Best non-equine companion for the field

[stimpy]

After more than a decade of having 4 horses I am now down to 3 ponies after losing my elderly Tb over Christmas. Up until now 4 has been the perfect number as even if take two out there are always two left behind so no one gets stressed and lonely. Two of the remaining ponies are ridden all rounders so they are schooled at home and hack out/go out in the horsebox, and the remaining pony does lots of groundwork and agility stuff at home so she is active but never leaves. If I take both riding ponies out, the non-ridden pony is able to cope being left at home alone for an hour or two but as I'm doing more with the other two I'm thinking about what to do if/when I want to take the other two away for longer periods. My lot are at home and there are some nearby horses that they can sometimes hear but they can't see them. I really, really don't want another horse (both from the work and cost POV), so am thinking about non-equine companions for her. My three live as a free-ranging gang on a yard/track system with limited grazing.

Does anyone have advice on suitable low-maintenance, low-cost companion that still provides sufficient companionship? I'm thinking sheep or goat maybe, but know both are escape artists and goats eat *everything* and also wondering whether it is fair to have a single one of them anyway.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thing is sheep and goats prefer to live with there own kind and you have to have incredibly secure fencing, also some horses don't consider them as a companion as they are a different species, I would just another pony far easier I wouldn't ever have any type of goats they are a total pita.

 

[SpotsandBays]

I wouldn’t have just one single sheep or goat - they like to be with their own kind. Also not all horses get along with them. I have two geriatric ponies (a shet and a 12hh) that I can graze along side my sheep. They tolerate eachother but don’t “hang out” together or interact very much at all. I wouldn’t dare put my bigger ones in with the sheep as they would likely squish them.

 

[sarcasm_queen]

Next door have sheep out with the horse, they all seem very content together. (Small herd of sheep, about 6/7 of them)

 

[Squeak]

We've got a couple of sheep and my horse actually prefers their company to other horses. They're generally easier and cheaper to keep than another horse and do a great job of eating down the grass so that it's eaten evenly and not in patches and their feet patter down any ruts well, they also don't churn up the ground in the winter. You don't have to worry about them biting or kicking the horses and if you have some feed you don't want them eating I just put it up higher so that the horse can eat it but the sheep can't.

They do need fencing that keeps them in rather than just normal post and rail.

 

[cauda equina]

Sheep come with their own extensive list of possible diseases and you would need a CPH (county parish holding) number for your property
Another pony would be much easier imo

 

[Fieldlife]

Find someone that want a retirement home for a low key uncomplicated pony. And is willing to cover all the associated costs for said pony.

 

[Abacus]

I used to have goats and they are incredible escape artists. They and the horses didn’t really interact much. Total pain and eventually I decided too much work, but they were also fun and entertaining. I had them to graze a steep bank and they did a great job. I’m about to get a couple of Pygmy goats which I think are a lot easier to keep in and slightly less wilful (watch this space).

 

[PurBee]

Ive considered similar, and went through each alternative species *if* they did get on with horses and vice versa. In the end, i reasoned the cost/different food/ health needs of the ‘other’ species would require more of me than just having another small pony.

As said, most horse fencing wont contain sheep or goats. Goats are an absolute menace usually…funny but very good at escaping!
Also just having 1 sheep, or 1 goat, isnt fair to the sheep or goat as they’d (usually) prefer their own species…as most animals do really. I summised it was a gamble and a lot of hassle to acquire an alternative species on the off-chance they would make good alternative horse companions. That on top of sheep mite treatment, their annual injections, foot rot etc…having to learn about the different needs of a different species, after doing research, made me realise i am best getting what i know i can look after and manage already!

I considered a llama or alpaca - i’d get 2, but answers on here weighed more on the side of more experience with horses not liking them, than those that didnt mind them.

In the end, i decided that a small 10-12hh pony would probably be best - same species, fencing doesnt need changing, nor food, nor health care , or hooves…thats already managed. Said pony would be fun to trick train….and be cute!

 

[alibali]

With your set up I think a miniature Shetland or even a standard Shetland would probably be your easiest and cheapest bet. No worries about learning how to keep a different species, no issues as to whether their company will be deemed acceptable. Alternatively offering a retirement space for someone else pony with all or part costs covered might also work.

