Balancing Work, Life, and Riding

With a full-time job and four horses, I think I can safely say I really do understand how hard it is to fit everything in. I’m a reasonably sociable person and I also really enjoy sports and exercise. I also have a boyfriend to fit into my already busy schedule too! And of course, of all the disciplines to choose from, endurance riding is potentially one of the most time intensive.

Added to that I seem to have some inability to say ‘no’ and am always taking things on – organising two national rides, managing the England endurance squad and even helping out at the Youth Club in my village.

At the Hanslope Endurance Ride 2024 which I organised.

But for me endurance is so much more than a sport, it’s a passion and really it’s my whole life. It’s all I’ve known for the past fifteen years, and certainly throughout my formative years as I joined the international scene at just fifteen years of age myself! I can’t imagine my life without this all-consuming level of focus. My greatest advice to fit everything is to plan, organise and prioritise! Here’s how I make it all work:

Set Clear Priorities

First and foremost, identify your priorities. Understanding what is most important to you will help you make better decisions about how to allocate your time. Is it your career, family, riding, or a combination? Rank these in order of importance, and be honest with yourself about what you can realistically achieve.

Don’t forget these priorities aren’t set for ever, there’s a sliding scale and different factors will definitely move up and down over time. For example, when I have a big race coming up, then training and horse’s definitely moves up the list but when it’s off season or my horse is having a quite period then that training might be lower on my list. Equally, with the baby horses I plan their training blocks around when the higher-level horses have raced and are on rest so that I utilise that down time to my advantage and then they can do a bit less again when I’m picking up for the next race. You simply can't do everything at once and being clear with yourself about what is a current priority and what is not helps to avoid feelings of guilt or lacking accomplishment.

Develop a Schedule

Creating a schedule is an absolute life-saver. If you’re like me, I have a memory like a sieve and I do get a bit of anxiety about not forgetting things. I do enjoy a little list but I appreciate this doesn’t work for everyone. However, I would really recommend taking a few minutes every Sunday to map out your week. Plan your work, family obligations, riding, horse chores (if like me you do everything yourself), your own training (gym, yoga etc.) and of course some down time as well. I can add the last one on like a good coach but of course I never find the time to factor in down time in my own schedule! There are loads of digital tools you can use like planners, digital calendars, or apps to keep track of your commitments but personally I just keep an old-fashioned paper diary.

Bear in mind, all the planning and scheduling in the world won’t make any difference if you don’t commit to following through on it! Consistency is key, so try to stick to your schedule as much as possible.

Communicate with Your Employer

I am incredibly lucky working from home 100% of the time and with flexible hours too which really helps me to fit everything in! Depending on your job will obviously depend if it’s even feasible for you but it’s worth having an open conversation with your employer about your passion for endurance riding. You might be able to negotiate flexible working hours or remote work options, which can free up more time for training and competing.

There’s nothing worse than that post-race Monday morning lull. If you’re like me and end up with lots of meetings make sure you block out your calendar to give you some head space!

Utilise Weekends and Holidays

Maximise weekends and holidays for longer training rides whilst keeping weekdays for the shorter sessions. Of course, if you do have flexible working it may be that you can take half days to fit longer training in during the week as needed but try to plan ahead as much as possible.

Stay Organised

Another simple time-saver is just keeping all your riding gear and equipment well-organised. I personally have competition gear kept totally separate to the everyday stuff. The everyday stuff is always kept readily accessible whereas the comp stuff is packed away neatly. This saves time when I’m packing for rides and races as it’s always in the correct kit boxes and I simply have to lift these into the car or trailer. Just having your everyday stuff good to go at the drop of a hat also reduces preparation time and ensures you’re ready to ride whenever you can.

Focus on Quality over Quantity

I’m a huge fan of ‘time-in-the-saddle’ training but with a busy work schedule I totally understand that it’s sometimes just not feasible which is why I refer back to my earlier point about negotiating for flexible hours and really making the most of the weekends.

Let’s not forget though that quality sessions can be more beneficial than simply spending hours in the saddle and I think finding the balance between the two is key to training for endurance alongside a full time job.

For example, a quality 40 mins schooling alongside a 20 min lunge mid-week in conjunction with long training at the weekend works well. Don’t forget rest days are all part of the grand training plan anyway!

Practice Self-Care

Another consideration is your own mental health and rest time. As I said, I’m really not the best at doing this but I do try! Balancing work, life, and riding can be demanding, so it’s crucial to take care of yourself. Prioritise sleep (again not my best feature), nutrition (I’m not so bad at this), and physical fitness (so beneficial and important for your riding stamina). Mental well-being is just as important, so take time to relax and unwind. Remember, a healthy rider is a better rider.

Be Flexible and Adapt

Life is unpredictable, and sometimes things won’t go as planned. Whether that’s horses, our careers, our relationships and family or another factor that we can’t even plan for, we should plan for the unexpected. Having a solid schedule is helpful but you also need to be prepared to adapt and adjust it when necessary. For example, it’s best not to do a long training in -10C when there’s loads of ice on the ground, you also aren’t able to train the day after a physio session (though that’s something you can plan for) and you’ll certainly need to adjust if there’s rider or horse injury (we always hope not). Stay flexible and don’t be too hard on yourself if you have to miss a training session or a competition. Balance is about the long game, not perfection.

Connect with the Community

Engage with other horse owners and of course endurance riders who are juggling similar responsibilities can really help. Sharing tips, experiences, and support can be incredibly helpful. I’m looking at setting up a community within this platform for this kind of thing but in the meantime reach out to me directly if you’re struggling. There’s also lots of supporting FB groups of endurance riders and horse owners that can help to provide a sense of community and motivation.

Conclusion

Balancing work, life, and riding does require dedication, planning, and a heck of a lot of flexibility. By setting some priorities, developing a schedule and staying organised, you can enjoy the best of all worlds. Remember to take care of yourself along the way. Happy riding!

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