Buying a second horse, do it or don't?

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mizzbiz

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When I was growing up I was not blessed with parents that would buy me my own horse. I was allowed a share horse whom I adored however I always looked on in envy at one of my best friends who had a beautiful 5 year old mare. I rode this horse sometimes and absolutely adored her.

Ten years on, she's just put her up for sale. I knew she'd been toying with the idea of selling for the past couple years and when I was horse shopping at the end of last year I gently tried to persuade her to sell to me. She wasn't ready to accept she needed to sell at this point despite the fact this mare has been a field ornament for an extended period of time due to her work commitments.

Now she is up for sale as a 15 year old which doesn't put me off because I know her. Problem is, I bought a 6 year old mare in January who despite being a little green is everything I want in a horse. I spent 6 months searching and I wouldn't entertain the idea of selling her.

I'm therefore left trying to justify to myself keeping two. I can more than afford it based on the assumption everything will double, but I'm a little concerned about my time doubling too. I ride my mare 6 out of 7 days a week currently and know this would not be possible if I had two to do. Also, in winter when they come in at night double the stable jobs. On the plus side, it'd do wonders for my fitness levels and I much prefer the idea of another horse to a newer car.

Not sure if it really is a question as I think I know what I want in my heart. I guess airing it to horsey folk helps, am I being totally daft and greedy? Equally, is there any other considerations to having two that I may not have made?

Apologies this is so long winded!
 
I'm probably not much help as have a similar dilemma but an older horse that I don't want to come second in line to a new younger model. Do you think you would regret not getting her ? Try and look at all the potential issues and see if they can be managed, ie do you have the option of extra help in the winter so you can enjoy them both...sounds a bit more of an emotional one as you've known and liked her for years.
 
My friend had 2 horses for about 2 years and it totally did his head in. Both horses were on full livery and friend would go to the yard after work, get there about 5, groom both, ride both, tidy up the 2 stables, do their hey and not get home before 8 every night. He would cook at night and bring his dinner to work to have at lunch time, heated in the microwave because otherwise he would have been fasting for too long. He found it very stressful and was beginning to resent both horses. If he had land at home he felt it would have been a lot easier. The older horse is now retired to another yard and friend is back to loving having a horse as he feels the pressure is off him now. You are looking at at least 3 hours work every day after your 9 to 5.
 
Why was it a mistake Henry?

I do think I'd regret not getting her debs, but then I've got everything I want ridden wise in my mare. I wouldn't even be considering a second if it wasn't for the fact it is this horse :-/
 
As you say yourself - your new horse is everything you could want and you obviously chose her with care. It's very easy to collect horses but difficult to part with them. Unless you keep your horses at home I would be very careful of making your life ' all horse'.
 
I have had 2 horses for most of the 16 years I have had horses nod wouldn't have it any other way. I have mostly had an older one and a younger one and it has worked really well. They have always been on full livery and I only groom and ride but as I hunt they are kept fit and I have always managed to keep them going year round.
 
I did it...then I got another :D I now have 3 ! although I did get my own yard so slightly different as not in livery but time wise its all about picking the right things. I have my 3 bedded on woodpellets, I can muck out 3 stables in the space of time that I used to be able to muck out 1 straw bed. Straw I had to put new in every 2 days. Wood pellets I put new in once a week on a weekend.

I do produce & sell though so will always have a rotating amount. I am selling my event mare at the end of the season so will just have my 2 rising 4 year olds over winter then will buy another next spring/summer
 
I'd love to. Mine, I know, is too small for me and will never be 100% sound. Think I'd loan him out rather than try to sell, I hate to think what would happen to him if I couldn't keep tabs. I think two is fairly all consuming: can you afford the time? It takes me a good hour to muck out two (I often have a friend's horse at the weekend), make haynets, feeds, turn out, say hello in passing to people.

Do you have the time and more importantly, the money?
 
i have two, but its really difficult finding the time to do both properly, especially if you need to keep them fit. One always has to take precedence for training etc. I find it easy to give them two different seasons - one competes march to sept and then goes onto an easy winter, the other one works autumn and winter mainly.

It has its advantages though as well. If one is injured you still have a spare! Plus it keeps your riding fresh switching between the two.

