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

I haven't read the other replies, but thought I would give my two pence worth!

Why is your friend selling? I take it you still know the horse very well, and so would be aware of why, but just make sure you aren't looking at the horse through rose tinted glasses.

Having said that, I own my own horse, who I do love to pieces. But I still ride and see my first ever horse, and even though I sold him many years ago now, at 15 years old, if he ever came up for sale, there is no way I would let him slip through my fingers. I would most certainly be willing to invest the time and money in having an extra one, but only if it was him. He is a truly special horse.

If it were any other horse, I wouldn't probably bother with a second, as the extra money and time really is a strain (I owned both before selling him after a few months, but was on full livery then). I realise that whilst money is unlikely to be such a struggle now, time would be, and that is a serious consideration to make (I work full time, and have times when I work away too). I would need to be on a yard with either assisted options, or DIY where I could help out other liveries and trust them to help with my horse too.

I think if you do consider purchasing her, there are options to help you out. You can get a sharer, can look at assisted/part livery options, or DIY options with people willing to all chip in with duties, that may help you with time. As for winter, I find even with 1 horse riding is much more limited due to the darker nights. If you can work out a decent routine where they both get a few days work each week (you can also long rein, lunge, loose school etc), then why not go for it! Plus there is nothing to say both horses have to be ridden 6/7 days a week. With my older horse, I sometimes only ride a couple of times a week for a hack or bit of schooling, and that keeps her ticking over nicely, with a bit of variety in her life.

I would just make sure you sit down and really look into your finances, the time it will take, what you want to do with both, and how you would keep two horses ticking over. If you feel you can work it out, then yipeee!
 
It is doable, I had two for 12 years, they where 6 & 20 initially, I lost my girl at 32 so back down to one.

It was more time rather than anything else, but once you get into a routine, its fine, I used to ride one and then lunge one, so I didn't ride 2 most weekdays.

Mine where mucked out for me which helped a lot, I exercised and fed etc at night.
 
I've always had more than one horse (probably just because I've always kept them at home so I've always needed a second as a companion!), you just have to be careful as my two grew to five for a good few years! At one point I was riding and competing 3 which is quite hard work, but I could do that as a teenager ;) Nowadays, I do appreciate my decreasing herd (I have 3 and a 4th out on permanent loan) as I will never have that many again, not because it was bad (I loved it) but because I have a young son and own business now so times have changed and in an ideal world will end up with just 1 horse for me and a pony that my son can ride (3 of mine are veterans so retired). It IS pretty hard work having more than one in work, it really depends what time you finish work for example - do you have time to ride two? I used to have to ride one and lunge the other in an evening as I didn't have the time to ride both every night. And I always had to choose who I would take to an event as I refused to take two as they were always horrid together! I should also point out that I've always kept mine out 24/7, I would hate to have to stable them and muck out etc.! Definately saves time and money keeping out if you can...

The only thing I'd be concerned about is the age, will you be happy to look after and pay for the keep of her once she's retired as you'll probably end up keeping her for the rest of her days?
 
Thank you all for your responses. It really has helped me to think this decision through although I'm still totally torn!
This morning having slept on it I was very much thinking 'sod it may as well life is too short'. By about lunchtime I was thinking of wintertime and the cold wet dark nights and beginning to think no it'd be a bad idea. Come finishing work later this afternoon and heading over to ride I was thinking I'm just being silly I love my mare and I don't need another. Having been to the yard to find my horse is lame - she wasn't right last Saturday so has had a little while off but now seems worse - I'm back to thinking I should get a spare 😁 arghhh
 
But everyone knows it's impossible to just have one horse right??! Joke 😃

I have two and while it's great in the sense that you don't have to worry about company or one being left on its own if they are stressy ( mine are both fine on their own ) and even the extra mucking out doesn't worry me unduly - it's when your trying to keep two in work and fit. Even in the summer when they are out 24/7 it's still a good 2 - 3
hours for bringing in, riding ect...

When I sent my youngster to be broken it was lovely to just have one horse to ride I have to admit. Also, I was more motivated to ride more as I knew I didn't have to do both...

Also..... DOUBLE. POO. PICKING!!! Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh 😭
 
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I think if you can afford it, then do it - life is too short. We're not on this Earth for very long and if it makes you happy - then that's fantastic. It does depend on what level you ride at - it would be pretty difficult to keep 2 horses eventing fit. I have two but only since last month and so far, so good. I'm lucky in that my friend rides one of them twice per week and we have an indoor school which is invaluable (ie no excuse when it's raining) and I mainly do dressage and hacking. However, they do get ridden 4-5 times each per week and that keeps them fit enough for purpose. Good luck in making the right decision xx
 
I have one on full livery but plan on getting a second as soon as we move somewhere I can keep them both at home. By my calculations two at home on DIY will be cheaper than one on full livery. My current horse isn't right for me (too big, no good for dressage and my riding will never really improve with him) so I want another, but love my boy far too much to sell him so I'll get a sharer for him. Hopefully it'll mean I'll have someone nice to hack with and occasionally do both if I'm away for the weekend.
 
I have two, my own yard at home and i work full time from home. i have a 10yo and a 20yo. my pony is out on loan atm! in the past ive had as many as 4 but it just got to be too much work in the end.

I ended up getting a groom in mon-fri which helps me be able to concentrate on riding. My older boy is looking at semi-retirement and im toying with getting him another sharer for gentle hacking/schooling.
 
I have three. They live out 24/7. Which gives greater flexibility. Mine are all for hacking not competing. They range from 11- 20. In the winter they get ridden once a week. In the summer 3-4 times a week.. I have friends who come and ride with me. It works well. I rent a field
 
I have two and in an ideal world I prefer only having one. The first is semi retired though and one semi retired horse was not enough in summer. I am an outdoors person with no garden at home and a semi retired horse living out does not give me enough to do in summer. Two is a bit much in winter on DIY, I would prefer full livery. In summer I love spending time at the yard and the horses get more exercise, in winter I get everything done as quickly as possible and exercise one for 20min, they alternate days. It works well with them sharing a field too.
 
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