8 things that would happen on Bring Your Horse To Work Day…

Today (22 June) is Bring Your Dog To Work Day. Now, we at H&H are all in favour of friendly pooches (well-behaved canine companions are welcome to accompany their owners to work at H&H HQ), but we can’t help thinking Bring Your Horse To Work Day would be even more fun.

Here are eight things we’d expect to happen on Bring Your Horse To Work Day…

1. Temporary stables would have to be installed in the car park, while we’re sure the landowner wouldn’t mind if we knocked up a few grazing areas with electric fencing on their beautifully manicured lawns across the road, would they?
2. Lunch break, coffee break and tea break would be replaced with riding break, hand grazing break and skipping out break.
3. Breeches would be obligatory office wear and hat hair would be de rigeur.
4. “My horse wouldn’t load,” would be an acceptable reason to arrive late. Similarly, “My horse has finished his hay and he’s getting bored,” would be an acceptable reason to leave early.
5. It would be normal to find a few stray bits of hay, a couple of mane hairs, a spare tail bandage and a hoof pick on your desk. (I can think of a few H&H desks that currently look like this, Ed)
6. Apple cores would no longer go in the bin after lunch and it would be vital to pop a few extra carrots in your packed lunch.
7. Meeting your horse would be a great ice-breaker for new colleagues. We’ve always found that being slobbered on and having your foot stood on makes people feel so much more at home.
8. If the boss gets angry or it all gets a bit too much, it would be time for a quick trip outside — a horse’s mane is ideal for sopping up a few tears.

Article continues below…

You might also be interested in:

12 things horsey people say in the office — with translations for non-horsey colleagues

There are certain things you just can’t expect your colleagues to understand — this handy list will help them to

9 ways a (muddy) rider can blend in at work

H&H reveals its secrets to slipping back into the office after doing the horses — without getting any dodgy looks

11 situations which only make sense to us horsey nuts #horselogic

Can you relate to these 11 tongue-in-cheek scenarios which only us horsey folk will understand?

In short, we’re not sure Bring Your Horse To Work Day would really be all that great for workplace productivity, but isn’t it all about work/life balance these days?

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Pippa Roome

H&H magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.