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Post by Sarah&Pebbles on Jan 5, 2006 11:02:58 GMT 1
I would say definitly it can be done, when i finish uni thats how i intend to keep my horse. A few people at my old yard work full time and keep there horses on DIY. Its the only way they can do it.
Sarah
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maislow
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Post by maislow on Jan 5, 2006 11:12:55 GMT 1
I used to work full time & have 3 beasties. I managed & rode 2 everyday as well. My farrier would attend without me being there which was great & I juggled my lunch about if I needed to be there any other times. It can be done but yes its hard & you have to get up at silly times. I now have 2 children, a horse & a pony both on DIY, I don't spend as much time with them as I'd like but something has to give a little
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speedy
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Once I was a racehorse...
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Post by speedy on Jan 5, 2006 11:20:55 GMT 1
Yes I have three on DIY. I do all the mucking out and feeding etc in the mornings, and try and ride in the evenings (fortunately only one in work at the moment!). I try and do farrier etc on a day off, although most farriers will attend to your horse if left in once they know you - my old farrier used to arrive early so I could pay him, and he'd then turn out when he'd finished. I had an emergency once when my mare was colicing in the morning so I rang in and said I'd be late - they were brill about it and I turned up after the vet had been and she was more settled. I figure it's my choice to have horses instead of children, and employers have to allow staff time off for sick children, so I should be allowed time off for sick horses! Mind you, I don't have much of a social life at the moment - roll on summer and more turnout
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Su
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Post by Su on Jan 5, 2006 12:46:01 GMT 1
Work full time and have a horse on DIY. The yard feed first thing for me and will do extras for you if required.
However, I have a deal with a friend, she turns out and I bring in. Works well for both of us as she has kids and turns out after the school run in the morning and finds it hard to get there in the evenings, whereas for me it is easy - nip down straight after work.
My routine on getting to yard is to fetch the boys straight away from the field - pop my friends horse to bed and mine in to my spare stable to dry off whilst I muck out.
Then - muck out, and put bed down (gets a proper airing at the weekends), make feeds and haynets, groom and ride, put to bed, feed and whilst mine is eating go and check on friends horse, quick kisses and night time biscuits given to my boy then it is home to start feeding the cats and OH!!
Normally home anywhere between 7 and 8 depending on traffic and how long I have ridden for or if I have had a lesson.
I love having my horse on DIY. There is something very satisfying about doing some manual work each evening after being stuck in the office all day
My farrier is happy to get to me for 5.30 (when I get to the yard) or do a weekend day and I normally take the day off for vets visits. Emergency vets visits I view the same as Speedy!! My boss has children so understands about the need to be late sometimes!
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Post by jennyb on Jan 5, 2006 12:55:50 GMT 1
I have one on DIY, made much easier by the yard being 30 seconds walk from my house, and YO being wonderfully helpful and bringing him in for me in the evenings in the winter. I am at yard for 6.50am ish, muck out, fill haynets, do water, feed, change rugs, turnout, soak evening feeds. Then drive 20 miles to work for 8.30am (supposed to be 8am but they let me get in half an hour later and have no lunch). Leave work at 4pm ish, get back to horse, feed, change rugs, groom, etc. Normally home before 5.30pm. Am just starting to lunge two mornings a week before work so will sometimes be a bit later in, but they are very flexible with me, which is great. Roll on summer when all I have to do before work is feed in the field!!! Can then poo-pick, ride etc in evenings, obviously get home a lot later in the summer!
As regards vets, farrier, work are great and will let me go early and make the time up later in the week. It obviously helps that I work for an equine charity so they understand the commitment!
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Post by holi on Jan 5, 2006 12:56:11 GMT 1
Gosh you lot make me feel guilty as I found it so hard fitting in DIY and work and everything else - in fact am now horseless until I can get some cash to pay for some extra help. Do you have to drive far though - my yards were all nearly 30mins drive away then I had to drive same distance in the opposite direction to get to work and then my job included miles of driving so just too shattered to do it all - or did I not have committment??
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Su
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Post by Su on Jan 5, 2006 13:09:10 GMT 1
My yard is 30 mins from my house and work is 15 min commute from home in the other direction.
Wouldn't fancy doing it and having a driving job as well though!!
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percypony
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Horses are life.... the rest, just details!
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Post by percypony on Jan 5, 2006 14:05:46 GMT 1
My yard is 15 mins away from hom ena dthen work another 20-25 mins in the other direction, dropping hubby off on the way... I sit at a desk all day so get to rest in between yard visits!!! ;D
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Post by Karon on Jan 5, 2006 14:09:37 GMT 1
I've got 5 on DIY (a small yard all to myself), a full time job and a part time job. The yard is about 20 mins from home but work is only about 5 mins away so at least I don't have a lot of driving each way! I don't know how i manage though - working flexi time helps, as I can take time off with that for vet visits. I do most of my own trimming so when my trimmer comes out every 6 months or so, I just take a day off for that. One of the liveries at the yard next door has her farrier come out at 6.30am so she doesn't need to take time off, and arranges vet visits around days off. Anything else routine such as dentist, I'll fit in around time off as well. I'm lucky to have a boss who understands about the horses so if there's an emergency I just phone up to say I'm not coming in, or I'll be late, and I can disappear at short notice for vet visits as well. My boss has kids, I have horses - it's a contest to see which ones cause more problems Actually, the cats have caused me to take more time out of work lately than the horses! I'd love to be a kept woman (or win the lottery) so I didn't have to work but sadly, it's unlikely to ever happen!
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