It depends on what kind of level you want to ride at, and it you have plans to compete both. I'd imagine it's harder if you want to keep both as happy hackers as hacking takes up way more time that schooling most times! I can't ever imagine having time on a day to give my two a nice hack!
 
I wouldn't have two again. I had two together for years and then when I sold one of them and was back down to just the one it was bliss.
 
I have two and although I love them both and couldn't part with any of them, I would love to be back to one where I can spend all my time with that one. I struggle to find time for both of them.

One is newly backed and needs a lot of work. The other one gets depressed when she isn't worked so trying to balance it out is difficult.
What Paddi says is true as I'm mainly a happy hacker and I do like to go for long hacks.
 
It's funny this thread should come up now - I'm looking after my friends horse for a couple of weeks while she's on holiday and it's made me realise I couldn't have 2 horses and work the hours I do currently, never mind the cost! However, would you consider a sharer for one of them? You've had experience of that yourself- you could give someone else that opportunity as well as providing a good home for this mare from your past x
 
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I have two, on two different yards. But they are both on full livery through the week and one through the weekend. However it is a struggle time wise - I think if you want to continue spending the amount of time you do now on your original horse a second one probably won't work.
Mine are both on loan so if I wanted to one could go back - but I personally prefer having two to ride, although my horse probably comes second to my pony in the amount of time I spend on him which I sometimes feel guilty about.
 
I have 2, both 4yr olds, but mine are out at grass 24/7 all year which reduces the stable duties considerably - I can poopick and do field duties in half an hour or less. Sometimes I do wonder how I will get and keep both fit when they are single ponies but I have 2 because they will eventually be a driving pair, so will be exercised together.
I think it depends what you want from your horses, because ultimately you will need at least double the time for exercise and grooming every day, or accept that neither will be as fit or groomed as well every day. In busy weeks I alternate each day doing one pony a full groom and exercise and the other gets a quick flick and a cuddle. But I absolutely love having 2, and if I'm having a bad day with one then the other usually makes me smile again!
 
I have 3 all on diy and work full time. Wouldn't swap them for the world. Yes it's hard work in the winter, don't get home until late but it's doable. Depends what other commitments you have. Wouldn't know what to do in the evenings if I just had one to do!
 
I have two and found it perfectly manageable when I worked 7.30-3.30 and also when I've been a full-time student. I do think I'll struggle when I start working 9-5 especially with a commute (probably a substantial one into london at that) and time does quickly go down the plug. If you don't mind sacrificing your social life and other hobbies (and family/partner time) then go for it. I personally can't wait to downgrade to one horse but my elderly retired boy is still very much full of life and I'm not selling my ridden horse so I think I've got a few more years to get through!
 
I would do it, I ride and led a lot when I had 2 and this let me keep both in work and sometimes one would just be led or sometimes I would swap the saddle and ride the other back. Once they are trained it's a piece of cake to do.

I am in a similar sort of situation in that I have an amazing little horse who is everything I want and need. However, I cannot let go of the want for another palomino welsh D. I lost my mare 7 months ago in sudden and horrendous circumstances and I know if the right horse comes up I will buy it. I did have two before that one died and I sold my other one, do I need two. No. But it is nice to always have a spare!
 
I must admit I'm a little surprised by how many responses are against a second. This is making me think more and more!

I genuinely don't feel that summer time would be any issue. I work a 35 hour flexible week Monday to Friday and other than that I'm totally uncommitted.

What I'm worried about is finding time to ride in winter when the stable jobs mount up.

In which case choice is:-
-full livery for one during winter months
-accept one will only be worked on weekends in winter
-find a sharer to help with jobs/exercise

OR forget the dream horse of the past 😁
 
I'm also surprised how many are against two, I used to have 5 on loan and worked 6 days a week and even had a social life :) I loved being on the yard, better than sitting in and watching TV. If you can afford to go full livery if needed and it would make you happy then why not?
 
If it helps I have two on diy and last year got a sharer to help with the riding of my older mare a few days per week as I was busy at work. It's really helped and even though I don't really need help in the summer it's very handy to have and I can spend more time with my youngster. The time hasn't really doubled for me more like added an extra 15 mins on for mucking out in winter? I lead them both together, they live out together 24/7 in summer. And I guess it's always good on livery to have two as they'll always have company.

