Nursing and Horses

[ElisabethF]

I'm looking for any Canadian nurses, especially those in Ontario who are practicing nurses in any speciality who also have a love of horses.

What do you do with horses - your level of riding or competition? How much time are you able to devote to riding and your horse(s) care? Would you say it is easily possible to maintain a good career in nursing while owning a horse or even multiple horses?

I would love to hear any feedback on this and I am about to venture into the pursuit of nursing but am afraid I will have to eventually give up my favourite pastime!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Welcome to AN! The largest online nursing community!

I moved your thread for best response

[ponymom]

I'm not in Canada but do live somewhat kinda sorta near you. Unless you travel alot why would you have to give up your horses? I had up to eight horses at one time, including a stallion. I also kept them all at home vs boarding, so I had all the dailey chores to do. I did show, but only lightly (couple shows during summer). I am more of a trail and distance rider, and horse camper.

If you keep them at home, you do have to keep mandation in mind, as far as managing feeding and care. Mine were on full turnout with sheds, heated water and always 24 hours worth of hay.

One of my favorite places to study was in the barn with horses munching away and a barn cat (or four!) on my lap.

[Dona Luvena]

I will be following this topic closely! I own 2 horses that are on self-care board, I coach and train and I will be starting nursing school in January in the RPN program at Niagara college. I know I will have a big adjustment period just going back to school and am preparing for a slump in my riding until I get used to things. ( I'm a mature student - very mature!) A little about my horses - a gorgeous 14hh black pony with a blaze and 4 socks training first level dressage and jumping 2 ', and a 16.2hh hannoverian mare coming back to work, training 3rd level, used to jump 1m20.