Companions

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zoesophie

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Im posting on behalf of a mate who has her own land at home (lucky thing!). She is looking to buy a horse in the near future but is unsure what to do about a companion.

She has 3.5 acres to play with. Ideally a cheaper companion would be good i.e. not another horsey!
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Ive heard that goats are good and fairly cheap but does anyone else have any ideas? Also, what costs etc etc would be involved if it was a goat / sheet / mini etc?

Thanx in advance!
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my OH went out for a drinking session many years ago and accidently bought a billy goat (didnt remember buying it till it turned up the next day in a van (goat wasnt driving
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) - his mother had been on at him to mow the lawn and a drunken buddy said ' you know what you need, you need a goat'...
it cost an absolute fortune in vets bills because it kept injuring/poisoning/etc. itself

why not offer a place to a charity home loan pony?
 
the trouble with having a little pony as a companion is that you can't just chuck them out in the field in case they get too fat!
i had 2 young rescue ponies from SWHP as companions for my yearling. as they were young, and growing, there wasn't quite as much concern about fatness/laminitis. they were lovely little things, very sweet, no problem at all.
tbh i'd say maybe look for one semi- d.i.y. livery who could maybe cover for her occasionally if she needs to be away, in a tit-for-tat kind of arrangement.
if there's just the two horses and they get inseparable, that's a big problem, cos one can't go out for a hack without the other etc.
maybe get a friendly local farmer to loan 2 sheep, as long as her new horse won't kill them (has been known.) they're a lot easier than goats and shetlands, and do the grass some good!
 
Yeah thats a point she did raise. She has got stables so they could restrict grasing etc but it would be a worry about lami etc and again you may have the separation thing....

Sheep - now theres an idea - does anyone know whats involved in keeping sheep?

Sorry got to log off now but Ill check this thread again 2moro morning.

Thanks for the help so far
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[ QUOTE ]
They spend their lives thinking of different ways to kill themselves .
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[/ QUOTE ]

true. i used to ride on the pennines and there were ALWAYS dead sheep at the bottom of a small cliff i used to ride past, like lemmings they are
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was forever rolling sheep back over, the ones under the cliff were splatted though...

wouldnt know who to ring about sheep up on the moors though
 
Sheep and goats are experts...............................at escaping!!!!
Don't go the donkey route either,they require a lot of care and must always have shelter, which won't be a problem if you have shelters, but they are not a cheap or easy option. besides which, they cost a small fortune and the Donkey Sanctuary have closed their loan scheme.
Not much help am I?
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I found that getting another pony as compainion was the best idea plus i have the added advantage of *fingers crossed touch wood* that he can eat all he likes and he has not cost us anything only £100 to buy him!

I have about the same land as your friend and it works quite well find
 
O dear o dear poor sheep
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- I hope I dont come back as a sheep in my next life - it sounds rubbish
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Thanks for all the help and advice guys - Ill ensure I pass it all on.
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