Next year he'll be ready to start his road to being ridden and my girl will be 18. So short sessions in the school for both and long hacks when the boy has a day off. I think it would be weird going back to only having one!
I still manage to have a social life as well :P
 
I have 2 on diy I'm lucky they now live out all year round but having 2 on a livery yard means I know mine will never be left on their own. Also if I had to go back to stabling at night I'm not beholden to anyone re turning out theirs. Or waiting on anyone coming up so mine can get turned out. I also have a Sharer but when I didn't the each got ridden on alternate days. If you have a Sharer there's always guaranteed company when riding/hacking out. Down side is double the cost :-(
 
I always loved having two ponies, until winter time, I wouldn't get any time to ride all winter whether it be lack of time, or how cold it was or just general laziness to ride 2, it was usually the time I lacked or how freezing it was. I'd ride at weekends without a doubt and obviosuly I would ride during the week but it was hard, last winter was my first winter in 2 years that I had only 1 pony and it was a lot easier!
Honestly, if I knew and loved the horse and thought id regret not buying I'd buy her and put one of the 2 on loan, or maybe even both part loan a couple times a week :)
 
I think if you're otherwise uncommitted so you have the spare time to manage and it is the opportunity to have the 'dream horse' then why not. I think as long as you are aware of the downsides and have covered scenarios like what if your circumstances change would 2 still be viable etc. Good way to test run it is to offer to exercise a friends horse for a few weeks and check that you enjoy riding two every day.
 
Have you seen her recently? Is she still your dream horse or are you just being sentimental?

I have got any comments about getting a second (I have 3!)
 
i was in a slightly similar situation to you, and ended up with 2.... now I have 4!
My boy was out on loan as i was meant to go to university, instead, I was unwell, quit and started working. met a new horse who was abandoned at the livery yard my horse used to be at and fell in love! loaned and re-backed her. then all of a sudden, after 1.5 years loaner needed to return my boy and owner of my mare either wanted to have her back or sell her. SO within a few weeks I bought her, and got my boy back.

I personally love having 2, but they are very different which works. my boy has been there and done that, where as my mare has always been slightly more unpredictable too ride! now 4 years later, I rent land, and my boy is semi-retired and my girl is much more settled and easy. so now I have taken on 2 4yo newforests a friend of a friend did not have time for, to back as a project!

i think it all depends on priorities, as realistically, without help you wont have 2 at full competition fitness. but is that what you want? I do mine 100% myself and in the winter have no floodlights so nearly no riding in the week. but my boy is just happy hacker, so it is only my mare to keep fit, then the 4 year olds are getting handled and backed this summer, but only for short amounts of time each day. I personally like riding 2, as they are different to ride. but have learned not to feel guilty if I only have the time or energy some days to only ride one.

oh and also depends on money! but if that is not a problem don't worry :P
 
I've got 2 now - a 6 year old in training and a 26 year old. It's quite tough trying to fit it all in but luckily mine are out 24/7. My 6 year old gets priority in riding due to requiring schooling, my 26 year old I obviously don't ask too much of. I ride mine back to back, but will do the long hacks on 6 yo on 26 yo's day off and do the long hack on 26yo when I do lunging or schooling on the 6 yo.

I make sure we all have a day free to catch up on chores I've missed but generally poo pick daily as takes half hour
 
Could you ask your friend if you could have her horse on loan/ extended trial? You then get to see how having two would go, and if it didn't work out, your friend would be selling a fit, working horse, which will always be easier than a field ornament.
 
I think the issue really has to be the time commitment, your new horse you probably want to keep fit and older horses are often better off in regular work.
I've often had more than one to do, and it is surprising the extra time everything takes, even just from filling haynets and mixing feeds. Then farriers/vets visits take twice as long and you can have the problem of separation anxiety if you want to take one out. I wouldn't go back to more than one again other than as a temporary measure. I also find it's easier to take horses on in the spring/summer, but to think about it in the depths of winter, with dark nights, freezing hands and feet, smashing ice on buckets and getting soaked in freezing rain makes you think more!

If money isn't an issue then maybe part or full livery would suit you?
 
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