Companions & Budgeting

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Puppy

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After very sadly losing my beloved elderly mare earlier this week, I am in the process of trying to sort out a companion for my remaining girl, who is a LOU case/field ornament. Unfortunately this means acquiring another slightly 'useless' horse :o

Initially I was going to borrow a pony from a friend, but he was rather planning on selling said pony, and realistically I need something long term. Although my mother and I both intend to buy a new riding horse each in the next year, (her nowish, me next summer) the fact remains that Be will still need a friend so she's never left alone when we go riding together. Therefore, wisely or not, I'm going to view a little mare tomorrow who is for sale dirt cheap as she too is unrideable.

I must say, having had two for years now, we are a little overwhelmed by the thought of going up to 4 horses :o but needs must... What I'm wondering is how do those of you who are in a similar situation of having to keep a companion budget for them?

My LOU girl, Be, is an extremely good doer so her friend will have to be the same, but what do you guys do in terms of insurance/teeth/cheaper feeds etc?
 
My companions are not insured and not jabbed, other than tet every few years. Teeth are done when their tet jabs are done, if they showed signs of difficulty eating then of course they'd be done more often. None of mine are fed during the summer, in winter everyone has sugarbeet and carrots, the comp horses have mix, alfalfa and supplements according to their requirements, the companions have a token amount together with a handful of chaff. Everyone has the same haylage. Feet are all done as required but the companions are just trimmed. The companions don't get clipped and are encouraged to grow good coats to avoid the need for rugs.
 
If you have your own place, it may be worth asking around to see if anybody has a similar horse that maybe they have on diy livery. They could then have 'free' livery whilst paying for all of the other stuff like feeding, farrier, vet etc. If you were going to have to look after your own companion, the time factor would be little different but cheaper than having another 'ornament'.
It's worked very well for a friend of mine, although she could just have been lucky!
 
I have 3 horses total, two which I ride and one companion. Companion can be left on her own or I can ride one of the others and leave the other with her.

The companion is from the RSPCA - she is a Shetland cross approx 11.2 and about 25 years old, she has been with me for 4 years now originally took on from the RSPCA by a friend and then I took over when she had to give her up due to splitting with her husband.

She fits in wonderfully, needs no rugs, is a good doer so only gets a handful of chaff at dinner times, only needs a trim from the farrier. The RSPCA did say when my friend got her that should something happen that required expensive veterinary treatment then they would simply have her PTS.

I haven't got her insured, I am a BHS member so have her insured for 3rd party liability for that. Cost wise she costs me foot trims every 8 weeks, teeth once a year and jabs once a year. Obviously there is a bit of extra hay and bedding as well but all mine live out 24/7 unless the weather is awful and then they come in at nights.

She doesn't walk through fences, bite, kick etc and is very easy to have around, infact as a companion she is worth her weight in gold!

Have you considered loaning a companion from a rescue centre? That way you don't have the purchase cost or if your mare doesn't get on with it, or it doesn't suit the way you want to keep it you can return it possibly for another.
 
Thanks JT. That's exactly what I was wondering with regards to jabs and teeth - whether you can be a little less strict about them than you would be with a competition horse. :)

Be is a very good doer, so I have her on Topspec lite, which I'm happy to pay for her, but at £27 a bag I don't think I want to be paying that for a companion...

Don't get me wrong, said pony will want for nothing; she'll be fed, have her feet seem to, etc, but I feel it would be silly of me to keep up my fancy feed, top of the range rugs, etc sort of management :o Hope that makes sense without me sounding a right meanie...
 
superted1989 said:
If you have your own place, it may be worth asking around to see if anybody has a similar horse that maybe they have on diy livery. They could then have 'free' livery whilst paying for all of the other stuff like feeding, farrier, vet etc. If you were going to have to look after your own companion, the time factor would be little different but cheaper than having another 'ornament'.
It's worked very well for a friend of mine, although she could just have been lucky!
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I rent a place from a farmer, which is at his home, so I don't think it would be fair on him to have others coming and going.

Also, if I'm completely honest, I love having the place to ourselves and would probably find it incredibly annoying having a livery around :o :o
 
Rehoming from a charity is something that I've looked into, but it is timely and my mare really needs a friend within the next week as although she isn't panicking at all, she is subdued.

