working shifts and feeling low..

weesophz

weesophz

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how many of you work shifts and how do you fit your horses around it?!

i got a new job just over a month ago and work ridiculously erratic shifts, and as a result i get hardly any time with my boy now :( i feel awful not getting as much time with him, and family members keep hinting at getting rid of him, which is definitely DEFINITELY not an option.

anyone else have the same problem?

thank god for my sharer, dont know what id do without her..
 
I work three day a week, 12 hour shifts. 7am - 7pm on week and 7pm - 7am the next.

In winter;

Days - I go to yard before work and turnout and do the jobs. Someone brings them in for me in the pm (or I nip out of work 'for dinner') and then I go back up after work and finish off.

Nights - I go to yard after work at 7am, then I get up and bring in in the afternoon. I may nip down and sneak another haynet up just before work if they came in early.

In summer I just go down when I need to, depending on what suits us best.

I found the keys to survival are;

Plenty of haynets and buckets.
Water cans, ready filled.
Helping others on your days off to accrue help.
Having an easy to muck out, smell free bedding.
Getting changed at work.

In my previous job, I worked from 7.30am to 21.00 with no chance to 'sneak out' when needed. I needed help on those days, but we all survived for many years.

It's a case of being organised.
 
I work shifts. Start between 2am and 11.30pm. I am on full 7 day livery. Best thing I ever did. All my free time can be spent riding, grooming etc now. Before after doing all the other stuff I was too tired.
 
Yup I'm on shifts too.

Admittedly I love and hate it.

There's nothing better then quiet weekdays when the yard is empty but having to rely on others can be a pain.

I mainly work 2-12 but luckily my boy tends to live out 24/7 so it's much easier.
 
Yes. I struggled and I'm glad I no longer do them. At one point I finished work at 12 midnight, then back to work for 10am, fitted the horse in a two hour break and finished at midnight again. I could have done horse in morning but then prob would have fallen asleep in break and felt worse.
I hope you find a routine of sorts.
 
I worked shifts last year and miss them!

They were nice shifts though - 06:30 - 16:30 for 5 days then 5 days off. Days on OH turned out and did jobs then I exercised and finished up in the evening. Days off I did everything.
 
My Oh and I work 12hr shifts, 4 dayshifts, 4 days off, 4 nightshifts, 4 days off, dayshifts are a nightmare, up at 5am back at 7 30ish, see to horses, quick snack and bed, nights, up at lunchtime see to horses, try to grab an hour, see to horses, work, home at 7 30ish see to horses, bed for 8 30.
The 4 days off are great and we are well paid
 
I do shifts consisting of 9-5, 7-3, 8-4, 12-8, and 2-10 on call until 9am the following morning. My on calls are not telephone advice they involve driving up to a 100miles. I have my mare on DIY as I couldn't bare to have her on full or part, and couldn't afford it anyway.

The nature of my job means quite often I do not get in at the end of my shift until a few hours later. My girl has got used to me being late now and have at times been to the yard at midnight to get her in and eaten a packet of meatballs from the garage whilst mucking out! :o
 
I work 12.5 hr shifts, either 07.30 - 20.00 ,09.00 - 21.30 or nights 19.30 - 08.00
Im part time so only work 2 a week, in the summer i ride before work if im starting at 9 and after if i finish at 8 or before or when i wake after nightshift.
I muck out and turn out before work, and mine come in every night, if im working my husband brings them in, then i check them over again after i finish work. Im lucky i rent my own small yard, its only a 2 min drive from the house, so again wellies and dressing gowns can be the norm if its early morn or late at night
Ive worked shifts all my working life ( nurse ) you just get used to it, i found short shifts over more days way more tiring as you could find yourself on 10-12 days in a row if you were full time
 
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I'm a train driver :) So can't really nip off in my breaks etc to do horse as i'm miles away ....

Although if i changed companies i would be able to toot him as i drove past his field :)
 
marydoll said:
you just get used to it, i found short shifts over more days way more tiring as you could find yourself on 10-12 days in a row if you were full time
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i do work full time haha :( im lucky if i get one day off a week sometimes. and as i cant drive yet (learning!) im constantly relying on family and friends for lifts. its such a strain on everyone and sometimes i feel so guilty relying on everyone, and hardly seeing my boy. and when i do see him im usually too tired to do any work him :( its really getting me down.
 
weesophz said:
i do work full time haha :( im lucky if i get one day off a week sometimes. and as i cant drive yet (learning!) im constantly relying on family and friends for lifts. its such a strain on everyone and sometimes i feel so guilty relying on everyone, and hardly seeing my boy. and when i do see him im usually too tired to do any work him :( its really getting me down.
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Is there any way you could negotiate longer hours and less days, like 3x12.5 hr shifts ?
 
Oberon said:
You buy some Crocs and get used to it;)
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Second this, being a grown up sucks ;) At least you have your sharer, treasure your days off and power through. Honestly I don't think I could work 9-5, I do dreaded splits most of the time 7am-11am then 4pm-9pm. You get used to it, in the winter I never have to worry about dark nights!
 
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