Working fulltime and having a horse? Sharer?

[Achinghips]

You see what I want is to work part time, but still have the same wage, so I can "play"

Seriously though, I come home absolutely knackered every night and really don't want to go to the Yard, anyone got any tips to stay awake? Has anyone got a sharer as a result of work commitments? Did it work out?

 

[chessy]

As a full timer myself, I feel your pain! Especially in winter, it's very hard to drag myself to the yard at the end of a long and stressful day.

I found myself a nice sharer, but unfortunately her work commitments took over too, and she had to give up. I've had difficulty finding another at this time of year, hopefully in Spring more people will be interested.

I don't have many tips for staying awake. Maybe more caffiene?

 

[noblesteed]

I work full time and have a horse, no kids but an OH and a house to run too. I am lucky enough to keep my horse on a farm in the village where I work. I used to have him on a competition yard further away but it was too much travelling, no turnout, pain in the butt etc. It does get hard going to the yard every morning/night but I find it de-stresses me a lot, and I love spending time with my horse. I did have a sharer who did my horse twice a week, in exchange for riding him. To be honest that was more hassle than it was worth because she didn't ride him in the same way as me, didn't know how to school or work in an outline, and I have since found out she used to hammer him in a flat out trot on the roads. She was a bit careless with him, and he injured himself with her a couple of times. Grrrrr!!! So I decided not to bother with a sharer.
My horse lives out for the summer so in summer all my horse time is riding time, no mucking out at all. In winter I don't ride as much. We don't have an arena anyway but if we did it would have been iced up! I was willing to sacrifice riding a lot through the winter for the sake of having him living out so tons of riding time during the summer.
I think you just have to work out your priorities. Weigh up pros and cons. Could you cope with worrying about what someone else is up to with your horse? Could you alter his/her management so you can save time in other areas?
And don't beat yourself up about how much you can/can't ride. Your horse your decision!!!!
However if you can find a sharer you can trust there's no reason why you shouldn't have someone. I shared a horse for years before I took her on full loan and it worked out well.

 

[nuttynugget]

I work full time and keep my horse on DIY livery on a local farm, my horse is a wimp so I pay for him to be brought in at lunch time during the winter which works out well. It means I don't have to rush around too much after work to get back.

However, I don't ride during the week. Its too much of a hassle!! Instead I love going down and grooming him.

 

[rubysmum]

i work full -time & am a single parent of a teen & my yards have always been at least a 15 mile round trip from home & i'm not super-woman so i share yr pain oh & up until recently always had 2 horses on DIY livery - the only ways i have found to cope are ludicrous levels of time management - hay nets made up at week ends - feeds made up several days in advance - if stabled deep littering & doing super good muck outs at week ends & then i discovered that my horses would not die if they lived out 24/7 - work load is now much more manageable
i suspect the secret is focusing on what HAS to be done & leaving out the extras - good luck - spring is just around the corner

 

[Farma]

I dont find it a problem I do all my chores in the morning work 9-10hrs day then ride in the evening a few eves and weekends - its easy peasy with 1 horse - didnt enjoy it too much with 2 horses!!!

 

[Pidgeon]

multi task feed turn out and muck out before work. Then go straight from work to the yard - if you go home to a nice warm house in the winter it is difficult to get the motivation to leave it. Try and do a few things at night time whilst the tea is cooking and then have a kip if possible Sat or Sun afternoon to catch up on Then pray for a dry spring so they can go out 24/7 and enjoy

 

[FaldingwoodLivery]

Personally I'd never get a sharer or put mine out on part loan. I just think it really is more hassle than it's worth.

Have you considered finding a yard that does part livery to cover your horses care mon-fri. That's what I provide at my yard and all my liverys keep telling me how great it is to come up after work, have a dry, mud free horse waiting for them in a clean stable. All they have to do is tack up and ride (if they even want to of course). They also tell me that my part livery (price includes all hay/feed/bedding) is not that much more expensive than being on DIY when they add up all the money they used to spend on hay/feed/bedding. Might let you enjoy your horse more....worth a thought

 

[wellsat]

I come home shattered but I can't imagine not wanting to go to the yard. I rode for a good 40mins tonight and it woke me right up.

I know that G needs working every single night so I'm in that routine. There isn't any question in my mind of "Should I ride tonight or shouldn't I" so I get on with it. Once I'm there I wake up.