How to Find Time to Ride

Unless you have unlimited finances, you will have trouble fitting riding a horse into your schedule. You are torn between making a living and your passion for riding. Here are some things you can do to find more time to ride in your busy schedule.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Get up earlier in the morning. If you can't or don't want to ride until later in the day, you can get some extra work done early, to free up time to ride later in the day.
2. Find a lighted indoor arena in which you can ride later in the day and stay up later at night or take moonlight rides in a safe place. Your horse can see well in the dark.
3. Hire domestic help if those duties are keeping you from finding time to ride, or trade cooking, cleaning and child-tending duties with a friend to free up some time. For example, you cook something for her family, and she watches your child while you ride.
4. Ask for flex-time at work in order to find time to ride. Work ten-hour days instead of eight, in order to free up one day a week for riding.
5. Have someone else care for your horse and have the horse groomed, tacked up and ready for you to ride at appointed times. This strategy will free up more time to ride, but will cut down on bonding time with your horse.
6. Find a job that involves riding your horse. Give riding lessons, find work on a cattle or dude ranch or at a livestock market. Become a trainer or professional horse sports competitor.

Tips & Warnings

• Get a horse for your older child so you can ride together to increase both family time and riding time. Most kids love horses, and it can be a great bonding experience.
• Wear reflective clothing when riding after dark so that you and your horse are visible.