[Shikoika]

I have found recently that When I am out at the barn ( 2 times daily to feed), I spend all my energy mucking & or feeding. I am left with NO energy!

When I do have the time to ride, I am, so overwhelmed with the lack of energy, I just cant convince myself to get up and go ride.

Horses are my passion & my life, but it seems like all I do is muck and feed, and sometimes, not even mucking because I'm so tired! I took tiem off of school to get a job ( Dinseyland' s Circle D- who handle all their animals from the drafties to the petting zoo, to the kennels- hiered me!!) and focus on the horses and get some work done with them. But I'm getting no more done than before.

I wonder if part of the reason I am not as motivated and give in to the tiredness is because I'm depressed? Solo is my baby, and I had to leave him behind until I could teach him to trailer. I havn't been able to love on my baby except one every few days for an hour or two when I have time to work with him. Maybe it is depression?

Any suggestions?

[legendsneverdie]

I'm the same way... I wake up and feed, go to work, go back to the horses, clean stalls, feed again and then I don't even feel like riding. What I've started to do is ride before I feed. That way my boys get attention and afterwards I NEED to feed them. When I feed first I have to wait until he's finished and then some, by that time I don't even want to ride. And on the weekends I give lessons (it gets over 100 degrees here) after that I never want to ride. So I give myself the day to relax after lessons and ride later at night. For a while I was depressed and the only thing that helped me was going riding and spend time at the horses. but everyone's different...

[horseyfrk145]

I definitely can relate. For me, it was a phase. I felt like the barn was taking over my life, and would keep me from doing anything else - and if that was how it was going to be, then okay...I love horses...just not all at once, sheesh! But then I actually took some time off from the barn, I didn't go for about a week and it's been better since then but even still I have a bit of that gloomy feeling left.

I think it easily could be because you're depressed, and more tired. I know I haven't been able to ride my horse for about 3 months (he was having some health issues) and it's made me sad, even though I lease another horse that I ride a couple times a week.
So you're definitely not alone on this - but how you are able to go about it depends. If you get the chance, I would definitely try to get away for a little while at least. If not, then maybe you can cut back? Or make specific plans to hang out with friends, or ride on a certain day and time and stick to it! Schedules can help!

Good luck! *HUGS*

[Sheza_Angel]

My Mom was taking college courses while feeding in the morning, working until 6pm, taking me to the barn to feed, and then do barn chores as well. It really brings a ton of exhaustion upon a person to do so many things. I can definitely relate having a neurological disorder that I am recovering from [it struck me 2 years ago]. I fatigue very easily and it makes it tough to get everything done plus ride. I try to set a certain amount of time aside for each chore to make sure that I complete everything. Either that or my Mom and I swap chores sometimes and work together as a team to tackle everything.

[Shikoika]

Originally Posted by Sheza_Angel

My Mom was taking college courses while feeding in the morning, working until 6pm, taking me to the barn to feed, and then do barn chores as well. It really brings a ton of exhaustion upon a person to do so many things. I can definitely relate having a neurological disorder that I am recovering from [it struck me 2 years ago]. I fatigue very easily and it makes it tough to get everything done plus ride. I try to set a certain amount of time aside for each chore to make sure that I complete everything. Either that or my Mom and I swap chores sometimes and work together as a team to tackle everything.

You and your mom sound like me & my mom! I sould point out that my mom and I switch off chores as we like and sometimes she does feed for me. I love her ( even when she is gripey abot money, like today. Eventually I told her to knock it off there was no point in griping, and she stopped. She does the same when I get that way).

You should see us mcking stalls together- we're like a macheine, like, "one two, one two, and you dump, I scoop, once again now"...

I guess I do just need to get on a schedule. My life is so random right now... LOL.

I have to say I was proud of myself today, I got up at 5 and went out to work with Solo. Instead of just turning him out & working with him on the trailer ( which he is loadi himself into wthout hesitation now!!!!) , I actually lunged him!

He did SO well, even after about 6 months of no work ( pulled muscle in back). He only fooled around for about 3 mn, and he settled right down and listened. I could not have been prouder!!

I think starting monday I will set up a consistant schedule. This is my plan:

• Monday: Ride between 5:30-6 am. Clean bottom stalls before or after feeding around 7:30-8 pm.
• Tuseday: Clean top stalls between 6-7:30 am feeding.
• Wensday: Ride between 5:30-6 am. Clean bottom stalls, ect...

And continue that schedule every other day....hopefully. I keep planning on cleaning stalls every day after a big muck day ( clean all stalls of a week or so's worth on not cleaning), and I stick with it for about 2-3 days and then loose motivation...

Any suggestions? Is this a good schedule idea?

[Lindsayanne]

This is your life lesson. This is why you go to school and get a good, cushy job so you have the money to hire out the heavy lifting and the time to spend the time you have with horses... enjoying them!

[Shikoika]

Tell me about it!!!