Also, if I'm honest I don't think they would approve of my lack of field shelter, most of the horses seem to be very young/many openly need to be taught manners/have a history of lami/too small for my fencing/etc etc. I can't find anything remotely near to me that I think would suit, sadly.
 
jesstickle said:
Ah hon. I must have missed this, or perhaps you didn't say but I'm really sorry :(
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Yeah, I didn't make a thread about her, as far too upset, but there's some pics etc on the other place. It's been a dreadful week :( Just need to busy myself with making sure Be is ok. Oh, and selling stuff to pay the vet/cremation bill, so if you want any good rugs then let me know. xx
 
Puppy, if it stops you having to rush into choosing a companion I have an elderly Welsh gelding who is very sweet with mares who I could lend you for a few weeks. He is a good doer currently on no feed at all. He has a downside in that he's a blighter to catch so no good if she's coming in at night unless you don't mind opening the gate and opening the stable in which case he'll put himself to bed. He has a permanent home here so no need to worry about keeping him for ages if the right horse turns up.
 
Ahh, thanks JT, that's very kind of you. This little mare we're seeing in the morning sounds perfect (good doer, needs no feed this time of year, a total poppet to handle, early teens etc), so we'll go and see her, but if she's not the one and I need a stop-gap friend I shall definitely be in touch :) Cheers :) xx

ETS - I mean a stop gap friend for Be, I don't mean me using you! :D
 
Hi Puppy, first of all sorry for your loss :( i know what you are going through, but it does get a little better with time, i lost one of mine last summer, and can finally look back with a smile at the memories of the georgous pony he was :)

I am not sure if youre already sorted or for that matter where in the country you are? i have two small very good doers who i would happily long term loan (but never sell). they are a mare and daughter pair. i keep their feet tidy (with farriers eye looking over them) and they currently live on a half acre paddock keeping my other neddys company as and when needed. they live out 24/7 12 months of the year without rugs and use hedges / trees as shelter :) so easy to look after. they currently get just hay/hayledge in the winter only, and occasionally some alfa a if the weather is really bad.

if you are not interested as they come as a pair (they've never been separated apart from weaning) then with regards to costs, i just have them jabbed for tet every other year, and wormed with the others around twice a year (they are dung sampled and have only lived with my horses on my own land) I also dont have specific insurance for them. i was told that you can get public liability ins from BHS membership which is much cheaper than individual insurance, and finally as i said above, foot trimming is done by myself under the supervision of the farrier (they are really easy to do and are done every 6 weeks) so costs are really minimal. having something as a companion can really work, and as you said you will still need a companion even if you get two riding horses.

either way best of luck looking for a companion and more importantly for suitable future riding horses :), if you would like more info just pm me
 
Thanks for the offer monkstc01, but I am miles away from you (Cambridge) and certainly don't think I need two more mouths to feed :) In fact my main concern is that we don't really have the grazing for 4 (we've about 3 acres), so long term I may need an extra field...
 
Puppy, if you run into probs, friend has an 11.2 sweetheart of a mare who is needing a home since good friend lost her horse & then the loaner didn't work out. She's not getting another, so this dear pony needs to find a companion home.
Not been ridden in current home as went as companion, came as part of an RSPCA case.
Pony has never had lami, good all respects (stable, field, farrier for trims).
She is 20, but is a very happy healthy pony, based nr Bracknell, Berks.
I know its out of your way, but do bear her in mind - or anyone else if looking for a companion.
 
Gosh, so many offers of ponies. I wish I had room and money to take them all, but I'm afraid I don't. :(

I shall bear offers in mind, but if people could keep their fingers crossed for us tomorrow though, that would be fab. xx
 
Hello there,

I am looking for a home for my old girl, which i am prepared to pay for, she had a nasty accident this year and is still recovering and needs a quiet companion home for life... I am looking for somewhere where she will receive 5 star treatment still and she needs to be stabled every night due to her injury which cost me several thousands, but she is my best friend so it was worth every penny to save her. I had a wonderful home set up for her and so i booked my flights to Oz for the end of the year and it just fell through a few days ago..am gutted and am desperately looking for a wonderful caring home for her...if i could sneak her in my backpack on the plane she would be coming with me!
 
leannebailey99 said:
Hello there,

I am looking for a home for my old girl, which i am prepared to pay for, she had a nasty accident this year and is still recovering and needs a quiet companion home for life... I am looking for somewhere where she will receive 5 star treatment still and she needs to be stabled every night due to her injury which cost me several thousands, but she is my best friend so it was worth every penny to save her. I had a wonderful home set up for her and so i booked my flights to Oz for the end of the year and it just fell through a few days ago..am gutted and am desperately looking for a wonderful caring home for her...if i could sneak her in my backpack on the plane she would be coming with me!
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I'm sorry but I am no longer looking for a companion, nor would I consider one who needs stabling every night.

I hope that you find your horse a suitable home :)
 
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