Anyone with more than one horse... do you ever wish

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zoeshiloh

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That you could just go back to having one horse? I do at the moment! I think of the amount of money I spend per month, and I could have him in the best yard, with the best facilities and the best rugs/tack etc money could buy. I spend so much time chasing my tail and running around after the others, I have no time to ride and compete my old boy. I love all my horses, and couldn't really be without them, but sometimes it would be nice to just be a one horse owner again. Anyone want to take the rest off my hands for a while??
 
Not really, but the only problem with two is that where ever one goes the other one has to .... or risk something awful happening
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.... that's the downside of just having two on their own
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Yep, I think that alot...

I have a collection as I wont part with them once they can't be ridden anymore, so I am now at three, and they take no less time or money even if you can't ride.. But I love my old boys to bits, but there are days I long to have just one again, so you don't have to rush all the time and you can just enjoy them rather than run around after them...

The days of one stable to muck out... Oh the joy :-)
 
I've got one horse but would desperately like another to do some more serious riding on, I love the challenge and variety of riding for other people, but there's nothing quite like having your own. Feel free to send any my way
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I keep mine at home, and have eight stables I would love to fill- I'm only half way there!!I love my lot though, couldn't part with them, although there are days when Bertie really tries my patience!
 
i went from 5 .....to 3.....to 2.....to 1 and i have to say im the happiest iv ever been.
i have enough time to ride whenever i want, teach, work and spend time with my OH. I have (nearly)enough money to buy him and me the latest fashions/this seasons colours/3 of everything etc, and also to buy myself decent clothes and go on a nice holiday.

i wouldnt go back to multiple horses.
 
No.

I've got 5. I rent my own land to keep the horses on. The cost of this, even after the additional costs such as hay/feed etc. are added on, is still, on an average month, only about 20 quid more than the price of full livery round here. Time wise, it doesn't make a lot of difference whether I look after one or 5 horses, as there is no mucking out involved for me (although admittedly poo-picking for 5 can be a nightmare at times). And yes, it can sometimes be difficult to find time to ride all 3 boys, but then again, as they live out, it doesn't matter whole lot if they don't get ridden absolutely every day, so "having to ride" is never a problem.

And as it is, my horses are in a stable herd, I don't have any of the restrictions of a livery yard, none of the bitchiness. I can keep to my own timetable, make my own decisions, give my horses as much turnout as they need (as it is, that's 24/7/375, although I do have 2 stables).

My horses are not pampered in any way. They're allowed to get mucky and dirty, they're allowed to play. They're ridden, but it's not vital to do so - they remain quite calm even if they have a 2 week break (like just now, with this snow). They're better off where they are, both mentally and physically. Yet I can still compete the 3 boys, in both dressage and endurance, and bring home rosettes too! I don't need posh facilities to do that.

And the 2 old girls, both in their late 20's and retired. What would I do with them if I were to cut down to 1 horse? They're old but sound and healthy. I couldn't sell them, wouldn't loan them or pass them on, and couldn't bear the thought of having them put down when they've got such a great quality of life? No, they deserve to remain right where they are as contented pasture ornaments.

So why would I ever contemplate keeping just one horse, for what to me would be hardly any difference in cost, when I can give 5 horses an extremely happy life right where they are!
 
Nope! Wouldnt get rid of any of mine now, i love all 3 too much. The two little ones were only supposed to be short term while i found someone to share my fields with me, but wouldnt be with out them now. I'm actually looking to save for a fourth in the next couple of years! and tbh the two little ones dont cost me that much extra in time or money.
 
Another point - when you only have one horse, you have to rely on other people and their horses, you have to share fields, find company etc...

by having more, they are best buddies, share everything and I don't have to worry about them being left in a field on their own.

3 horses would be my ideal number, and as her highness is being put in foal next year I'll have my herd complete in a couple of years!
 
yes, I wish it often but I could never get rid of any, I wouldnt know how to even begin to think about being without any of them. I love all the babies soooo much but I also love the older ones and I could never pass them onto anyone else. As Faro said, they are in a stable herd and run together brilliantly but I do wish we hadn't ended up with so many (13) the responsibility for them terrifies me sometimes.
 
Yes! I've got five here at home plus 2 mares out on loan. I'd really like to get down to 2 - 3 so I'm trying to work out adverts for a seven month colt and a 2 yr old gelding as I write! It's been a delight getting down to 5 but it's still too many and I'd love to be able to spend more on doing more as I haven't shown anything for quite a few years now and I've something here which I think is quite good enough to do minor country shows at least. Just need to find some nice buyers!
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Oh yes - I have 3 at the moment although one will be going back in March and it will be a relief to only have 2 to look after. I suppose things have been extra hard this winter, but still looking after 3 is hard going!

I love my two and our loan pony is awesome but I feel like a hamster on a wheel!
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Sometimes I think it would be easier financially to just have the one, but I wouldn't part with either and it's easier in a livery situation most of the time to have two.

I'd really love more time, money and my own place with 8 acres, 6 stables, storage, school and access to off road hacking but that's sadly all a dream
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Well I have seven at home at the moment and two out on loan. There are some that I could never sell, but others that I would part with. I would like to loan the broodmares out and scale back on breeding to concentrate on work for a few years. I wouldn't ever sell my mares, they mean too much to me, and I wouldn't want to be without them for long. The babies I would sell, and even Wonky (in my sig) would be for sale at the right price. Ideally I'd like to get back to two at home. That seems a long way off though!
 
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Oh yes - I have 3 at the moment although one will be going back in March and it will be a relief to only have 2 to look after. I suppose things have been extra hard this winter, but still looking after 3 is hard going!

I love my two and our loan pony is awesome but I feel like a hamster on a wheel!
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Ditto this...we have 3...sometimes I wish it were 2 again....it would mean one trek to the field instead of 2 to turnout/bring in.....less time spent mucking out etc etc.

Mind you, come spring...all will be forgotten
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And as it is, my horses are in a stable herd, I don't have any of the restrictions of a livery yard, none of the bitchiness. I can keep to my own timetable, make my own decisions, give my horses as much turnout as they need (as it is, that's 24/7/375, although I do have 2 stables).




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So that's your secret!!! An extra 10 days a year........
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Tell us how you manage that!
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Of course. I have an in foal mare who has been given the year off work and an 18 month old gelding, and of course another on the way. Just sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have just one riding horse that I could give all my attention to - quite nice, I imagine!

Things haven't worked out that way, and never will be that way. The mare has a home with me for life, whether she comes sound or not and the youngsters will be a challenge for the next few years. There is a point, about 2 years ahead where I might have a riding horse again though
 
I have 5 ponies. If I just had one the extra money would be nice but apart from that I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I only had one. Mine are aged from 2 1/2 to 26 and I dont plan on selling any of them. In fact I know OH wants another mini so I can forsee us ending up with 6 before this year is out. 6 would be my absolute limit though!
 
I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes you just wish that if you had one qualaty horse, you could afford to keep on a top livery with the best tack + rugs ect.

I get your point totally! I've got two, and if im up at 9am and have a full day at the yard ahead of me i just manage to exercise them and do my stable duties before all the horses come in at around 2pm!!!!!

All I can say is roll on the summer! Cant wait to start riding in the shiney summer sun hacking across the plains at 8pm again
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Have 3 at livery 4th one is on loan and if honest would like to get down to 1 ideally 2 would be ok.Won't get rid of any but will not be getting anymore when their time comes
 
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