 

[cauda equina]

Or a companion from a charity which could be returned if you no longer needed it

 

[stimpy]

Ive considered similar, and went through each alternative species *if* they did get on with horses and vice versa. In the end, i reasoned the cost/different food/ health needs of the ‘other’ species would require more of me than just having another small pony.

As said, most horse fencing wont contain sheep or goats. Goats are an absolute menace usually…funny but very good at escaping!
Also just having 1 sheep, or 1 goat, isnt fair to the sheep or goat as they’d (usually) prefer their own species…as most animals do really. I summised it was a gamble and a lot of hassle to acquire an alternative species on the off-chance they would make good alternative horse companions. That on top of sheep mite treatment, their annual injections, foot rot etc…having to learn about the different needs of a different species, after doing research, made me realise i am best getting what i know i can look after and manage already!

I considered a llama or alpaca - i’d get 2, but answers on here weighed more on the side of more experience with horses not liking them, than those that didnt mind them.

In the end, i decided that a small 10-12hh pony would probably be best - same species, fencing doesnt need changing, nor food, nor health care , or hooves…thats already managed. Said pony would be fun to trick train….and be cute!

This sounds very much like all the thoughts I have been having. I really don't want another pony though, I have been relishing the disproportionate drop in work from 4 to 3 and even just another small pony means another feeding station, more poo picking, more pressure on the open shelter area, another worm count, another wormer, another vaccination etc etc. Plus I already have a horse to trick train which I love but I don't have enough time for mine as it is

A pony that someone else is paying upkeep for but I'm doing the work would be the best compromise I guess. Finding that is going to be tricky I'd wager! We don't have enough grazing to have a livery, plus it's my home and I don't want anyone else around.

 

[stimpy]

Or a companion from a charity which could be returned if you no longer needed it

Yes I've thought about this a lot, and I've had a Blue Cross pony in the past. But always come back to the additional costs and work.

 

[stimpy]

With your set up I think a miniature Shetland or even a standard Shetland would probably be your easiest and cheapest bet. No worries about learning how to keep a different species, no issues as to whether their company will be deemed acceptable. Alternatively offering a retirement space for someone else pony with all or part costs covered might also work.

Yes retirement space may be a good summary of the best compromise, thanks.

 

[Red-1]

If the stay at home horse hasn't shown distress when left for an hour or two, does he really need another companion for while you work the other two horses? I'm presuming you will be away at day shows etc?

At home, Rigsby doesn't give 2 hoots where BH is. I can ride out past him, box him out etc.

I did 3 weekend camps and a midweek camp last year, he didn't seem to notice (either when we left or when we came back).

 

[Jenko109]

I think if this pony has company the majority of the time, then it's no great hardship if they are alone for a couple of days on occasion.

Providing that they arent turning themself inside out, I would just crack on.

 

[SantaVera]

Another species animal is not necessarily going to be less work or cheaper,there are lots of rules and regulations around sheep including ear tagging and being registered with DEFRA and they need to be with their own kind so more than one is required. Then there's shearing and worming and vaccines all difficult when the products sold are for large numbers of sheep. Been there got the t shirt. The more cost effective answer both in time and money is to only take one pony out at a time leaving two together in the field.

 

[PurBee]

This sounds very much like all the thoughts I have been having. I really don't want another pony though, I have been relishing the disproportionate drop in work from 4 to 3 and even just another small pony means another feeding station, more poo picking, more pressure on the open shelter area, another worm count, another wormer, another vaccination etc etc. Plus I already have a horse to trick train which I love but I don't have enough time for mine as it is

A pony that someone else is paying upkeep for but I'm doing the work would be the best compromise I guess. Finding that is going to be tricky I'd wager! We don't have enough grazing to have a livery, plus it's my home and I don't want anyone else around.

