work... I'm a GP that does locum work and I also do lots of work for the courts... I love my job but love the flexability of working for myself.... I don't work christmas and can take hols when ever I like... and fortuanately there is so much work out there, if I ever need to work more I just take more on... (I feel very lucky)

Bx
 
This has been a really interesting post.

My OH runs his own business from home, and like another poster, he is the sole producer of the product (leather belts and dog collars and leads etc). I've had a go at making things, but it'll be a while before I am up to scratch, so all products are reliant on him making them.

I do all the admin, customer relations, posting and packaging, ordering of supplies etc. I work 2.5 days a week teaching, and the rest of the time I'm working for the business. I don't get paid for it though!

Like others, how much money we have a month depends on how much we sell, so very scary at times. I'm hoping we'll be earning enough for me to give up teaching and work for the business full time soon.

Rarely a day when OH isn't doing something work related, and we're busy with the xmas rush at the moment which is stressful, but it gives flexibility for the horses.
 
My self employment was enforced upon me and to be honest, I'd rather have a secure permanent job but giving being self employed as good a shot as I can. It means I have no money to make use of the self employed groom on the yard occasionally for part livery and I'm quite tired from all the DIY when working and commuting make for a very long day. However upside is in the gaps from work, I can be with and on my horse as much as I wish.
 
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