On occasions, we can become snowed under and feel there’s not enough hours in the day for all that we do and that something has to give. Regrettably, sometimes we sacrifice our time with our four-legged friends.
There are many grooms, including myself, facing the same issue; carrying out long and physical hours of work and even study, all while pursuing our own riding careers, competitive or not.
Whether you’re a committed groom who’s feeling a little tight for time or someone who’s leading a packed-to-the-rafters lifestyle, I’ve put together some useful time-management tips and tools I use every day to stay organised, get things done and feel accomplished.
A diary and to-do list
Incorporating the use of a diary and creating to-do lists are two very underrated solutions to getting stuff done and prioritising all your tasks. Every night, I like to sit down for at least 5-10 minutes to plan the following day from work and study, to blocking out time for appointments and other commitments while ensuring there is always a spot allocated to spending time with my horse.
Create your routines
If you’re aware you have a busy week or even a busy month coming up at work, putting together a routine to follow can help you stay organised, focused and relatively stress-free. When creating my routine, I make sure to time-block and allocate a certain amount of time to certain tasks, thus keeping me motivated and working at a fast rate. I find it particularly effective and easy to follow if I can physically see my daily or weekly routine – whether it be on a pin board, whiteboard or stuck to the fridge.
Make plans for your horse
One thing I’ve found most beneficial is planning ahead and having an idea of what it is that I’ll be doing with my horse. Not every day is a full-on, meticulously thought-out training session, but sometimes a bit of cross-training like a long hack, poles and cavaletti work – or if I feel I don’t have a lot of extra time, even just a light stretch, thorough groom and bath. I always make sure I write down what I’ll be doing with my horse into my diary and add it to my routine. That way I’m also able to keep track of how much exercise he has had.
A tip for all the hard-working, committed grooms – being a groom can be tough but still should be fun, so make sure you give yourself time for you and your horse/s, as it’s a great outlet and keeps you working toward your goals. Of course, it helps to have a great support team around you and a boss who is just as committed to you and your riding as you are to them, their business and their team of horses.