It’s very tricky isnt it - the other *possible* scenario that’s a very slim chance i realise, is if you know anyone very closeby with horses, who are amenable to their horse/pony/companion coming to yours for the day/weekend as ‘babysitter’ to your lone one, when you have longer breaks with your 2?
I realise their own ‘herd’ set-up might not tolerate 1 going...etc….would work if they have a larger herd where 1 could go without being missed…just a slim chance thought…
You’d be able to arrange well in advance too, as you’d know when you were planning a longer weekend break..

The thing about equines is they eat and poop soooo much dont they! Theyre fairly substantial sized animals so it doesnt surprise me, but recently ive been wondering if i had elephants here, the workload of food and poop haulage wouldnt likely be any different to horses!

 

[rara007]

If the 3rd pony is ok being left for an hour I think it’d be easier to build that up, or take her as travelling companion, over adding a non equine.

 

[Merrymoles]

I do have a friend who sent her laminitis-prone miniature to a set-up which sounds similar to yours as she was struggling to manage the pony's needs in her home set-up so pony has gone off to somewhere with a track system.

I have no idea what the financial arrangement is but her pony was needed as a companion and I know she sees her when the vet is due so am assuming she still pays the vet bills. I am guessing the pony would be very cheap to keep both in terms of time and money and, of course, they could send her back if anything changed.

 

[Ratface]

We have /have had two sheep and a cow. Cow was a Dexter and not to be messed with, but they and the horses got on well. The sheep co-grazed over the whole property and was generally ignored.

 

[Bobthecob15]

My friend has a pony and 2 sheep, the trio get on really well together and they've not had any issues at all x

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Sheep are a total PITA; we've always had local sheep farmers put their sheep on our 10-acres here up till now so we don't actually have to "heed" the darn things, but frankly they are just born to die. If they've got anything of a fleece on them they will just tank through leccy fencing without feeling it, and if there's the slightest little crack in the hedge they'll be off through it even though they've got plenty to eat where they are! I would never ever get any of my own; particularly so as another local small stock-keeper locally has had mega problems getting her little flock of 6 shorn in the summer (which you have to or else they'll get fly-strike), no-one wants to come and do it for such a small number. Added to this is the fact you'll be bound by all sorts of Regs. Sheep-keeping is frankly not for amateurs; the last "sheep farmer" (if you can call them that) we had here last year frankly hadn't got a clue and they were not exactly thriving - we had serious concerns for their welfare particularly in the summer's drought where there was very little grass yet the numb-skull owner didn't think they needed any supplementary feed!

Goats too are a similar nightmare: I've worked with goats at my place of work which is a local agricultural college and believe me they are the Devil's work incarnate. Plus they are incredibly strong with it too! Awful things. And are notorious escape artists as well as eating EVERYTHING. Like everything...... good or bad.

Cattle? depends on your acreage....... but they'll trash your pasture like nothing else will and like sheep they'll totally ignore your lovely leccy fencing.

Pigs? Lots of regs with them - plus they'll need housing of some sort. Also they are good pasture-wreckers. But one big plus! - you'd piggy-proof your horses for sure. I actually quite fancy a pig, for some reason they fascinate me and I'd love to have a pet one!! My Uncle Percy had an old saddleback sow when I was a kid and he loved it, the silly old fool would go out and scratch the darn thing's back and then it would grunt back. It had him trained I reckon. But have to keep telling myself Nope coz can't be arsed with all the reg's they'd come with and piggy diseases too.

Which leaves another equine doesn't it. Round here (East Devon) we have the Munchkins Miniature Shetland rescue which are always looking for homes for their little ones........... probably you've got a local rescue too who'd be happy to help?? Donkey Sanctuary are notoriously unhelpful if you ask for a donkey as a companion. There are a million reasons why they cannot and will not; seems to my humble opinion that they are deffo NOT wanting their donkeys to go out to homes..... perhaps they're making too much money back at base to keep in the luxury to which they're accustomed and rake the money in from the visitors who go there and say awhhhh.... (and yes I am being critical!!). If you do pluck up the courage to ask you will go away feeling that you mortally insulted them by doing so. Sorry but I've been there done it.

We have guinea fowls on our fields: whilst not "companion" material in the sense of being a larger four-footed animal - they do possibly act as a steadying factor, I dunno........ they are certainly quirky birds. Tho' perhaps something like geese may be a viable companion??