Hi - here’s another working and hunting story. My husband & I both work full-time, and have a large acreage to take care of. But hunting is a priority for us, so yes, every weekend we devote a day to hunting and he has the flexibility to also take off one or a 1/2 day a week. Early in the season, he can hunt in the am and still make it to work in the afternoons, and later when they go out at 2, he works in the morning and then goes. I occasionally take time off to go cause I can just take 1/2 a day if he takes care of my horse. Like everyone else said, finding the time to ride during the week is tough, but we do it religously for the sake of our horses (& our fitness !) In the winter, we just go out once a week in the dark and ride on the dirt roads and fields (depending on footing) and get in a good workout. We wear whatever it takes to stay warm and lots of reflective gear. It took some getting used to for me, but the horses have no problem with it.
I’m very fortunate to have a job where i work a 12 hour shift, with varying work days each week and 4 to 5 days off each time. So I get to hunt quite a bit, this season I managed to hunt three to four days a week through most of it.
I joined two additional hunts this season in addition to the hunt I have been in for 10 years, and ended up whipping in at one of the extra ones. When I do work it’s usually in the afternoon and evening, and my boss is very accomodating in letting me take my lunch hour at the beginning and coming in late. So depending on where any particular hunt is hunting that day, I can usually make it if I don’t stay to eat and socialize. I’m there to ride anyway, so throwing the horse in the trailer and hauling butt is no problem.
Of course, it goes both ways at work, I volunteer to do extra work and come in on off days when we are shorthanded, so she doesn’t mind accomodating my habit.
As someone else said, now and then i do also use a vacation day, but I try not to if I can help it.
It boils down to, where there is a will there is a way, if you want to do it badly enough you will find a way to make it happen. the years when I was on the midnight shift, I would get off at 0530 am, throw the horse in the trailer and go hunt. I was tired til the hunt started ;).
Thanks everyone for the great insight! Not sure what I will end up doing, but you sure have given me a lot to think about. THANKS!!
I live exactly 110 miles from my hunt. We go out on Wednesday and Sundays, so Sunday AM finds me up and out early. As the year goes on, we go out later so that helps. I didn’t go out on any Wednesdays.
Sundays are just my days to hunt. I don’t plan anything else, because by the time I drive there, hunt, drive home, unpack and settle down, I’m exhausted. Since this was my first hunt season I know my nerves wore me down, so maybe next year I’ll be better.
If it’s financially feasible, I might join a second hunt which is also 100 miles from me. I’m self-employed, so I can set my own hours. Maybe I’ll be able to go out on Wednesday next fall! But a lot depends on fuel prices; I can’t afford to drive 400 miles a week just for pleasure.
We are in the same boat. There aren’t any hunts close to me either, so drive time and fuel costs play into it. In addition, I don’t have my horses at home, so that adds time to the equation too.
Well, come hunt with me. Stick your horses on my side of the river, and we’ll drive down to Wolf Creek together. If you want to split a motel room in Marion, we’ll go down on Saturday! That way we can share costs and driving time.
who cares if you smell at work!!
I second what others have said and would add:
- Make sure your horse is pretty fit coming into the season so that hunting only on weekends becomes attempts at just keeping him there.
- Hunting a lot during cubbing early mornings can get you to the office just later if you really skip the elaborate after hunting care/shower/makeup etc. Just throw the horse out in the field (he’s gonna roll anyway!), jump in the car, change clothes at work and spritz yourself with some perfume and voila you’re there!!
- Even if you just take days off once/twice a month that will get you your hunting fix and let the horse rest 6 days between weekend hunts.
- Be realistic about you and your horses condition. If it deteriorates; just start coming in after a certain distance,time or exertion level has been reached. You aren’t always stuck out there ya know. Arrange in advance with the fieldmaster or a fellow member who will escort you in.
Tell them that “after 3 hours” you might come in etc. Or if you come round near the trailers even if its early; just go in.
–Where possible try to let your riding mimic hunting when you can to keep horsies condition up.
—consider hacking at sunset, at night, full moonlight etc or very early mornings before sunrise & before work. Flex hours are the bomb!!
In a year or so, I may take you up on that since I’m already on your side of the river. 
