Scheduling and Sunset Times

The time change has put a damper in my ventures out to the barn.  It gets dark MUCH faster now.  My hubby and I went out one night when I first got my saddle.  It was 7pm so I knew it would be dark and I wanted to see how it would be to get Dani in from the field.  We had treats and a flashlight and it took forever to locate the horses.  Then it was a little scary with the horses being nearby and not sure where they were as I was trying to lead Dani to the barn.  I really don't know if I want to go all the way into the field alone in the dark to get my horse.

This is how dark it is already at 5:30pm

Honestly I've had some issues with scheduling before the darkness descended.  I get off work at 4pm and can get to the barn at the earliest at 4:30pm.  Of course that is the time that all the horses are fed, horses are very much like piranhas when it comes to feeding time!  I really think it would make more sense for each paddock to have their hay piles thrown out to the horses and then bring in each horse that receives grain.  Instead the few times I've seen the feedings the horses are brought in one at a time to get their grain and then the hay is placed out for the rest.  If they all have hay to distract them there wouldn't be the fighting that I've seen.  One horse kicked up so high and as one gal was walking out to the gate.  The gate blocked her from being kicked in the face, it was freaky!!!

I don't like being in the paddock trying to release or catch Dani during feeding time.  The horses mob me and no amount of flinging your arms seems to keep them at bay for very long.  I've only seen the feeding time routine a few times and don't know what way would be better to keep the horses calmer.

So going out right after work doesn't work really well for me because of two reasons, three actually.  One, Dani is just getting fed and I don't want to be the person that is always taking her away from food and then putting her to work (though I haven't done much "work" with her lately).  Two, my hubby travels now for work so I don't have the luxury of him being home from 2pm on and taking the dogs out to the bathroom etc.  Three, most lessons that instructors are conducting are around this time.  The barn calms down around 6pm it seems.  I'm going to try a schedule the next couple of weeks and see how it works.

I'll go home at 4pm to let the dogs out, eat something myself and then try and get to the barn around 5:30pm.  That will give Dani time to eat and secondly means she'll still be relatively close to the barn, where the paddock light reaches, so I don't have to go out all the way to the end of the 10 acre paddock in the dark to retrieve her.  As you can see below I also have to get my workout schedule figured, I've gained a few pounds....ones I lost before.  Uge.  Unending battle!

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
8am Work Dani	Work Out	Work Out	Work Out	Work Out	Work Out	8am Work Dani
OR	4pm Go from work to Gym	4pm go home, let dogs out, quick eat	4pm Go from work to gym-Yoga	4pm Go home, let dogs out, quick eat	4pm Go home, let dogs out, quick eat	OR
1pm Work Dani	6pm Leave for home to eat	5pm Leave for Barn	6pm Leave for home to eat	5pm Leave for Barn	5pm Leave for Barn	1pm Work Dani
		5:30-8ish Work with Dani		5:30-8ish Work with Dani	5:30-8ish Work with Dani

This weekend I want to start the first exercise from Clinton Anderson's Fundamentals. It's round penning without the halter or lead. The round pen is outside so at least my first two lessons with her will be during the day as I become accustomed to the process. The round pen has a stand in the middle of it since someone trains her horse to step up on it. It's in the way but heavy to move. Hopefully I can get it moved for Saturday and then Sunday, it's a safety issue for me; I don't want to be tripping over something since I have to walk backwards and move quickly during the exercise. Then during the week, since it's pitch black at night and where the round pen is, I will see if I can move some jumps into the indoor arena and make my own "round pen" on one end each time I work with Dani. Hopefully having two lessons under her belt will make the transition easier for both of us. Now I'm realizing why I wanted to buy a horse in the spring originally!! Nice full summer to spend with them!

Clinton says that generally about 4 lessons with round penning tends to suffice. After that it will be with the halter and lead so I can use the arenas as they are. We'll have to see how it goes I don't think it should be an issue since I put things back where I found them and also avoid getting in peoples way. Just a simple "hey can I set up the jumps on this end of the arena in a weird way" asked of those using the arena should be fine. Most times like I said lessons are done by 6pm and if someone is in the indoor they are circling at one end or the other.

I guess that covers my recent frustration. Having family over and taking care of other responsibilities has put a reduced time on my schedule for seeing Dani too. Even if, like my in laws, the guests are laid back and not worried if I spend time with my horse I still feel like I need to come home sooner. They'll be back in a couple of weeks but I don't really want to adjust my schedule until Dec. 20th when Steve's daughter will be in town. Again it will be a little less time I spend with Dani around Christmas but I DO want to spend time with my guests, I really don't see how people that have kids have ANY time with their horses! I can't wait until Steve and I can sell the house and buy property but that won't be for a few years. I love my house and the changes we are slowly making to it but I want my mini farm too!

I also want to get back into lessons, perhaps twice a month. I'd love to have Laurie come out to me so we can work on Dani and I but I just need to find out what the additional charge for driving out to me will be. She lives about 45 minutes to 1 hour away from my barn. My budget is tight now with a horse, I knew that going in, and also knew lesson taking would be reduced. I just love working with her and just the little interaction with Dani she's had I've learned new techniques to work with Dani myself. We'll see what happens, perhaps other students at the stable would want to take lessons with Laurie or Uschi might want to come here instead since it's closer to her and then we all can split the cost of the travel fee. I just need to see what I can afford and now that it's almost December I don't have the cash flow with needing to buy gifts and get ready for parties.....oh my goodness this time of year is crazy!