Companion/second horse good idea?

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cuddlycob1

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I’m looking for advice on having two horses. Well, 1 horse and 1 pony.
We have a 15hh 3year old cob gelding who is unbacked. We are considering getting another, we’ve seen a 11year old cob mare 13.2 who we like and she’s a good steady ride. Reason for looking is so my daughter (16) can ride regularly whilst we bring up our gelding. But also so when he is backed me and my daughter can go out together.

The question is, would the mare be good for my youngster? I’d ideally eventually like them together, would the mare help my youngster in learning or would I be faced with separation issues? I think I’m just worried it will be more hard work lol

Any pros cons of this I’d be grateful
Thanks
 
What are their living arrangements like?

Are they at a yard? Your own place? Is the gelding alone now? Is he in a herd?

As for the rest of it, depends on the horses. I know that's unhelpful. Some are more inclined than others to form a pair bond. Some are more inclined others to go mental over horses of the opposite sex.

If they're part of a herd, they are less likely to form a pair bond (some horses will look for a pair even in a herd of 15+, but at least they have options). If it's just the two of them, you might never get them apart.
 
Yes if on a livery yard…no if at home purely because a friend had two ridden horses and soon realised she could nt hack one and leave the other so ended up with two shetlands as well, who stay with whichever horse is left at home lol.
 
We have had various pairs of either sex or one of each and it has been fine. It is work to introduce carefully and make sure any separation issues are sorted from the beginning but so so worth it. They soon get used to the 'rules', that sometimes they go out with their friend sometimes they don't. We usually bring the one staying behind in where they will find they have some yummy hay and a nice bed should they want a snooze.
PS it is always worth doing this work even if they are ridden together as if anyone ever gets injured and needs boxrest then it reduces the stress a bit as it is familiar.
 
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I know pair bonding can be a lot of work but I’d rather that hassle than having a horse living alone.

As for same sex or not that is very individual to the horses. I’ve had 4 mares and none have gotten on that well with each other. One mare does like another she shares a field with but she was obsessed with friend’s geldings so likely would’ve been happier with them.

If you’re on livery and can afford it then it sounds like it might be a good plan as long as daughter won’t outgrow pony.
 
I’ve got a gelding and bought a small companion mare earlier this year. My goodness they get on so much better than my gelding did previously with any of his previous male companions.
Its always just the 2 of them.
Maybe it’s just down to individuals but my geldings seems to want to rule previous companions with an iron fist 🤣
This little mare can even share his food bowl…. Which is absolutely unheard of!
So I don’t have any issues.
 
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