Sarah Fischer
How I make it work: 5:2 livery, keeping a diary and the support of great friends
Leeds-based Sarah Fischer is studying dentistry at university while also working as a junior doctor on a surgical ward. Finding time to ride her two horses can be challenging, with weekend working often getting in the way.
My job…
I’m a part-time junior surgical doctor, mainly working at Harrogate District Hospital. I studied in Manchester for five years and, after qualifying in 2011, decided to move to Yorkshire. Ultimately, I want to do maxillofacial surgery, which involves specialising in surgery of the face, mouth and jaw, so I worked full time for four years before returning to Leeds University in 2015 to study dentistry, which is required for my chosen field.
I also work as a warden for the university, so I live in student accommodation and provide onsite support for resident students. I love working in a team and feel that I definitely landed on my feet working in Harrogate because everyone is so friendly. The negative is having to work weekends because I’m in lectures during the week. For the last eight years, I’ve also been one of the doctors officiating at Bramham Horse Trials.
How I got here…
It wasn’t a lifelong dream to become a doctor, but I did some work experience at Oswestry Orthopaedic Hospital when I was in college and I really enjoyed the surgery.
I’ve worked at Harrogate since 2012, originally full time for 12 months. I also worked in several other hospitals in Yorkshire during my first four years of training — student doctors typically work at each hospital for six to 12 months before moving on to their next placement.
My motivation…
Sometimes I’ve struggled with motivation because doctors spend such a long time at university (I’ll have been a student for 11 years by the time I finish!), but I have some great friends who keep me going — some who are in uni now, some from my first degree in Manchester, and some from home.
I also have great colleagues who I enjoy working with and who make going to work at a weekend when I’m tired after a full week of studying so much easier. I’m lucky to have a good mentor close by as well who reminds me why I’m doing this, and keeps the end goal in sight.
Although my family don’t live nearby, they are always on the end of the phone and
“The horses help me get away from the city centre as it can sometimes feel a bit oppressive living close to the university all the time”
they’ve supported me through every aspect of my education — even if they do jokingly ask when I’ll be getting a real job!
My horses…
I have two horses, Ed and Taz. Ed is a 12-year-old, 14.2hh, red dun Welsh section D cross. I’ve had him since he was three and he will put his hoof to anything — even though he isn’t very brave, he always tries hard. We do pretty much everything and if someone has space on their lorry, we will go. Ed hacks as well as taking part in horseball, barrel racing, dressage and showjumping. He also loves cross-country and he qualified for the Eland Lodge National Hunter Trial Championships last year. I can literally take him anywhere and we will have a good day. Taz is a six-year-old, 16hh chestnut Lusitano x Thoroughbred. He’s still learning the ropes as he was only backed and ridden for the first time in December.
The horses help me get away from the city centre as it can sometimes feel a bit oppressive living close to the university all the time.
My riding roots…
My family aren’t horsey, but they live in the middle of nowhere, so when I was a girl I started horse riding, probably because there was a riding school in the next village, plus a farmer who lived nearby kept a pony in his field and he offered me the ride. I would hack around the village until I went away to university, at which point I had a Thoroughbred mare on loan.
I also worked at a National Hunt stud farm close to my family home between the ages of 14 and 18, which was my favourite job ever.
Keeping organised…
As soon as I have my university timetable and work schedule, I figure out the best days to ride. I have to be super organised and decide what days I’m riding in advance and I write this in my diary.
I moved my horses to a new yard last year, which works on a 5:2 basis, so Monday to Friday it’s full livery, and the weekend is DIY. The yard also has a walker, so that helps to keep my boys fit, although I do try to ride each of them three times a week. Invariably, though, I don’t always quite manage this. Thankfully, in the summer my horses are turned out 24/7, which is great as it gives me a break. During the winter I turn them out before heading to work and then later, on my way home from work, I muck out and ride, or put them on the walker for a while. Fortunately, the stables are only half an hour from the university, so it’s not too far to go, plus I have a couple of people who sometimes ride Ed for me and help to check on the horses if I’m ever completely stuck.
Puppy love…
Because I live in student accommodation I’m not allowed pets, but my parents have two cats and my goal in life is to have a dog.
NEXT MONTH An ambulance paramedic with an ex-eventer turned dressage and showing horse.